Presidential view Representing the best
Fresh from his inauguration at the ECA Electrical Industry Conference, new ECA president Paul McNaughton sets out the agenda for the year ahead
I
t is a real privilege for me to be president of the ECA. This industry has given me a lot over the years, from a livelihood and a career to valued friends and a real understanding of the word ‘cooperation’. It’s an honour to be able to give something back, and represent the best in electrical contracting. I’ve been in this industry for a long time – 38 years – so I can honestly say that I share your experiences. I know what it means to be an electrical contractor. Like many of our members, I worked my way through the ranks, starting out as apprentice with Darke and Taylor and staying with the company, becoming managing director four years ago. Running a business can certainly be a challenge, but it’s always been reassuring to me to know that my company has the support of a dedicated trade association like the ECA. We know that, whenever we need it, we can call the ECA for help in any number of areas and know that we’ll get the best advice available. We’ve asked the ECA for everything from technical help and business advice to guidance on the sustainability agenda and information on employee relations. We’ve always received the very best assistance, and this has opened up many opportunities that might not have been available to us otherwise.
Services and campaigns The ECA has a fantastic and extremely wide range of services – services that offer something for everyone, from the very smallest through to the largest of members. And we’re constantly looking at them, developing new ways to ensure that our members have everything they need – to not only survive, but to positively thrive. As part of this drive, we recently launched the ‘Big Survey’.
This is your chance to tell us what you value, and it will be used as part of our ongoing review of the ECA service offering, to help us to refi ne and enhance services to ensure that they represent the very best value for members. We’re also looking forward by developing campaigns
that will guarantee the future of our industry. Last year, in partnership with Housing Association L&Q, we launched the pilot of the groundbreaking ‘Wired for Success: ECA Women into Electrical Contracting’ initiative. We recently held a parliamentary roundtable to promote this initiative and to encourage others to follow our lead. The event was well attended by key stakeholders from forward-thinking housing
associations, as well as from local and central government. But this isn’t the only area where we’re talking to government. In fact, over the last few years, the ECA has been making steady progress on a wide range of issues, from building a better business environment by stopping the abuse of retentions, through to tying an obligation to train apprentices to public sector procurement contracts. The ECA is making sure that government understands the issues that matter to the electrical contracting industry. Many of our stances appear to resonate with government, but there’s scope for us to reinforce these messages further through our Grassroots Lobbying programme. This is designed for members to have their say, raising issues that matter to them, by contacting their MP. The ECA has produced useful template letters to send to MPs and guidance notes that you can use. I urge you to get involved.
The ECA has a fantastic and extremely wide range of services – services that offer something for everyone
Skills From a personal perspective, the most pressing issue that we need to confront is the looming skills crisis. Skills fi gure high on my agenda, and I take an active role on the ECA’s Education and Training committee.
About the author
Paul McNaughton Paul McNaughton is president of the ECA and managing director of electrical contractors Darke and Taylor. He has 38 years’ experience working in the electrical industry, and is an active member of the ECA’s Education and Training and Employee Relations committees. He also sits on the national board of the JIB, and is the chair of the London, South East and Southern RJIB.
There’s no doubt that we face the most challenging business environment for at least a generation, but we will come out of it; and, when we do, we need to make sure that we have enough appropriately skilled operatives and management to be able to meet demand, to capitalise on new markets and to explore new opportunities. It makes good commercial sense – we must continue to invest in skills today to secure the future of our industry tomorrow. Securing the future of our industry is at the very core of what the ECA is working towards. The rapidly growing sustainability market looks set to provide real opportunities, and it’s us, as electrical contractors, who will be the frontline troops in the challenge to achieve the UK’s carbon reduction targets. Electricity is at the heart of everything we do, from lighting to building controls – that’s why we have a vital role to play in making the built environment sustainable. Above all, the ECA is here to help. In challenging times, membership of a trade association like the ECA can make all the difference. Membership counts. I urge you to make the most of the services that the ECA offers – and I urge you to get involved and have your say, to help secure a fantastic future for our industry and for our businesses.
July 2012 ECA Today 21
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