Editorial THE JOURNAL OF THE ECA MAY 2012 ISSUE 11


Generating opportunity


EXPLORING NEW BUSINESS AREAS AND MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SKILLS


TRAINING FOR THE FUTURE Updating knowledge to boost your business


BROADCASTING TO THE NATION How ECA members are powering up major TV events


NEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW PROSPECTS? Delivering innovative data solutions to your customers


WIN! NEW IPAD


A THIRD- GENERATION


From the editor... W


www.eca.co.uk


Editorial, design and production CPL (Cambridge Publishers Ltd) 275 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8JE Tel: 01223 477411 Web: www.cpl.co.uk


Editor: Phil Lattimore Tel: 07802 870008


Email: phil.lattimore@ecatoday.co.uk


Design: Martin Cook Production: Darren Price For ECA


Managing editor: Carol Wrench Tel: 020 7313 4831 Email: carol.wrench@eca.co.uk


Marketing and communications: Stefan Hay Tel 0207 313 4860 Email stefan.hay@eca.co.uk


Print and distribution management: Mark Connolly Tel: 020 7313 4855 Email: mark.connolly@eca.co.uk


Advertisement sales Display sales: Gareth Macfarlane Tel: 0845 226 0477 Email: gareth@ecatoday.co.uk Ad sales: Bob Handley Tel: 0845 226 0477 Email: bob@ecatoday.co.uk


Circulation to ECA members


Members of the ECA receive each issue of ECA Today on publication, and can request additional copies for individuals on their management team. Please email: circulation@ecatoday.co.uk with any queries and to apply for such copies.


Subscribe to ECA Today


If you are not a member of the ECA and would like to receive ECA Today, individual copies cost £7 each (plus postage) and a subscription in the UK costs £25 per year. To subscribe, please email subscriptions@ ecatoday.co.uk.


The opinions expressed in editorial material do not necessarily represent the views of the Electrical Contractors’ Association. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned in editorial or advertisements are not formally endorsed by the ECA, which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication.


©ECA, ESCA House, 34 Palace Court, London W2 4HY


ABC application approved August 2011


ECA T


oday would like to give a special acknowledgement to our launch partners and thank them for their continued support.


May 2012 ECA Today 3 Opportunities


Despite this, there remain areas of potential growth in the economy over the next few years that present unique opportunities for the electrical contracting industry – particularly in helping deliver the green agenda. ECA members have exactly the skills, knowledge and expertise to implement many of the technological solutions that can help the UK meet the carbon reduction targets to which the government is committed. Renewables may get the majority of headlines, but from low energy lighting systems, energy efficient technology and intelligent building management systems, to smart meters, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and smart homes, there are a host of technologies where ECA members can be the solution providers – and become trusted front-line energy solutions advisers for clients.


The ECA can provide guidance and advice on many of the areas where new


opportunities to develop business exist, and the association is committed to helping members not only survive these difficult times, but also to thrive when recovery eventually arrives. And the ECA is only a phone call or email away.


Moving ahead It’s now two years since ECA Today first appeared at the 2010 ECA Electrical Industry Conference, and many of the key issues and challenges facing the industry then remain equally as important and relevant today. We aim to keep highlighting them and getting across the ECA’s important messages. Among the articles in this issue, we look at opportunities for business in new and novel areas, the commercial case for solar photovoltaics, the importance of skills and training for developing businesses, and innovative technologies that may offer new routes for traditional skills. And, as a special bonus, we also have a fabulous new iPad to give away to one lucky reader in this month’s competition. Hope you enjoy the read – see you in July.


Phil Lattimore Editor


elcome to the May issue of ECA Today. As the electrical contracting industry digests a raft of government announcements over recent weeks and absorbs the impact on business of March’s Budget, it might be understandable if there was a smattering of more positive sentiment just starting to emerge. The generally pro-business Budget has produced some positive policies for the beleagured construction industry and related sectors, in terms of added infrastructure investment, planning law changes and loan guarantee schemes. In addition, the government continues to talk up the importance of renewable energy to the future of the UK economy (notwithstanding the number of question marks that remain over the implementation of its green energy strategy).


Nonetheless, the recent figures from the Office for National Statistics – showing the UK economy bumping along in a double-dip recession – reflect the reality of the tough climate many members have been enduring over the last few years. Recovery is certainly not going to be an easy ride for the UK economy generally, and the construction sector in particular, where output fell by three per cent in the first quarter of 2012.


Letters and emails


To contact ECA Today, send us an email at mail@ecatoday.co.uk or write to Letters, ECA Today, CPL, 275 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8JE.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72