Tag: Wall of Support

Former government ministers add their support to SELECT’s campaign for regulation of electrical industry

The groundswell of opinion in favour of the campaign for protection of title for electricians has continued into 2024 with a New Year declaration of support from another four prominent members of the Scottish Parliament.

Former Business and Trade Minister Ivan McKee and ex-Transport Minister Kevin Stewart have both shown their backing for regulation of the industry by signing up to the Wall of Support being spearheaded by SELECT, Scotland’s largest construction trade body.

The duo have been joined by Conservative MSPs Craig Hoy and Oliver Mundell as the long-running campaign continues to attract cross-party support from all political factions.

Mr McKee, SNP MSP for Glasgow Provan, said: “Our future heating and energy demands will be met by technology such as solar panels, battery storage and electric heating, which means that electricians will play an ever-increasing role in all our lives.

“Regulation would provide the reassurance that someone calling themself an electrician was qualified to undertake such work and would also enhance the profession’s status and reputation. That’s why I am backing SELECT’s campaign to regulate electricians by introducing protection of title for the profession of electrician.”

Mr Stewart, who is the SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, said: “Being an electrician is a safety critical profession, so it vital that only those people with appropriate skills and qualifications carry out such work.

“Using a qualified electrician gives consumers the confidence that they are employing an expert who undertakes continued professional development and regular assessments to ensure they maintain the highest standards of safety and technical integrity at all times.”

Mr Hoy, who represents South Scotland, signed up to the Wall of Support after visiting SELECT headquarters in Penicuik and speaking to senior staff last month.

He said: “There are thousands of people in Scotland claiming to be electricians without adequate training or certification. This is a serious risk to public safety, and we need support in law for qualified electricians.”

Mr Mundell, who holds the Dumfries-shire seat, added: “It is vitally important that consumers are helped to make informed choices whenever they employ an electrician.”

The latest expressions of solidarity follows the addition last year of Labour MSP and businessman Foysol Choudhury and leading construction organisations the Building Safety Group, LINIAN, Flexel and Hager.

SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson said: “As we enter another year in our long-running campaign, it is particularly heartening to receive even more support from prominent parliamentarians, particularly those who have served in a ministerial capacity.

“AT SELECT, we feel there is a growing understanding of the validity of the case that is being made for electricians, who will be the professionals we turn to as we transition to net zero and an electric future

“The campaign, which focuses on safety in the home and in businesses, has been a long, hard road, but there is a sense that we are entering the end game and we will continue to focus all our efforts in bringing it to a successful conclusion.”

Mr Wilson added: “The new names on the Wall clearly illustrate that, while the campaign is under consideration in the Scottish Parliament, and has Westminster MP support for raising the matter in the House of Commons, support is still very much a live issue.”

By putting their names on a virtual brick in the Wall, supporters are taking a public stance underlines their backing for legislation in Holyrood which would make it an offence for someone to call themselves an electrician when they have no, or inadequate, qualifications.

SELECT has been leading the campaign for years with other industry bodies, including the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) to ensure that those who work in the industry do so in a safe and competent manner.

As well as more than a third of MSPs, other bodies that have contributed a brick to the wall include Unite the Union, Electrical Safety First, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Scottish Association of Landlords, the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group and the Energy Saving Trust. 

SELECT President issues rogue trader alert

Campaign for regulation of electrical industry highlights dangers of sub-standard work

The President of Scotland’s largest trade association says regulation of the electrical industry is essential to prevent the “incompetent and downright dangerous” workmanship that its members encounter on a regular basis.

SELECT President Donald W Orr insists protection of title is the only answer to the faulty electrical work that costs Scotland around £120 million every year.

And he was supported by two professional electricians, who said they signed up to SELECT’s high-profile campaign for regulation after being regularly called upon to fix dangerous work carried out by rogue and unqualified tradespeople.

Mr Orr said: “The level of sub-standard electrical installations that we’re still seeing out there demonstrates that there is an overwhelmingly urgent need to protect the public from the activities of unscrupulous traders.

“We see incompetent and downright dangerous work on a regular basis and it could have tragic results if we don’t act now. Miscreants put the public at risk and tarnish the name of proper electricians and we must weed them out through regulation of the industry.”

Mr Orr’s warning was echoed by two new signatories to SELECT’s Wall of Support, which shows the growing groundswell of support for protection of title, and continues to attract new backing from organisations and politicians.

Jim Kerr of JK Electrical in Glasgow said: “Hardly a week goes where I don’t come across electrical work of extremely poor standard. I’ve seen some truly shocking installations and feel that the problem of unskilled personnel carrying out electrical work is worsening.

“It’s therefore absolutely essential that electricians be given protection of title.”

Another qualified electrical contractor, Brian McKenna, Director of Glasgow-based Enerlek, said: “Too often I have to fix electrical work that’s been installed dangerously and doesn’t conform to the regulations, putting people and premises at risk.

“The title of electrician must therefore be protected and regulated to ensure people are safe.”

Mr Orr also highlighted a recent case where a tradesperson in Wales was fined for signing off reports stating that the electrics in a domestic property were satisfactory. Subsequent investigation revealed that the wiring was 40 years old and unfit for purpose.

He added: “This case shows the very real danger that exists out there, and how unwitting consumers can be put in danger by unscrupulous tradespeople.

“People who falsely trade on the good name of electrical professionals are a serious danger to themselves, the public and the qualified personnel who are so often called upon to rectify their mistakes, and it’s high time they were stopped.”

SELECT’s campaign, run in partnership with the Scottish Joint Industry Board, the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust and Unite the Union, aims to make it an offence for someone to call themselves an electrician when they have no, or inadequate, qualifications.

The Scottish Government has set up an Electricians Working Group to explore the issue and two high-profile consultations on regulation have also taken place, both of which have overwhelmingly supported statutory regulation.

In Scotland, the need for qualified electricians has become more immediate as the deadline nears for the introduction of new legislation on alarms by the Scottish Government.

Mr Orr added: “Our campaign has attracted a massive groundswell of support but we cannot afford to take our foot off the gas.

“Electrotechnical work is extremely complex and it is of primary importance that the professionals who carry it out are fully trained, qualified and up to speed with the most recent developments and regulations which apply to the sector.”

Research carried out on behalf of SELECT in 2018 showed that faulty electrical installations account for 7.1% of all fires in Scotland, and damage caused to property by these fires costs around £9.6 million.

Not including the occasional major cost of catastrophic incidents, it calculated that the overall cost of faulty electrical work in Scotland is around £120 million every year.

SELECT welcomes second consultation on regulation of the electrical industry

Scotland’s largest construction trade association, SELECT, has welcomed a second consultation on regulation of the electrical industry which has been launched by the Scottish Government.

The consultation, lodged by Jamie Hepburn, the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, is seeking views on “whether regulatory measures are required to give greater protection to the public and reduce the level of poor electrical workmanship by a persistent rogue trader element”.

SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson said: “This is another great opportunity for the industry to take part and shape the future.

“It’s heartening to see that the Scottish Government believes that regulation of the sector is so important that it merits this further consultation.

“It’s an excellent chance for Scotland to lead the way and demonstrate that we are committed to safer and brighter future for the industry.”

The latest move follows a consultation by Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, (above) which was issued in August and closed on 10 November.

Mr Halcro Johnston hopes his consultation will lead to a Member’s Bill ensuring that only properly qualified and experienced professionals can call themselves an electrician.

SELECT and the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) were among those who responded to the consultation, which received more than 140 submissions.

In her response, Fiona Harper, The Secretary of the SJIB, said: “Electricians frequently voice their concerns and frustration that individuals who have not met the established national and industry standards and are not qualified electricians are able to use the title of electrician.

“In what is such a highly-skilled and safety-critical occupation, this situation should be rectified and the title of electrician should be protected.”

In the SELECT submission, Mr Wilson said: “Our research suggests net benefits to Scotland from proper regulation of electricians of around £58million, including the benefits of higher electrical standards, such as fewer injuries and deaths, better functioning installations, less need for call backs or for poor/unsafe work to be repaired, leading to improved customer satisfaction.”

SELECT has been leading a long-running campaign with other leading industry bodies to make sure that those who work in the industry do so in a safe and competent manner.

The groundswell of support on its Wall of Support has seen more than 100 prominent parliamentarians, industry figures and representatives of trade associations and professional services bodies pledging their commitment.

  • The latest consultation can be completed here and closes on 12 February 2021.

Local MSP supports SELECT campaign

Almost one third of Scotland’s MSPs have now given their support to SELECT’s campaign for regulating the profession of electrician after two more politicians added their names to the electrical trade body’s Wall of Support.

Local MSP Lib-Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton (above) and SNP MP Alan Brown this week became the latest politicians to feature on the online wall, which shows the many individuals and organisations supporting SELECT’s crusade for Protection of Title.

Mr Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, said: “I agree that poor quality electrical work carries huge risks to people’s homes, their businesses and even their lives.  It is vitally important that consumers are helped to make informed choices when they employ an electrician.”

41 out of 129 MSPs now back the association’s call for legislation which would make it an offence for someone to call themselves an electrician when they have no, or inadequate, qualifications. 

Mr Brown, Westminster MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun said: “I am delighted to support SELECT’s campaign to regulate the electrical industry. It is a massive step in the right direction which protects my constituents and businesses within my constituency when using electricians.

“As an engineer I appreciate the protection of professional qualifications. It will ensure constituents and businesses get exactly what the pay for when hiring an electrician to carry out and keep themselves safe from faulty work.

“Far too much public cash is being spent on repairing faulty electrical work, I believe the regulation of the electric industry will reduce this significantly – that is why I am happy to work cross-party with other members and support SELECT’s campaign.”

SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson, said: “We are grateful for all the support we have received, across parties, from our politicians and, despite the difficulties all sectors of the economy are currently facing, we remain firm in our belief that our ongoing campaign to make electrician a regulated profession will ultimately succeed.

“Once we are through the worst of this pandemic, the need for properly qualified electricians will be more important than ever to help Scotland rebuild and recover safely.”

Other bodies that have contributed a brick to SELECT’s Wall of Support include the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), Unite the Union, Electrical Safety First, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Scottish Association of Landlords, the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group and the Energy Saving Trust.

The issue is now progressing through the Scottish Parliament and, before the COVID-19 pandemic, a Member’s Bill was being prepared for discussion later this year.

The Scottish Government has also pledged to publish a consultation on the regulation of electricians as part of its 2019-20 Programme for Government, which was released in September 2019.