News
Don’t waste public sector apprentice opportunities
IN A SURVEY OF ECA MEMBERS, 25 PER cent of respondents said they had trimmed their apprenticeship budgets last year, while 65 per cent said they had no intention of taking on an apprentice in 2012. Diane Johnson, skills ambassador for the ECA, said that the fi gures should be a cause for concern to the government given its focus on boosting apprenticeships. She said the government should learn from European procurement practices if it is serious about giving young people the best possible future, by including a requirement to take on apprentices in all public sector contracts. Johnson commented: ‘The government has done little to challenge an economic situation where fi rms, which are struggling to survive, don’t have a commercial incentive to take on young people. We are the only country in the EU that doesn’t have some sort of training requirement built into all public sector contracts. An apprentice is a long-term investment that pays dividends, but at a time when cash is tight, companies instinctively look to protect their profi ts. It’s a sad but true fact that bringing in temporary labour is often more
cost effective in the short term than providing someone with a skill and a career for life.’ The ECA says that to date, vital public
opportunities such as the Olympics have been wasted. ‘More than 40,000 people have worked on the Olympic Park and Village, yet just 457 apprenticeships were created across the entire project – that’s just one per cent,’ said Johnson. ‘It seems ludicrous that as a result of Britain’s largest construction project for decades, less than 500 people have had the opportunity to acquire a skill for life.’
In brief
■ For electrical contractors who prefer to use separate instruments rather than a multifunction tester for installation testing, Megger is now offering three convenient and comprehensive test kits. Each kit comprises three instruments – an insulation and continuity tester, an earth loop tester and an RCD tester – and a full set of test leads, all housed in a robust, attractively styled, fi tted carrying case.
■ EA Technology's Power Skills Centre has joined forces with John Moores University, Liverpool, to develop a specialised master's degree in asset management for the energy industry. The new MSc in Power Asset Management combines EA Technology's practical expertise in delivering technical consultancy with the University's academic excellence.
Legrand responds to amendments
LEGRAND HAS BECOME the fi rst to respond to an amendment to the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations that means the vast majority of metallic cable trunking systems are no longer suitable for use with single insulated (non- sheathed) cables. BS 7671:2008 – Amendment No. 1: 2011
came into force for all new designs on 1 January, and Section 521.10.1 stipulates the need for trunking to deliver IPXXD or IP4X protection when used with single insulated (non-sheathed) cables – something that standard IP30-rated systems do not deliver. Legrand’s Salamandre distribution trunking is currently the
only system that meets the amended IP4X requirements. Nigel Leaver, lead marketing manager for Legrand’s cable management division, said: ‘It is important to note that the regulation changes impact on all installations that use single insulated (non-sheathed) cables, which are probably the most commonly used cables in the UK.’
■ The Construction Products Association’s latest State of Trade Survey has shown manufacturers, particularly on the light side, are benefi ting from an increase in export activity to offset the subdued level of construction activity in the domestic market. Some 34 per cent of light side and 17 per cent of heavy side manufacturers recorded growth in overseas sales during the past year, and a further 55 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively, maintained export levels.
■ Havells-Sylvania has developed a brand new guide for electrical contractors that showcases all the new and existing products from Lumiance,
Sylvania Luminaires and Sylvania lamps. Published in a handy A5 format, the 392 page catalogue provides detailed information on all contractor-specifi c products alongside useful installation and safety advice. To obtain a copy call 0870 606 2030 or email info.
concord@havells-sylvania.com
■ Kopex-Ex has introduced a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training course for electrical consultants, engineers and installers.
■ Crestron has launched its new compact 2.8 inch touch screen, TPMC-3SMD. The new model expands on the popular TPMC- 4SM line by offering a discreet, stylish and affordable solution that is designed to fi t into a single gang wall box. It gives users the convenience of one-touch control for lights, HVAC, all AV sources and security without obscuring home decor.
■ Willmott Dixon will open a new national training and development facility in Birmingham as part of the company's ambition to invest in skills within the region.
■ Easier and faster wiring in consumer units and distribution boards is the key benefi t offered by the new range of compact RCBOs from Eaton’s Electrical Sector. The new devices are 20mm shorter than their standard counterparts, so they make much more room available for wiring, eliminating the need for users to struggle to make multiple connections in a confi ned space.
Vent-Axia Silent Fan awarded Quiet Mark 2012
VENT-AXIA’S NEW SILENT FAN HAS BEEN awarded the Quiet Mark 2012 by the Noise Abatement Society. Boasting the lowest sound rating on the market, the Silent Fan is the quietest intermittent bathroom and toilet fan – 75 per cent quieter than typical intermittent bathroom fans. A mark of approval awarded by the Noise
12 ECA Today March 2012
Abatement Society, the Quiet Mark is given to manufacturers of the quietest products on the market and is validated by UK’s Association of Noise Consultants. The objective of the initiative is to reduce noise and so achieve a healthier stress- free living and working environment. ‘With many of us leading busy lives it is more
important than ever before to be able to relax in comfort and to have a good night’s sleep. Switching off a noisy extract fan is not the answer since this can result in mould growth and poor indoor air quality that can lead to building damage and health issues,’ said Lee Nurse, marketing director at Vent-Axia.
SHUTTERSTOCK / AUREMAR
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