CABLEtalk June/July 2017

June/July 2017 £4.50

WIN

£50 OF VOUCHERS PAGE 42

Changes are all in hand New edition of SJIB Handbook launched PAGE 11

16

Get your entry in for SELECT Awards 2017

28

New Toolbox Talks are up and running

31

Special report on the retentions revolution

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CONTENTS JUNE/JULY 2017 NEWS

07

All the latest updates from SELECT and the wider industry

OPINION

SELECT AWARDS

16

05

FROM THE MD: Newell

13

Alan Wilson on why you should always get everything in writing

McGuiness detects a positive shift

COVER STORY

Get your entry in for 2017 now and you could line up on the red carpet

11

SJIB Handbook is now available, including range of latest updates

FEATURES

TOOLBOX TALKS

28

Advice and guidance on the agenda at Edinburgh and Borders events

14

North Electrical Services reveal secrets behind Awards success

18 20 22 24 26

Business Leader interview with EDA Director Margaret Fitzsimons SELECT makes its voice heard at recent EDA Seminar in Renfrew Bob Cairney examines efficiency during low voltage installations We turn the spotlight on the so-called ‘gig economy’ of today Elaine Ellis on the importance of National Occupational Standards

FOCUS

5-PAGE SPECIAL

31 32 34

Could dreaded cash retentions be about to loosen their grip?

Professor Rudi Klein reveals how you can help in the battle How other countries deal with the tricky issue of retentions

36 39

Advice and updates on managing mental health in the workplace Get Into Electrical Installation is all set for third successful year

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

41

Our handy guide to the latest products hitting the market

DIARY

42

Important dates, SELECT staff – plus our new prize wordsearch CABLEtalk

JUNE/JULY 2017

3

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COMMENT

Another positive shift for the electrical industry?

O

n a holiday trip to Mull over the Easter weekend, I called in to Cruachan Power Station near Oban. As a power engineer, it’s a place I have always wanted to visit and it didn’t disappoint.

Built into the hollowed out rock of Ben Cruachan, the turbine hall of this pumped storage hydro power station is accessed by a 1km tunnel. The four 110MW reversible turbines are powered by water from a 10 million cubic metre storage reservoir built 400m above the machine hall.

One of only four pumped storage stations in the UK, Cruachan was the first to use reversible turbines, where electricity is used from the grid at times of low demand to pump water from Loch Awe to the storage reservoir in readiness to generate at times of peak demand.

In this respect, Cruachan works like an enormous rechargeable battery and plays a vital part in soaking up variability in electrical demand from consumers and delivering the flexibility necessary to deal with the peaks and troughs of the growing renewable energy sources.

But will the stability that stations such as Cruachan bring to the grid be capable of being maintained as Britain builds yet more wind or solar farms?

“Driven by advances in the electric vehicle market, battery costs have plummeted to a level that makes mass battery back-up a reality”

Well, it is certainly going to be challenging, especially given the cost and lead times for building additional conventional hydroelectricity capacity.

So it is likely that there will need to be more flexibility in the power sources available to keep the lights on in the face of increasing renewables’ intermittency, and this will doubtless lead to opportunities for innovative solutions.

One option might be the burgeoning development of battery technology.

Driven by advances in the electric vehicle market, battery costs have plummeted to a level that makes mass battery back-up a reality. As a result, there is a flurry of just completed, ongoing or planned large-scale projects.

Various different approaches abound, from research to further increase the life of lithium-ion batteries to applying older technologies in a more efficient way and completely novel technologies. Current trials are under way around the country from Shetland and Gigha in the north, Larne in Northern Ireland and Leighton Buzzard in the south. All this is leading to a rapidly growing role for batteries with predictions of at least 1GW being available, although thinly spread, within the next four years.

Perhaps batteries will therefore not quite replace the need for another one or two Cruachans in the short term, but there is no doubt they will in the longer term. When this happens, they will support the in excisable rise in the place of electricity and electrical infrastructure in our society. As you have heard me saying many times before: “The future is electric!”

By Newell McGuiness Managing Director, SELECT CABLEtalk

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5

EDITOR’S NOTE DEAR MEMBERS

CABLEtalk MANAGING EDITOR Alan Wilson alan.wilson@select.org.uk PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Demi Armstrong demi.armstrong@select.org.uk EDITOR Iain Mason iain@connectcommunications.co.uk 0141 560 3022 PUBLISHER Connect Publications DESIGN & PRODUCTION Mick Reilly mick@connectcommunications.co.uk ADVERTISING David Hughes davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk 0131 561 0022 Jane Deane jane@connectcommunications.co.uk 0131 561 0020 CABLEtalk is produced by Connect Publications on behalf of SELECT

Connect Publications Studio 2001, Mile End 12 Seedhill Road Paisley PA1 1JS Tel: 0141 561 0300

The Walled Garden Bush Estate Midlothian EH26 0SB Tel: 0131 445 5577 CABLEtalk is the official magazine of SELECT and is distributed free to qualifying readers.

ISSN 1365-3288 SELECT is the trading style of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland. The SELECT logo is a registered Collective Mark.

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A

very warm welcome to the second CABLEtalk of 2017 – we hope it’s been a good trading year so far and that you’ve been as busy as we are at SELECT as we prepare for our annual awards.

Nominations for the SELECT Industry Awards 2017 are now open and, as ever, it promises to be a fantastic evening that recognises the true stars of our industry.

Find out how to enter on page 16 and also find out what it feels like to be a winner with North Electrical Services on page 14. They scooped awards in both 2015 and 2016 so are obviously doing something right!

Also in this issue, as well as the usual news and in-depth features from across the industry, you’ll find a special report on a controversial subject that’s close to our hearts – cash retentions.

It was heartening to see Alan Brown MP stand up in the House of Commons on 26 April and introduce a motion to try and protect the cash flow that is vital to so many businesses.

As you’ll read on page 32, there’s plenty Members can do to keep the ball rolling and press the Government for change. And if

nothing else, the map on page 34 shows how other countries seem to have a more civilised solution to this age-old issue – and one that plenty of companies would like the UK to follow.

Elsewhere, it was a real pleasure to speak to Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) Director Margaret Fitzsimons for this issue’s business leader interview. She had plenty to say, but alas space was limited on page 18.

However, you can read her full thoughts in an extended interview at www.cabletalkmagazine.com – it’s well worth checking out.

Staying with our website, if you attended either the recent EDA Regional Business Forum in Renfrew or the first Toolbox Talks in Edinburgh and the Borders, you’ll find plenty of pictures online as well as the ones featured in our pages.

And finally... we’re delighted to launch a new prize wordsearch in this issue, in association with our legal friends at MacRoberts LLP. Grab a pen, get your thinking caps on and turn to page 42 for the chance to win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers.

Good luck!

Iain Mason Editor, CABLEtalk

l MORE NEWS & UPDATES l MORE EVENTS & PICTURES l MORE TO READ & DISCOVER www.cabletalkmagazine.com NEW MEMBERS

Ten firms have become SELECT Members since March 2017

D Brown Electrical Limited – Glasgow

William Duncan Electrician Ltd – Glasgow

Mint Electrical – Edinburgh

Aberdeenshire Electrical Services Ltd – Aberdeen

Rowe Electrical – Edinburgh MEB Services (Shetland) – Inverness BAK Electrical Services – Edinburgh

Cochrane Services Scotland Ltd T/A Cochrane Group – Glasgow

Neilson Electrical – Edinburgh

Heating Care Scotland Ltd – Edinburgh

NEWS SELECT

Sign up at the double for Technical Update and AGM

SELECT combines two important events in one day with upcoming free get-together in Stirling

S

By Demi Armstrong Events, Marketing & Website Coordinator ELECT is doubling up by holding a Technical Update day that will also incorporate our AGM. The event will be held in the River House Conference Centre in The Castle Business Park, Craigforth, Stirling on Wednesday 7 June.

The technical element of the event will focus on proposed changes to BS 7671 in what will be its 18th Edition, due to be launched in July 2018.

SELECT’s Head of Technical Services, Dave Forrester, and Bob Cairney, our new Technical Standards Advisor, will

DAVE FORRESTER SPEAKS AT EDA SEMINAR: Pages 20 & 21

speak about the proposed new regulations and the impact they may have on Members.

There will also be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation, giving you the chance to have your queries answered by our team.

The event will start at 10.30 am and will finish with a buffet lunch at 12.30 pm.

Places are free to all SELECT members.

If you would like to attend the Technical Update, please contact the Membership team on 0131 445 5577 or email memberservices@select.org.uk for further details.

BOB CAIRNEY ON EFFICIENT INSTALLATIONS Pages 22 & 23

New Construction Products Regulation and cables in UK Members should be aware of the introduction of the Construction Products Regulation (EU 305/2011) and its applicability to cables sold in the UK. The CPR came into effect alongside existing British Standards for cables on 10 June 2016.

However, from 1 July 2017, CPR takes full effect and any cable sold in the UK must comply with its requirement.

This requirement relates only to the Reaction to Fire performance of cables and all types of cable are covered.

The British Cables Association has issued guidance to specifiers and SELECT will issue a Technical Circular on this important subject in due course.

In the meantime, Members should be aware of the following: ●Always ● purchase cable from a reputable supplier such as a wholesaler and ensure it carries all relevant approval markings ●If ● you have any concerns about the quality of cable you are supplied with, you should report it back to your supplier immediately. ●It ● is the responsibility of the cable manufacturer or the person importing the cable into the UK to ensure the cable complies with CPR ●CPR ● covers the way in which the cable is placed on the market.

It does not specify how or where a particular cable should be used ●BS ● 7671:2008 (2015) specifies reaction to fire characteristics for cables in a number of places, most but not all of which are for installations in buildings and construction works, and therefore fall under CPR. To find out more, please contact Technical Services at SELECT. CABLEtalk

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NEWS INDUSTRY / SELECT

Moffat fits free Aico alarms for veterans’ charity SELECT member Moffat Electrical Projects has installed new heat and multi-sensor fire alarms for the Scottish Veterans’ Garden City Association (SVGCA).

The Dunfermline-based company had identified the need for increased fire protection and asked Aico for help to bring the charity’s fire system up to category LD2 Grade D to cover escape routes and high-risk areas.

Aico duly donated its latest Ei2110e Multi-Sensors and Heat Alarms, which were installed by Moffat in the living area and kitchen of each of the 11 properties in a single street in Dunfermline.

All alarms were interconnected using

The multi-sensor alarms have been installed in 11 charity properties in a single street in Dunfermline

Aico’s award-winning RadioLINK wireless alarm technology, allowing alarms to communicate with each other using radio frequency signals rather than hard wiring.

Steven Simpson, Electrical Supervisor, Moffat Electrical Products, explained: “This reduced the mess and disruption that can be caused when the alarms were being fitted.”

The SVGCA has been housing disabled veterans in Scotland for more than a century. Operating as a not-for-profit charitable landlord, it houses the greatest number of disabled veterans in the UK and owns 642 houses in 76 locations across Scotland.

In Dunfermline, its properties had been fitted with smoke alarms to category LD3 Grade D protection, but a higher level of protection was needed as many tenants are elderly and have reduced mobility. The Ei2110e was ideal – plus the intelligent software reduces potential false alarms that could be distressing for occupants.

Moffat has a well-established relationship with Aico, having used their alarms for many years and being Expert Installer trained.

For more information see www.aico. co.uk, email enquiries@aico.co.uk or call 01691 664 100

Harting boxes clever to reduce costs Harting has launched a new range of sensor actuator boxes, designed to speed up installation and reduce the number of cable lengths between sensor and control cabinet.

Sensors can be quickly and easily connected to passive distributor boxes using standard M8 and M12 slots.

With a choice of four, eight or ten slots, cables are no longer 8

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JUNE/JULY 2017

drawn from the sensor into the control cabinet, but only to the local, application-led distributor box. The rest is taken care of by a master line, connected by an M23, M16 or M12D connector.

IP protection rating 67/68 also means the sturdy sensor actuator boxes can withstand harsh environments and offer reliable and secure signal routing.

Harting says using plug-in connectors and combining wiring reduces costs by cutting installation time, and also minimises outage times for defective sensors, which can easily be replaced during servicing.

For further details, call 01604 827 500, email salesUK@harting.com or go to www.harting.co.uk

BIM events on grand tour of Scotland The Construction Scotland Innovation Centre is taking free BIM roadshows across Scotland this summer.

Starting on 25 May in Edinburgh, the events will visit Aberdeen, Inverness, Dumfries, Stirling and Dundee, talking to as many contractors as possible.

They are also running a new series of BIM Breakfast Briefings for SELECT members.

You can book your place at www.cs-ic.org.

New media campaign presses for regulation

Glasgow Central Station poster

SELECT has launched a widespread media campaign to highlight the dangers of using unqualified people to carry out electrical work and to press for official recognition of electricians as a profession.

The message – that regulation of the profession is justified and key to increasing safety – has been delivered via major Scottish regional newspapers and radio stations, as well as a selection of posters at railway stations.

The campaign, which will

continue to run throughout summer, will emphasise the length of training that electricians undertake and also the benefits of regulation, with a focus on the aspect of safety.

SELECT will also employ the massive communications firepower of social media sites such as Twitter to further promote the regulation campaign.

Read our case for regulating the profession at the SELECT website.

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NEWS INDUSTRY Uni helping apprentices graduate to a better career The University of Strathclyde is currently working closely with SELECT to develop a new Engineering Graduate Level Apprenticeship.

As with traditional apprenticeships, students on the programme must be employed in a job role that supports successful completion.

The programme will be taught using a combination of approaches, including part-time attendance at the university and completion of work-based projects, with students supported by work-based mentors and university-based assessors.

As well as covering core engineering topics and professional soft skills, the programme will be tailored to enable students to develop skills in individual specialisms, including electrotechnical.

With the first students due to start in September, the university is keen to work with SELECT to create a programme that is designed specifically for our industry.

Newell McGuiness, Managing Director, SELECT, said: “We are delighted to work with the university on this initiative as we know from Member feedback that practical and innovative higherlevel qualifications within the industry would be welcome.”

If you would like to contribute to the project, or require further information, contact Elaine Ellis, Qualifications and Skills Development Manager, SELECT, at elaine.ellis@select.org.uk or on 0131 445 5577.

10

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Shining a light on free waste lamp collection Are you still in the dark about waste lamp recycling? Under UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations, electrical contractors should have access to a free recycling service, funded by lamp producers.

However, many are still being charged – which is why Recolight is now raising awareness of its lamp collection service, which includes free collection, recycling, and consignment notes.

If you collect more than 1,000 lamps per quarter, Recolight provides a free container, with container lease available for less than 1,000. For smaller quantities, Recolight has a network of drop-off points at wholesalers across Scotland – see www.recolight.co.uk to find the nearest.

The WEEE regulations were introduced ten years ago to make producers responsible for recycling electronic equipment at the end of its life.

Recolight’s unique operating model sees members pay a small fee for each lighting unit they place on the UK market. These funds are used to provide the free lamp and luminaire collection and recycling service.

To find out more about Recolight, email info@recolight.co.uk or call 020 8253 9750.

New SJIB Handbook launched

(Left to right): Jock Simpson, SJIB Chairman; Fiona Harper, The SJIB Secretary; Scott Foley, Unite the Union and Alick Smith, SELECT, at the launch of the new SJIB Handbook

The new edition of the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) Handbook has now been published. The Handbook, which has been updated to take account of all of the changes made to the industry’s standard terms and conditions, will shortly be issued to all SELECT and SJIB member companies.

Fiona Harper, Secretary of the SJIB, said: “I am really pleased with the new Handbook. I hope it will prove to be an invaluable tool to all those who work in the electrical contracting industry,

employers and employees alike.

“The Handbook now contains 13 sections, dealing with a host of employment matters such as wages, holidays and holiday pay, apprentice training and grading.”

As well as printed copies of the Handbook, an online version will be available at www.sjib.org.uk For more information on the SJIB or any related issues, visit their website or call them on 0131 445 9216.

NEW FICA RESOURCE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS The SJIB has added a helpful new section to its website to support apprentices and adult trainees preparing to sit the Final Integrated Competence Assessment (FICA).

Also designed to help employers, the practical resource offers info on each section of the FICA, and includes a selfassessment checklist to help

identify areas where extra practical experience or knowledge is needed.

The SJIB has also added mock underpinning knowledge questions for Section F to help with preparation.

The site will be updated and expended over the next few months, with further resources added. Find out more at www.sjib.org.uk

ABOUT THE SJIB The Scottish Joint Industry Board was founded in 1969 by SELECT and Unite the Union. Its principal objectives are to: ●●regulate relations between employers and employees engaged in the industry in Scotland ●●provide benefits for persons engaged in the industry in Scotland ●●stimulate and further the progress of the industry In addition, and in the public interest, it also aims to regulate and control employment, the level of skill and proficiency, health and safety competence, wages and welfare benefits.

Membership of the Board consists of four representatives of SELECT and four representatives of Unite the Union with an independent chairman.

The main functions are the maintenance of the National Working Rules, the registration and licensing of apprentices, grading and registration of employees, the resolution of disputes and the provision of welfare benefits.

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11

MAKE A POSITIVE CONNECTION zine of SELECT The official maga

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April 2017 £4.50

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PAGES 20-23

Analysis of the

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The Falklands for SELECT Member

The Brexit effect on prentice Levy 24 workplace regulations 38 Ap

How the Budget could Neil Baxter: Industry 16 impa ct your business Special report on 18 futu re looking bright 31 women at work

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To advertise in CABLEtalk call our dedicated team: David Hughes: 0131 561 0022 davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk

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COMMENT

Always get it in writing

P

roducing ‘evidence’ is key to what electrical contractors do on a day-to-day basis.

Whether it’s providing inspection and testing sheets, issuing quotes or placing orders for materials, it’s always best to have a paper trail.

This was recently illustrated in a case which came in front of the SELECT Registration Board. A domestic customer had contracted with a joinery firm to undertake some renovations to their house. In turn the joiner sub-contracted the electrical works to a SELECT Member. Some months into the contract, the customer and joiner fell out and the customer started paying the electrical firm directly.

As is often the case in these types of contracts, extra work was added, specifications were changed and some bills were paid. Inevitably the customer then fell out with the electrician and engaged another firm and it was at this stage that we became involved. Initially acting as conciliator to try and negotiate a settlement, our efforts proved unsuccessful and eventually the case was sent to the Registration Board.

The Board, which is chaired by an independent chairman and which has a majority of independent members, was supplied with the documents submitted by both parties and heard verbal evidence from both. What particularly struck the Board Members were two things.

Firstly, when the customer fell out with the joinery firm, who was the main contractor, he then started paying the electrical firm directly. Nothing wrong in this you might initially think, but it’s a potential legal minefield. In circumstances like this, contracts should be ‘determined’ (ie cancelled) and then restarted, either with a new main contractor or with agreed contracts with each individual contractor.

“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on” Sam Goldwyn

By Alan Wilson Head of Membership and Communications, SELECT

Secondly, when it came to examining the paperwork, there was little to see; a priced Bill of Quantities and a few emails and some texts, despite the alteration and addition of work.

The complaint was rejected, however the Board made it clear to the SELECT Member that they must make sure that if they’re in a contractual chain, that they operate this in accordance with standard terms and conditions and that they make sure that their paperwork is kept up to date.

A lesson for us all, but how many of us do make sure we get it in writing?

“My word is my bond…they seemed like nice people…business is all about trust…”

All phrases that we have perhaps used or heard, but in reality, do they offer any protection when things go wrong? I am sure that in business or in our private lives we have all been stung by people we thought were trustworthy.

The difficult thing is protecting ourselves from the occasions when things do go wrong.

In business we are careful, or should be, when it comes to health and safety.

Consider how businesses deal with the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We look at a job and consider what, if any, PPE equipment should be used. We make sure that if any PPE is issued it is fit for purpose, that it is in good condition and most importantly that it is then used by those carrying out the work.

Now consider the same steps in protecting your business on a contractual front. You need to make sure that you use proper terms and conditions. You need to review them from time to time to make sure that they are fit for purpose and you must always use them all the time.

Before it’s too late, take the test now.

Audit your business and ask yourself: Is it in writing?

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FEATURES SELECT INDUSTRY AWARDS 2017

True North North Electrical Services won the Best Electrical Safety Project at the SELECT Awards 2016, a year after scooping the Best Use of Training prize. As the 2017 awards get under way, Safety, Health, Environment & Quality Manager Aly Miller reveals how staying true to their principles led to double success

By Iain Mason Hello Aly. Why do you think NES won two SELECT Awards?

We’re a relatively new company. And at the outset, we recognised that the particular skill set and culture we required wasn’t out there. So we took a commitment to grow and develop our own people to a level we aspired to. We didn’t want to be as good as the competition – we wanted to be better, which set the ethos right from the start.

Both awards were essentially driven around making sure that the young people coming into the business had the right foundations.

Almost 25 per cent of our workforce are apprentices, so you can teach them the correct behaviours and culture from the very beginning.

And how successful has that been?

It’s a challenge, but we’re happy with how our young people responded – they’re really keen to learn. One of the training programmes we ran was called Beyond Compliance. It effectively said that if we’re only doing things because someone else wants us to, we’ll never have the correct behaviour and safety culture. Instead, we want people to act properly for the right reasons – it’s a very simple philosophy.

NES Director Kenny Duncan (centre) with some of the company’s apprentices 14

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Have the awards made a difference to your business?

They certainly have! We never thought we were doing anything exceptional – it was just what we believed in. But getting external recognition for those things has made a huge difference, particularly in things like tendering and Pre Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs). Instead of just ticking a box, we can prove we walk the talk. Being recognised as best in class by your peers is invaluable.

What was the impact on staff?

Fantastic. When we received the first award in 2015, I don’t think we realised what we’d achieved. When we won again last year, there was the realisation that we’re doing something totally different.

All of a sudden the team seem to be walking taller – they’re rightly very proud.

You’ve talked about going above and beyond. Does that tie in with the company ethos?

It’s very simple – do the right things and behave correctly for the right reasons.

The Beyond Compliance message was to listen and understand what is expected and most importantly why. We work on so many different sites where standards can vary, so if we let someone else set a standard to keep our people safe, it’s not a good place to be. That’s why we tell people that we’ll bring our own safety standards and behaviours and our own work ethic and ethos, irrespective of what site we’re on.

SELECT

Industry Awards 2017

Aly (second right) with NES colleagues after completing the Caledonian Challenge in 2016

IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK Aly says that as well as working together, the close-knit NES team plays together, taking part in team-building events in aid of good causes.

He said: “We’re very keen to participate externally in team challenges and charity events and have pulled our boots on and taken part in quite a few over the last three or four years.

So will you be entering the SELECT Awards this year?

I’m sure we will. We don’t actually sit down and think: “What can we do?” But we’ll take a call on it because the whole process is continuous – it’s a journey.

We’re a values-driven company and people are at the core of what we do.

Would you recommend entering?

Absolutely. The real benefit is that it’s so easy to fit into a little silo and think you’re doing all the right things, but if you submit yourself to third party scrutiny you can really demonstrate what you do and what Aly (right) collects the you’re about.

2016 award The SELECT

“We entered the Caledonian Challenge in 2016, and this year the Glen Affric to Kintail challenge which is a 24-hour 44-mile hike through the Highlands.

“We’ve also done things like a slow marathon and are doing the Nevis Night Walk. We’re constantly looking for a good cause and an excuse to get together and do a 26-mile walk!”

awards let us compare ourselves with our peers and reinforce our mission to be better.

Sounds like you’re a confident bunch at NES? We’re not precious. We take part in engineering open days and collaborate closely with many people to widen our field of expertise, including colleges and clients. So we actively engage with clients to help us develop and improve our safety systems and procedures.

As a result, we’ve actually had colleges and clients adopting our systems, which is obviously very satisfying.

COMPANY PROFILE Based in Elgin and Inverness, NES provide a full range of commercial and industrial electrical services, with their major manufacturing and production clients including Norbord and Diageo.

They also offer a range of specialist services, including an electric motor supply and repair centre.

See www.nesnorth.com for details.

Read an extended version of this interview at cabletalkmagazine.com CABLEtalk

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FEATURES SELECT INDUSTRY AWARDS 2017

Join our win

Entry to the SELECT Industry Awards 2017 is now open, giving you the chance to have your innovation and excellence recognised.

Putting your entry in is quick and easy – and if you’re successful, you’ll join our star-studded cast of winners onstage in Glasgow in October

★

BEST NEW PRODUCT

Sponsored by CEF An organisation who has designed, developed and brought an innovative new product to market.

★

BEST DELIVERY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE Sponsored by BlueSky Pensions A Member company who consistently goes the extra mile to provide excellent customer service.

★

BEST USE OF TRAINING

Sponsored by Ross Electrical A Member company who can show how training has been used to enhance their business.

By Demi Armstrong Events, Marketing & Website Coordinator

I

t’s that time of year when you have the chance to see your hard work rewarded and your name up in lights – the SELECT Industry Awards 2017.

This year we’re looking for entrants in six categories and are encouraging multi-talented Members to really showcase their achievements by entering more than one category.

Winners will be announced at a black tie gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Friday 13 October 2017.

Newell McGuiness, Managing Director, SELECT, said: “Our SELECT Awards are the most AWARD SPONSORS: 16

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prestigious on the UK electrotechnical calendar, celebrating innovation and rewarding individuals and Members across the industry in Scotland.

“This year’s awards are again dedicated to upholding and celebrating the highest standards in our industry with categories covering a wide range of disciplines and services.”

As well as following in the footsteps of our previous winners, the SELECT Industry Awards 2017 offer a

tremendous opportunity for: ●Business ● development: Entering will raise the profile of your company and act as an invaluable business development tool. ●Industry ● recognition: You and your staff will be recognised for your outstanding achievements and initiatives and the extraordinary work done over the past year. ●Networking: ● Spend the best night of the year with friends and industry

SELECT

Industry Awards 2017

nning line-up TIPS FOR ENTERING In addition to these awards, three other awards will be made on the night:

★

BEST ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROJECT Sponsored by Electrical Safety First A Member company who has had a clear and positive effect on enhancing electrical safety.

★

BEST SMALL CONTRACTOR Sponsored by ECInsurance Open to a Member company with 10 employees or fewer.

★

BEST VISUAL PROMOTION

Sponsored by Voltimum A Member company who has used promotional materials to raise the profile and awareness of their business.

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by the SJIB & Edmundson Electrical

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Sponsored by Schneider Electric

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Megger

●●Type your application and use short sentences or bullet points ●●Don’t write more than the required number of words ●●Highlight the contribution made by individuals – make it personal ●●Tell the judges straight why you should win ●●Use supporting pictures and documents ●●Highlight the problems faced and how you solved them ●●Use testimonials and be passionate about your achievements ●●Nominate one person to be responsible for all your entries

JUDGING & SHORTLIST The judging process in each category will be conducted in two stages.

Ente selecta r at www. w

by Frid ards.co.uk ay 30 Ju ne

colleagues, promoting your products and services. ●Staff ● motivation: Hosting a table for staff can recognise outstanding achievement and reward those members of your team who have gone the extra mile. ●Press ● coverage and PR: Raise your profile with extensive coverage in both CABLEtalk magazine and the trade press, both before and after the event.

But hurry! The deadline for entries is

Friday 30 June – so you only have a few weeks to visit www.selectawards.co.uk and tell us why you should win.

If your entry is shortlisted, you’ll receive two free tickets for the dinner and awards, with B&B for two in the Radisson Blu. Newell McGuiness added: “I wish everyone the very best of luck – and I look forward to seeing you in person in Glasgow later this year for another fantastic evening.”

1. Entry forms assessed: A panel of industry experts will score each application on its merits. A shortlist for each category will then announced in the next edition of CABLEtalk. The judges for this first round are drawn from SELECT, CABLEtalk’s publishers, Electrical Safety First, the Electrical Distributors’ Association and SELECT’s Registration Board.

2. Visit by the judging team: Each shortlisted Member company will be visited by the judging team to assess their entry. We will also collect additional supporting information and materials. The team making this visit will not be involved in selecting the shortlisted firms from the first stage.

i

For more information email Demi Armstrong on demi.armstrong@select.org.uk or call 0131 445 5577.

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FEATURES BUSINESS LEADER

From the boiler room to the boardroom Margaret Fitzsimons is Director of the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA). Here, she outlines the challenges she sees in an everchanging market – and why the association’s new ETIM-UK initiative is aiming to take the pressing issue of product data to the very top

By Iain Mason Hello Margaret. What are some of the challenges you face at the EDA? Technology is a big concern. The products on offer through electrical wholesalers are becoming more sophisticated and require greater technical expertise to explain and sell.

They’re also ever-changing, so wholesalers have to keep pace with constant product introductions and removals. The industry needs to upskill to sell these more hi-tech products.

So is this an unprecedented time for change?

It’s particularly remarkable. We’ve had a revolution in lighting where the traditional bulb, manufactured by the major players, has been replaced by LEDs that are much easier to produce.

So in addition to trusted brands, there 18

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are importers springing up all over the UK offering LEDs. We’re working with the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) to help make wholesalers aware of the many quality and compliance issues.

Could you give some examples?

Trying to attract and retain quality staff can be a challenge, so a lot of our efforts go into training. Our Specialist Product Knowledge Programme provides specific expertise to help wholesalers better understand the products they sell.

Apprenticeships are also vital to attract new talent and our aim is to build an education and training pathway, starting at our entry-level apprenticeship and continuing for several years, to foster a culture of continuous learning. Making our members aware of the benefits of taking on an apprentice is also a priority.

So how confident do you feel What else is the EDA about the future? currently doing?

Very. One reason is the Our agenda is both broad and exceptional networking ethos deep – there is so much to do. in the electrical industry.

We had a strategic review a Creating an environment year or so ago and followed for decision makers to build it up with extensive research relationships face-to-face is to identify the concerns of recognised by the EDA, electrical wholesalers and which is why our networking manufacturers. We’re programme is a key now trying to address pillar of our work. It the most important of oils the machinery those concerns, make of business because our members aware people pick up the of the challenges, and phone and know help them react to who to speak to.

Margaret Fitzsimons them efficiently.

People enjoy

Why is it important – and what’s been the reaction?

The word ‘data’ either makes people fall asleep or feel overwhelmed.

They say: “That’s not my department.

We have a data expert.” They have to sell it to the MD – but the person who really understands the value of this data to the business is the IT professional. So we’re trying to take data out of the boiler room and up to the bridge – if you’ll excuse the shipping analogy – and make business leaders understand how vital it is to get their data in order. We’re at the buy-in stage of saying to MDs: “You’ve got to understand this and get your data team to do it.”

working in the industry and with each other and there’s a willingness for it to continue.

Apart from lighting, what are the other big changes?

Technology has changed the way consumers buy and how wholesalers are expected to sell. It’s fair to say that the UK wholesaler has not been an early adopter, so we’ve got to try to help the wholesalers adapt and make their products available online. We don’t want people to stop coming to the trade counter, but we do need to be able to offer them multi-channel purchasing.

It’s why we’ve launched ETIM-UK, a major project related to product data.

So what’s the theory behind ETIM? Businesses can’t maintain an e-commerce website if they don’t have product information to populate it. Wholesalers currently have about 200-500 suppliers and each one sends their data in a different format, be it PDF, Excel or Word. To put it online, you have to key it all in from scratch.

We’re engaging with manufacturers and wholesalers to adopt a Europeanwide standard – ETIM. Most European wholesalers will only accept product data delivered to them in an ETIM format.

What about manufacturers and wholesalers?

We’re lucky that the data starts with the manufacturer. We have 69 affiliated members, 20 of whom are very large European companies already using ETIM. So it’s easy for them to have the data available for the UK, with just a few tweaks to the translations. So they’re fairly positive.

And what about the impact on BIM? Some manufacturers say: “We don’t want this different standard as we’re working towards BIM.” But we’re speaking to several organisations involved in the development and promotion of BIM. We’re trying to get the message out there that ETIM is not an alternative to BIM – it complements and enhances it.

So how is your relationship with SELECT? Scotland is a key market for us and we have a very good relationship with our SELECT colleagues. The EDA’s Scottish Section is particularly active, organising a number of events, including the annual Sportsman’s Dinner and Scottish Function.

As well as our recent Forum, we’ve also just announced a new EDA Scottish Section Apprentice of the Year category, to be presented at the SELECT Awards 2017. It’s a good example of the significant support for education and training that exists throughout the electrical supply chain in Scotland.

And finally, if you could wave a magic wand, what would you change in the industry?

I see the industry is a three-step distribution channel, with manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors all facing the same problems, but not really tackling them together. I’d love to see these three links in the chain unite to address any issues as one.

WHAT IS THE EDA? The Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) has been serving and representing the UK’s electrical wholesale sector since 1914. With 250 members and 69 affiliate members (manufacturers), EDA membership represents an estimated 75% of the UK’s electrical sector.

Members include national leaders such as Edmundson Electrical Ltd, Rexel UK and City Electrical Factors (CEF) as well as hundreds of independents who benefit from EDA membership through their buying groups.

WHAT IS ETIM? Formerly known as the European Technical Information Model, ETIM is a system for classifying technical products. The ETIM classification lists the most important technical characteristics for any product.

Currently applied to seven million products globally, it is multi-lingual, supplier neutral and, once embedded in a product information management (PIM) system, can be delivered in print and online.

Read an extended version of this interview at cabletalkmagazine.com

EDA REGIONAL BUSINESS FORUM: Pages 20 & 21 CABLEtalk

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FEATURES EVENTS

Plenty to talk about From counterfeit cabling to space-age lighting, there was lots to discuss at the recent EDA Regional Business Forum

O

By Iain Mason ver 70 wholesalers, manufacturers and industry representatives from across the UK headed to Renfrew for the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) Regional Business Forum. Held at the Glynhill Hotel on 11 May, delegates gathered to listen to a wide cross-section of speakers.

Among them was Dave Forrester, SELECT’s Head of Technical Services, whose excellent presentation covered two areas – the impact on the industry of the private landlord electrical inspection regime, and the potential impact of the upcoming 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations on wholesalers.

Other speakers at the event were Martin Boorman, UK Sales Manager for Prysmian Group, who revealed that around 20 million metres of counterfeit 20

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cable was seized and destroyed last year.

He also discussed the new Construction Products Regulations which come into effect on 1 July, requiring suppliers and wholesalers to check the source of materials to ensure they’re compliant.

Also looking to the future was Craig Allan, New Business Development Implementation Manager at Feilo Sylvania lighting manufacturers. His talk on the Internet of Things examined how new lighting technology is developing smart buildings and creating revenue opportunities for the wholesaler.

There were also updates from EDA Director Margaret Fitzsimons, EDA Head of Marketing & Communications Anne Vessey, EDA Education and Training Manager Simone Fonseca and Kristian Van Rensburg, Chair of the EDA Scottish Section and Manager at Stearn Electric Co Ltd. The Forum was followed in the evening by the ever-popular Sportsman’s Dinner, which included a charity raffle.

Margaret said: “The Forum was a huge success and covered a wide range of important topics that have a very real impact on our members.

“From a personal point of view, it was great to meet up with so many familiar faces – and a few new ones too.”

The EDA has 230 wholesaler members and 69 affiliate members (manufacturers). See www.eda.org.uk

Craig Allan points the way ahead

Margaret Fitzsimons addresses delegates

Martin Boorman discusses cabling

Spot yo the cro urself in more pwd – see the ED ics from cableta A Forum at lkmaga com zine.

SELECT’s Dave Forrester takes centre stage in Renfrew

Over 70 delegates from across the UK attended

The Forum offered a chance to catch up

EDA Scottish Section Chair Kristian Van Rensburg (centre) takes a break with members of the EDA Scottish Section outside the hotel CABLEtalk

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FEATURES ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Ensuring efficient installations Many laws, policies and initiatives have appeared in the UK relating to energy efficiency over the last few years. After the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive set out specific targets for a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption by 2020, we examine energy efficiency in low voltage electrical installations

By Bob Cairney I Eng MIET Technical Standards Adviser, SELECT

W

hen considering measures to reduce energy consumption, the energy performance of buildings is a key area identified for action. According to government information, 40 per cent of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emissions results from the way lighting and heating are used in buildings.

One solution to reduce carbon emissions (CO2) and optimise the energy

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performance of new buildings was the introduction of specific mandatory standards for energy conservation into Scotland’s building standards system.

In Scotland, a new building must comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations and the mandatory standards contained in the Scottish Building Standards Technical handbooks (domestic and nondomestic). This has proved to be an effective means of ensuring that appropriate measures are being considered and implemented to improve energy efficiency associated with the installation of lighting and heating systems, particularly in new buildings.

However, the energy efficiency of the electrical installation itself is not currently considered within the scope of the Scottish Building standards. With respect to electrical installation, they include requirements ensuring: ●energy ● efficiency measures within the building fabric, such as thermal insulation, are not disturbed during the install of cables and equipment ●suitable ● controls are installed for cooling, heating and lighting ●energy ● efficient lighting is installed ●associated ● equipment is properly commissioned.

Taking account of energy reduction measures when designing the electrical

installation will also have a significant bearing on the amount of energy a building consumes throughout its working life.

Consideration of potential measures to reduce the electrical energy consumption will result in less impact on the environment generally, reduce direct energy costs and may also result in other benefits such as reduced maintenance requirements in some instances.

Ideally, the objective for the designer of the electrical installation should be to get the best functional installation to meet the client’s needs for the lowest electrical energy consumption possible.

The introduction of a new international standard, IEC 60364-8-1

LED lamps can help save energy

Low Voltage electrical installations – Part 8-1 energy efficiency, may therefore be timely indeed as it provides a source of guidance and information for those trying to achieve such objectives.

Significantly, its technical content has also now been adapted for inclusion within the forthcoming new version of the important electrical industry standard BS 7671.

Work on the development of BS 7671

by JPEL/64, the joint BSi/IET committee who are responsible for this, has been progressing well over the last year or so. A draft for public comment of the proposed BS 7671:2018 – 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations – which includes a new Part 8 providing specific requirements and guidance for energy efficiency, is to be made available on 1 June 2017.

Subject to final approval of the content, the proposed new Part 8 Energy Efficiency provides a useful framework upon which clients can decide on the level of energy efficiency they want to achieve within a proposed electrical installation – and will be yet another prompt to consider energy consumption and energy efficiency measures.

The decision on the level of energy efficiency measures required will, however, need to be taken in consultation between the client and the designer and should take account of user requirements.

For example, there may be significant cost considerations to energy efficiency measures being proposed and the client and user may, due to budgetary constraints or for operational reasons, only require the installation to be provided at a nominal level rather than the optimal level that could be achieved with the obvious downside of a higher energy consumption and acceptance of

i

To comment on the DPC of BS 7671 go to the BSI Standards development portal: https:// standardsdevelopment.

“Taking account of energy reduction during design will have a significant bearing on the amount of energy consumed during a building’s life” higher energy costs. To assess the energy efficiency of the electrical installation properly will also obviously require additional resource and information to be made available to the designer. As a minimum, consideration should include: ●an ● assessment of the installation load energy profile ●the ● availability of local generation such as renewables ●reduction ● of energy losses in the electrical installation ●the ● arrangement of the circuits with regard to energy efficiency ●the ● use of energy according to customer demand ●the ● tariff structure available and offered by the supplier of the electrical energy.

Informative annexes are proposed in the draft Part 8 of BS 7671:201 8 to provide examples of a method of assessing the energy efficiency of an installation and could be a useful tool to provide an installation profile for future use by the client.

Classification of the installation for this will be based on the five levels of energy efficiency measures that are defined and could be used to identify specific areas of the electrical installation for improving energy efficiency in future developments where budgetary constraints alter or changes to operational conditions have occurred.

Hopefully, the information provided in this article provides a small insight into the possible introduction of these proposed new energy efficiency requirements which are likely to be significant to those involved in the design of an electrical installation if agreed.

It will be interesting to see how this will progress further over the next few months after DPC comments have been considered.

One thing is certain, however – given the continued drive to reduce energy consumption and provide viable energy efficiency options in the UK, it is unlikely to be the last of such changes. Other IEC standards related to IEC 60364-8-1 Low Voltage electrical installations – Part 8-1 Energy efficiency are currently in development and will require to be scrutinised as they are progressed.

Solar panels are now becoming mainstream installations

bsigroup.com and register.

You can then log in to read and comment on proposed and draft standards, including BS 7671.

The final approved version of BS 7671:2018 is likely to be completed and available from 1 July 2018.

However, the content

may be subject to change from that of the DPC after consideration of comments received during the DPC period.

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FEATURES EMPLOYMENT

No-ties working: A good gig or not?

The so-called ‘gig economy’ is a phrase that’s become increasingly popular. But what is it exactly and how could it affect us – especially when it comes to employment status?

I

By Julie Thompson Employment Affairs Policy Development Adviser 24

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t’s been described as a labour market characterised by the prevalence of engaging independent contractors or freelancers as opposed to permanent employees.

Gig economy workers generally consist of couriers, delivery drivers and taxi drivers and instead of a regular wage, they get paid for the ‘gigs’ they do.

In the UK, it’s estimated that five million people are employed in this capacity.

Supporters of the gig economy claim people can benefit from flexible hours, giving them control over how much time they work as they juggle other priorities in their lives. In addition, the flexible nature often offers benefits to employers, as they only pay when the

work is available and don’t incur staff costs when the demand is not there.

Opponents to the gig economy state that this type of engagement is a form of exploitation with very little workplace protection.

While this type of ‘no-ties workforce’ is undoubtedly of benefit to the way some types of organisations operate, it does create a level of uncertainty over their employment status.

Traditionally, people who work within the gig economy were classed as independent contractors – i.e. self-employed – and not as employees or workers. That means they have no protection against unfair dismissal, no right to redundancy payments, and no right to receive the national minimum wage, paid holiday or sickness pay. It is these aspects that are proving contentious.

So what’s the difference?

The difference between an employee and a worker is defined within Section

230 of the Employment Rights Act (ERA).

Generally, an employee will work to the terms within a contract of employment, and will carry out the work personally. A contract exists when terms such as pay, annual leave and working hours are agreed. Although the contract doesn’t have to be written down to be valid, it is best to record the main terms and

“Opponents say gig work is a form of exploitation with very little workplace protection”

conditions of employment in writing.

Employees are entitled to a wide range of employment rights, including all those to which a worker is entitled.

Examples of employee rights include: ●a ● written statement of employment ●an ● itemised pay slip ●the ● National Minimum Wage ●holiday ● pay, maternity and paternity pay etc ●the ● right to request flexible working hours ●the ● right not to be discriminated against.

A worker will also work under the terms of a contract or other arrangement to do work or services personally for a reward. Workers generally have a limited right to send someone else to carry out the work, such as a sub-contractor.

Workers are also entitled to some employment rights including: ●the ● National Minimum Wage ●holiday ● pay ●protection ● against unlawful discrimination ●the ● right not to be treated less favourably if they work part-time.

A self-employed person will run their own business and take responsibility for its success. Self-employed people are more likely to be contracted to provide a service for a client. They will not be paid through PAYE and don’t have the same employment rights and responsibilities as employees or workers.

Legal cases

There have been a number of recent cases that have challenged employment status, with Smith v Pimlico Plumbers being one of the most important.

Pimlico Plumbers describe their plumbers as ‘self-employed operatives’.

The wording of the contract suggested that the claimant, Mr Smith, was in business on his own account, providing a service to Pimlico Plumbers.

Plumbers are required under the contract to wear Pimlico’s branded uniform, use a van leased from Pimlico with a GPS tracker and the company’s logo, and work a minimum number of weekly hours. Mr Smith could choose when he worked and which jobs he took, was required to provide his own tools

and equipment, and handled his own tax and insurance.

There was no express term allowing the plumbers to send a substitute to carry out work on their behalf, although there was evidence that they could swap jobs with each other.

Following the termination of this arrangement, Mr Smith brought numerous tribunal claims, including unfair dismissal. It was found that Mr Smith fell short of satisfying the test required in order to be deemed to be an employee. However, the Court of Appeal found that Mr Smith was classified in legal jargon as a “limb (b) worker” as defined in Section 230 (3)(b) of the ERA. He was therefore not entitled to claim unfair dismissal – but he did have certain basic rights such as holiday pay.

The key factors in the Court of Appeal determining that he was a worker included that there was: ●an ● obligation of personal performance ●a ● requirement to work a minimum number of hours, and ●a ● degree of control exerted by the company over Mr Smith’s work.

The employment status of workers has also been confirmed in cases relating to Uber and City Sprint.

New Ways of Working

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is holding an inquiry into a range of working practices.

The Taylor Review on Employment Practices in the Modern Economy will consult on employment practices in the UK and review how these need to change in order to keep pace with modern business models.

It is highly likely that the gig economy will be a central part of this review, which should hopefully provide more clarity in relation to these types of working agreements.

MORE EMPLOYMENT Fiona Harper discusses mental health issues in the workplace: Pages 36 & 37 CABLEtalk

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FEATURES TRAINING

Maintaining the highest standards The current National Occupational Standards (NOS) are at the heart of modern apprenticeships, but like anything, they also need to change to keep pace with an evolving industry. So what does the future hold for this vital foundation for the electricians of tomorrow?

By Elaine Ellis Qualifications and Skills Development Manager, SELECT

T

he Scottish Government has training at the heart of its skill strategy through the completion of vocational apprenticeships, with a current target of 25,000 young people and

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adults to start each year in Scotland.

Since 1974, apprenticeship training for electricians has involved attending college and completing vocational qualifications, with the route to becoming a Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) gold-card qualified electrician having a successful apprenticeship at its core.

At SELECT, we want every apprenticeship to provide a solid foundation in electrical theory and practice, with its completion and qualifications to have real value and meaning for employers.

The confidence that the industry currently has in apprenticeships comes from knowing that they’re based on a standard – even though most people won’t know how such a standard was created or how it’s supported.

However, a successful standard ensures a continued trust in apprenticeships, which in turn is vital for mobility of labour – and to ensure that an electrician has the skills to develop in a range of specialist areas.

A backbone for training

Apprenticeships change over time to keep pace with regulations, technology and best practice, with qualifications continually evolving too. So for example, in 1974, apprentices completed City & Guilds Parts A and B, whereas today they complete a Modern Apprenticeship at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 7.

But whatever the qualification, National Occupational Standards (NOS) are the backbone from which apprenticeship frameworks are created.

These NOS are important as they directly influence the design of the electrical installation apprenticeship qualification and directly impact on the skills and knowledge demonstrated by a newly-qualified electrician.

A standard for everyone

The last major review to the electrical

At SELECT, we want every apprenticeship to provide a solid foundation in electrical theory and practice

NOS happened in 2013, and was managed on behalf of the industry by SummitSkills, a Standard Setting Organisation (SSO). In Scotland, SELECT, the SJIB and the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) both provided expertise and resources to support the process.

As part of this process, feedback was gathered from surveys sent out to hundreds of electrical companies.

Employer forums were also held throughout the UK, with representatives from SELECT Member companies taking in working groups to review the NOS in Scotland.

The support from the industry was excellent throughout, but the aim was not to create a standard that worked only for the companies who took part in the working groups and employer forums. Instead, it was about creating a standard that worked for companies of

all sizes in all locations – and for the electricians of the future. The resulting standard was then used as the building block for qualifications, with the NOS feeding into the revision of the Standard Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in electrical installation in Scotland. It also informed alternative apprenticeship training frameworks throughout the rest of the UK and remains an integral part of all vocational qualifications in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A changing landscape

The apprenticeship landscape in England has changed beyond recognition in recent years as it moves to an approach that places employer demands at the heart of vocational qualification design. The Government has encouraged employer input into apprenticeship design through the development of Trailblazer

Apprenticeships, which can place the views of a small group of employers at the heart of the design.

When creating apprenticeships, employers can currently choose to work with existing NOS for their industry or choose to go in different directions not based on the NOS. Within the revised Trailblazer Apprenticeship, the NOS remained central to the design as employers within the industry recognised its importance. This was a positive outcome that helped to ensure continued parity across the nations and protects the integrity of the electrical apprenticeship.

Without a base that meets the needs of all the industry, there is a danger that the design instead meets the needs of a few – and more often than not this leads to deskilling and a loss of faith in a qualification.

The change in landscape in England, along with many major policy shifts throughout the UK, has led to SSOs and Sector Skills Councils (SSC) becoming less important in terms of the London-based UK Government agenda. This shift in priority also brought removal of funding and led to the closure of many SSCs and SSOs, including SummitSkills, which shut its doors in March this year.

A commitment to support

The NOS that supports our qualifications is still valid and relevant. However, the environment we operate in changes constantly, with a new edition of the IET Wiring Regulations on the horizon. Therefore, NOS will need to be reviewed and updated in the next couple of years to ensure they continue to serve the industry.

SummitSkills did an excellent job of involving and listening to the industry when updating NOS in 2013, but it’s not clear yet who will be given responsibility for maintaining the NOS that underpins our apprenticeship.

However, SELECT is actively working to ensure that whatever the future holds, employers’ needs are listened to and that we continue to have faith in every apprenticeship – and the skills an electrician will have developed by the end of it.

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FEATURES TOOLBOX TALKS

Up and running The 2017 SELECT Toolbox Talks roadshows are now well under way, with Members at the first two events in Edinburgh and the Borders enjoying a wealth of free advice and guidance

By Demi Armstrong Events, Marketing & Website Coordinator

T

he first Toolbox Talk of 2017 was held in SELECT’s offices at the Walled Garden on Tuesday 9 May, followed by a second event in Newton St Boswells the next day.

By the time this issue of CABLEtalk hits your desk, we will also have visited Dundee, Glasgow, Dumfries and Kilmarnock – with a further six venues still to go.

This year’s events feature presentations on the latest changes to the Building Standards Scheme run by

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SELECT – a vital topic as so much has changed since the SELECT Approved Certifier of Construction scheme was introduced in 2005. The presentation brings Members up to date with the latest changes, including: ●information ● on the guidance issued by the Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) on the issue of dealing with work carried out by non-certified firms ●planned ● changes to the building warrant fee structure ●steps ● taken by the Scottish Government on the reappointment of local authorities as verifiers, after the recent appointment cycle saw Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling only reappointed for one year.

The second presentation looks at the different types of Surge Protective Devices and their individual requirements following their appearance in a new section of BS 7671: 2008, entitled 534: Selection and erection of surge protective devices.

In addition to the two technical

updates, each Toolbox Talk will feature a short presentation by the SELECT branch chairs, outlining their work on behalf of members and the important role they play in shaping SELECT’s policies.

Local Branch Chair, Keith Groom, told Members at the Edinburgh event: “Those who attend branch meetings really enjoy the experience. The chance to chat with other contractors, before and after the meeting itself is also a bonus. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved!”

Keith also told attendees about the events at the last branch meeting held a few months ago. He said: “We heard about an advertising campaign which is running just now on local radio and local press to highlight to the public the importance of using properly qualified electricians. In addition to press and radio adverts, we have also trialled some advertising at railway stations including Kirkcaldy Keith Groom, SELECT Edinburgh & South East Scotland Branch Chair (left) and John McGhee, SELECT Head of Resources, speak at the Edinburgh Talk

Members listen attentively to SELECT’s Jim Cornwall

See m the Edi ore pics of n Border burgh and s cableta events at lkmaga com zine.

Members catch up with each other at the Borders Toolbox Talk on 10 May

Making notes during the Edinburgh discussions

and Tweedbank. This ties in with our political campaign of seeking to regulate our profession.

“At the moment anyone can claim to be an ‘electrician’ but we are making the case to government that only someone holding an SJIB Grade Card at

Electrician level or above should be able to justifiably claim to be an electrician.

“Falsely claiming to be an electrician or carrying out electrical work without holding this accreditation should lead to prosecution under criminal law.”

As well as the presentations, each

#TBT2017 Fact and Figures

12

events across Scotland

550+

people expected to attend

3,000 2,000 2,000 miles to travel to all events

teas and coffees drunk

sandwiches consumed

100

famous Killie Pies eaten

Toolbox Talk event features a small exhibition featuring a number of manufacturers and SELECT affinity scheme providers.

This year’s events are supported by Pike & Bambridge, Scolmore Group, Megger, Wylex, Martindale Electric, Thin Red Line, M2, Aico, Linian, Schenider and Blue Sky Pensions.

BOOK YOUR PLACE AT A TALK NEAR YOU: See Page 42 CABLEtalk

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FOCUS RETENTIONS

5-page special

Why are we still in the grip of retentions?

Around £3 billion in cash retentions is currently outstanding in the UK. In this special report, we look at alternatives and how Members can play a part in changing the controversial measure

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT Pages 32 & 33 THE WORLD OF RETENTIONS Pages 34 & 35

T

he 200-year-old practice of cash retentions sees a portion of a supplier’s bill held back, supposedly as security until defects are put right. But the system is often abused, with contractors treating the cash as their own and taking years to pay up – if at all.

Recent figures from the Specialist Engineering Contractors' Group (SEC) showed that the top 12 UK construction companies are owed £1 billion in retentions; part of the £3 billion currently outstanding in the UK. Knock-on effects include a lack of profitability throughout the supply chain, which can lead to corners being cut and a lack of investment in skills training or in tackling weak productivity.

Now the SEC, of which SELECT is an influential member, is urging the UK Government to do the same as North America and parts of Europe and introduce laws to protect or ring-fence cash retentions. This could reduce the risk of funds being lost to insolvency and encourage more timely payment.

It would also prevent practices such as

using the money for working capital or even investment purposes.

Alan Brown MP took the fight to the Commons in April, introducing a Bill calling for new legislation.

So could this be the beginning of the end for retentions – and could its grip on Members' money one day be released?

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FOCUS RETENTIONS

Strike while the iron's hot!

Following the recent bid by Alan Brown to introduce a retentions Bill, Professor Rudi Klein urges Members to keep up the momentum by asking candidates in the upcoming General Election for their support

By Professor Rudi Klein SEC Group CEO and Barrister

F

irstly let us congratulate Alan Brown, the Kilmarnock and Louden MP, for making history by introducing in the House of Commons the first-ever Bill on protecting cash retentions. We understand that Margot James, the Small Business Minister in Theresa May’s Government, agreed that it was an important issue.

Unfortunately, Alan’s Bill will not progress because of the General Election. But he has helped to maintain the momentum for legislation to protect

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cash retentions either by ring-fencing them in a trust account – or in a Government-approved scheme similar to those statutory schemes that protect a tenant’s deposit in the private rented sector.

Large companies in the construction industry and their clients, including public sector clients, should live within the revenues they generate by their own activities and not rely on accessing over £3 billion worth of retentions ultimately funded by small firms.

These monies are wholly at risk; this would not be acceptable in any other industry sector. But it is not just the £3 billion. One could almost double this amount by adding the costs associated with chasing the monies, waiting for release of the monies (i.e. the loss of interest) and losses from upstream insolvencies.

In the public sector in Scotland, more than £120 million worth of retentions is outstanding at any one time.

Where do we go from here?

SELECT member firms have been very vocal in highlighting the debilitating impact on businesses of the cash retentions system. This has helped to keep the issue alive.

The UK Government should have published a review of the retentions

system in early February this year but it has been further delayed by the General Election. But, even if we do not succeed in getting legislation in the UK Parliament, we should press the Scottish Government to initiate legislation here.

The 8 June General Election

The forthcoming General Election now presents us with the opportunity to email or write to our local candidates vying to become the next Member of Parliament. But what are we going to say to them?

It’s always best to be brief and to the point. We must also obtain a commitment from them that, if elected, they will support the change we are seeking.

Here is what to include in your email or letter: ●You ● are a small business; cash retentions are seriously damaging your business. State the impact on your business, e.g. the amount of retention outstanding; any insolvency losses; cost of chasing retentions; time taken to release the monies etc. ●Tell ● them you are not just saying this. Here’s what Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is saying: “In recent years, construction industry customers have become increasingly

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“This Government continually acknowledges a productivity problem in the UK, yet we have smaller companies struggling with cash flow, stressed and having to put man hours into chasing up these cash retentions. Surely resolving this issue can only improve productivity, in terms not just of the man hours saved through not having to chase up the retentions, but of money released for investment in new equipment or job creation, which will further improve productivity?”

Alan Brown MP, House of Commons, 26 April 2017

Credit: REX/Shutterstock

reluctant to pay retention monies, irrespective of whether there are defects to be made good. It is now common for such monies never to get paid.” ●Enough ● is enough. A few years ago a House of Commons Select Committee described the system as “unfair and outdated”. ●Will ● the candidate support legislation to protect cash retentions

by ring-fencing them in a trust account? Such legislation exists in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australasia. We are trailing behind these other countries. ●Ask ● the candidate to email you indicating their commitment to support legislation on this. ●Provide ● feedback from the candidates to SELECT to help continue the fight.

With your help we can – finally – make a difference. Let’s send 59 MPs from Scotland to the House of Commons with a commitment to support legislation to protect cash retentions.

THE WORLD OF RETENTIONS: Pages 34 & 35 CABLEtalk

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FOCUS RETENTION

The world of We’ve seen how retentions currently work – or don’t work – in the UK, but how does the rest of the world deal with this controversial issue?

Professor Rudi Klein takes a trip around the globe to find out – and discovers that most nations prefer a more civilised system CANADA

The majority of states in Canada have legislation to protect retention monies.

In some cases, the legislation aims to protect all payments down the supply chain. The protection generally takes the form of trust accounts, escrow/ stakeholder accounts, or placing a charge on the property, often called “statutory liens”.

USA

Like Canada, the majority of states in the USA have laws to protect retention monies, and in some cases all payments down the supply chain. This could be a trust account, escrow/stakeholder accounts, or charge on the property. In some US states, the legislation will only place a maximum limit on the time period during which retentions may be withheld. ●●New Mexico has banned retentions ●●Arkansas laws rule that retentions are not to be deducted from those parts of progress payments on public sector contracts that include the cost of materials or equipment stored on site. ●●Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee: Legislation requires retentions to be placed in a trust account.

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NORTHERN IRELAND

The Northern Ireland Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group has condemned the lack of payment security for small firms following the collapse of the Lisburn-based TAL Ltd construction business, which left more than 420 unsecured creditors owed a total of £3.6 million, most of which would have been progress payments and retention monies.

National Executive Officer Alfie Watterson urged two measures to protect local industry: all progress payments relating to public-sector construction works must be made through project bank accounts, and all cash retentions must be ring-fenced in a secure trust account.

UK

Retentions are legally owned by the party that has allowed them to be deducted; they are withheld from sums that have become due. They are, in effect, a conditional loan intended as security for performance, usually to ensure that the contractor returns to remedy defects. The clear intent is that the “loan” will be repaid once the security is no longer required; retentions are not handed over for the purpose of paying the creditors of the party holding the monies.

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retentions FRANCE

The 1975 French Law of Subcontracting (as amended) requires that main contractors provide bank guarantees as security for all payments.

SWITZERLAND

The Swiss Civil Code enables contractors owed monies to place a charge on the property on which the works have been carried out, provided that the monies are outstanding more than three months after completion of the works.

GERMANY

German legislation requires that retention monies are held in a stakeholder account.

MALAYSIA

The Court of Appeal in Malaysia held that retentions must be held in trust following the case of Qimoda Malaysia Sdh Bhd (in liquidation) v Sediabena Sdn Bhd, decided on 12 July 2011. The legal system in Malaysia is similar to our own.

NEW ZEALAND

From 31 March 2017 the Construction Contracts Amendment Act 2015 required all retention monies should be “held on trust by party A as trustee, for the benefit of party B”.

“The use of retentions as working capital is the key concern for the Government; funding working capital from retentions can mask and reward poor performance and poor financial management practices. For example, undercapitalisation and low-price tendering are long-standing features of the construction market that contribute to its low productivity and innovation.

The use of retentions as working capital enables those features to remain with no incentive to change and no incentive for clients or lead contractors to properly manage project risks.”

New Zealand Government Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

AUSTRALIA

The legislation in Australia includes: ●●Construction Contracts Act 2004 (Western Australia) ●●Building & Construction Industry Security of Payment (Retention Money Trust Account) ●●Regulations 2015 (New South Wales).

Statutory trusts for retentions are under consideration in Queensland. The Federal Australian Government is currently considering whether to harmonise construction payment security legislation across all Australian states. This includes trust protection for retention monies.

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FOCUS EMPLOYMENT

Managing mental health at work Stress and mental health issues are all-too-common problems in today’s busy work environments – but there are measures we can all take to support sufferers and reduce the stigma

By Fiona Harper Head of Employment Affairs, SELECT

M

ental health problems were responsible for 11.7 million days lost from work in 2015/16, making it the leading cause of absence in the workplace.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), work-related stress costs employers about £2.8 billion a year, and 37 per cent of all work related ill health cases and 45 per cent of all

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working days lost are due to work related stress. Furthermore, a Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) study found that: ●37 ● per cent of sufferers are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues. ●●57 per cent find it hard to juggle multiple tasks. ●●80 per cent find it hard to concentrate. ●●62 per cent take longer to do tasks. ●●50 per cent are less patient with customers/clients.

The study also found that, for the first time, stress is now the major cause of long-term absence in manual and non-manual workers.

Thankfully, public attitudes towards mental health are improving. Research indicates that people are more willing to live, work and enter into a relationship with someone who has experienced a mental health issue.

That said, in the work environment, many employers still have great difficulty in conducting a sensitive and meaningful dialogue with those employees suffering stress related problems.

Work-related stress is not usually classed as an illness, but the psychological impact of it can give rise to anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder and

schizophrenia. What’s more, stress has also been linked to physical health issues such as heart disease, back pain, as well as gastrointestinal problems.

Stress is an adverse reaction to excessive pressure, and while a little stress is often motivating, it can sometimes reach levels that are too high for a person to cope with.

A mental health condition can be classed as a disability if it has a considerable and lasting effect on a person’s capabilities in terms of carrying out day-to-day activities. This is defined in the Equality Act 2010 as having lasted, or is expected to last, more than one year. Attempting to dismiss an employee for having such a condition will amount to direct disability discrimination.

This is why it is vital to find ways to help employees to manage their mental health. It is up to the employer to put into place reasonable adjustments in order to prevent the employee from being put at a disadvantage because of their disability.

As the main symptom of a stressedout workforce is absence, looking at your absence records is the place to begin in understanding how stress is affecting your employees. The key to effective absence management is early intervention. Effective channels of

communication, including return to work discussions, are paramount in determining the nature of the problem and how to achieve a positive outcome.

In some circumstances, it may be advisable to find a more suitable, alternative role, thus allowing the employee to keep working in an effective manner. This might require a change to the terms and conditions of his/her employment, affecting both duties and pay.

As the employer, you need to ensure that your managers are capable of responding to signs of stress. This requires training to spot issues with performance or problems such as workplace bullying.

Training can also help managers to be more effective in carrying out the difficult conversations that these issues require and in creating a culture where employees feel that they can openly talk about mental health issues.

In short – making sure that those suffering stress receive the right kind of understanding and support, even for things that happen outside the workplace, is paramount in enabling your employees to perform at their best.

Ultimately, fostering an environment of open discussion on these subjects will also help lessen the stigma which, in turn, will help make people less prone to stress-related health issues.

THE COST OF STRESS Employers paying high price for long-term absence

£2.8bn annual cost of

work-related stress to employers

11.7m days lost from work in 2015/16

37%

of work-related ill health cases are due to work-related stress

45%

of working days lost are due to work-related stress

Source: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) / Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD)

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FOCUS EDUCATION

Switched-on youngsters

By Anne Galbraith Chief Executive, SECTT

Get Into Electrical Installation programme with Prince’s Trust is set for third successful year

T

he Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust is delighted to be in discussion with the Prince’s Trust to deliver the Get Into Electrical Installation programme for a third year.

In collaboration with Edinburgh College, West College Scotland and Dundee & Angus College, and with funding from the Electrical Engineering Training Foundation (EETF), we plan to run three six-week programmes, including a week of work experience.

Previous candidates all gained confidence and experience of the college environment, and those now fully employed as Electrical Installation Modern Apprentices are doing well.

Those who didn’t secure employment were offered a place on the preapprenticeship course, which further developed their confidence and skills.

The celebration events at Edinburgh College’s Dalkeith Campus and West College Scotland’s Clydebank Campus were a privilege to attend. Listening to the groups tell their audience of family, friends and employers of their experiences and life stories was memorable. Their loved ones must have been so proud – I know I was.

This course offers an alternative route into employment, with previous participants not having the opportunity to pursue an electrical apprenticeship for a variety of reasons. The course gave them the confidence to go out on work placement and show that they had the right attitude. The attributes employers

Last year’s Edinburgh College participants

value most are enthusiasm and a willingness to turn up on time, learn and do well – all clearly shown by the candidates now training to be electricians. Their enthusiasm was infectious and they were so pleased to show off their booths in the workshop – just the attitude our employers are

looking for. Working with the Prince’s Trust has been a pleasure, and I look forward to working with them again this summer. SECTT will be contacting employers once the candidates have been established to ensure that they all have the opportunity for a one-week work placement.

The West College Scotland class of 2016 CABLEtalk

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THE EASY WAY TO CATCH UP WITH CURRENT AFFAIRS l MORE NEWS & UPDATES l MORE EVENTS & PICTURES l MORE TO READ & DISCOVER

www.cabletalkmagazine.com

PRODUCT SHOWCASE Our handy guide to the latest products to hit the market

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Adjudications: Gotta catch ’em all?

By David Wilson Partner, MacRoberts LLP

VEX BOX HAS GOT YOUR BACK WHEN IT COMES TO ROGUE PLASTERING It’s been an age-old problem in the construction industry, but finally electricians and plasterers can reconcile their differences with a new device from a British inventor.

Vex Box is a polystyrene injection moulded template that fits around the inside frame of an electrical back box.

Once installed by a qualified electrician, the device extends from the base of the electrical back box to meet the plasterboard in front, giving the plasterer

a neat edge to work up to.

The Vex Box allows plasterers to achieve a tidy and superior finish around the box edge, keeping the open box free of plaster and making life easier for the electrician.

The device was the brainchild of Paul Coy, who collaborated with leading invention development company Innovate Product Design to develop and bring it to market.

Innovate MD Alastair Swanwick said: “We see new ideas all the time but this really stood out. It didn’t take us long to recognise the huge potential of this clever, yet brilliantly simple idea.”

Inventor Paul, who had previously worked in the building industry himself, said: “There is no other device that enables plasterers to work as easily around the back box.”

Ideal for both new builds and refurbishments, The Vex Box has already been well received across the building industry and was a finalist in the 2016 Electrical Times Awards.

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CONTACT OUR TEAM TO SHOWCASE YOUR NEW PRODUCT HERE

David Hughes: 0131 561 0022 davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk

OK, so Pokémon is so last year, but adjudications remain in vogue. The short and sharp 28-day timescale of adjudications – subject to an alternative agreement between parties – is a welcome alternative to arbitration or a court action which can drag out for months, if not years.

However adjudications are not without their pitfalls as demonstrated in the recent case of Aecom Design and Build Ltd v Staptina Engineering Services Ltd which confirmed the importance of a catch-all provisions in Notices of Adjudication.

What is a catch-all provision?

Notice of Adjudication was “superfluous”. However the adjudicator determined it gave her jurisdiction to make a decision on not only whether certain deductions from a final account could be made (included in the Notice of Adjudication), but also, by virtue of the catch-all provision, a decision on how the deductions could be made.

The court agreed with the adjudicator, confirming that it is “highly risky” to ignore a catch-all provision.

However, the court confirmed that a catch-all provision does not give an adjudicator “carte blanche” to go outside the scope of the referred dispute.

A catch-all provision allows the adjudicator to make a decision which is not specifically requested of it in the Notice of Adjudication. For example, a referring party will typically seek redress requesting the adjudicator to make a specific decision, e.g. for a specified sum, failing which, such other decision the adjudicator considers proper.

Should I still catch ‘em all?

Aecom Design and Build Ltd v Staptina Engineering Services Ltd

l MacRoberts is an independent commercial law firm with more than 150 years of experience.

Find out more at www.macroberts.com

Aecom considered a catch-all provision in the

Yes! The court accepted that catch-all provisions are commonplace in Notices of Adjudication. Whether or not the adjudicator has exceeded his or her jurisdiction will be determined objectively taking account of the nature, scope and extent of the dispute identified in a Notice of Adjudication.

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L U M N W A L L E D G A R D E N E P L S A

In association with MacRoberts LLP, we’re giving you the chance to win £50 of Amazon vouchers with our wordsearch. Find the words on the right, take a picture of your completed grid and email it to memberservices@select.org.uk by 23 June. Alternatively, cut it out and send it to: Wordsearch, SELECT, The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian EH26 0SB. The winner will be drawn at random. T&Cs are online.

AMPS AWARDS BULB CABLES CIRCUIT COMPONENTS CONDUCTOR COURSES CURRENT EARTH ELECTRICIAN FLOW FUSE GRADECARD LIGHTS LOOP OUTLET REGULATIONS SELECT SHOCK SJIB SOCKET SPARK STATIC TESTBOARDS TOOLS TRAINING VOLTS WALLED GARDEN WIRES

Upcoming events: Dates and venues Toolbox Talks: Inverness Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Thursday 1 June

Toolbox Talks: Isle of Lewis Caladh Inn, Stornoway Thursday 15 June

Toolbox Talks: Aberdeen

Toolbox Talks: Orkney

SELECT Technical Update and AGM

Toolbox Talks: Shetland

Pittodrie Stadium Friday 2 June

River House Conference Centre, Castle Business Park, Stirling Wednesday 7 June

Toolbox Talks: Oban The Wide Mouth Frog Wednesday 14 June 42

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Pickaquoy Centre Wednesday 21 June The Shetland Hotel Thursday 22 June

SELECT Awards

Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow Friday 13 October Details at www.selectawards.co.uk

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Keith Hagan Technical Adviser How long have you worked with SELECT?

I’m relatively new to SELECT, having only joined in October 2016, so I’ve been in the role seven months now.

What does your job entail?

There are many different aspects. On the one hand, I carry out Member and prospective Member assessments throughout the North area. I also help facilitate the training courses run

by SELECT and take my turn on our technical helpline service for Members.

What’s a typical work day like?

There’s never a typical day for me – every day is very different. Whether I’m out in my area doing Member assessments, in the classroom delivering training courses, or on the technical helpline, each one brings something different to my day.

Do you get the chance to meet Members?

Yes, the one common theme in my role is that I get to meet Members on virtually a daily basis, whether it’s out in the field or in the classroom.

What do you like most about your job?

The most enjoyable part is going out and meeting the variety of Members in my area and providing them with advice and technical support to assist them as a SELECT Member.