VIEW FROM THE LOBBY O
ver the summer, government enlisted the help of entrepreneur Doug Richards to look at making apprenticeships fit for the
future. Concerned that the apprenticeship ‘brand’ is being too widely applied, the ECA is very much in favour of this review. In our response, we called for apprenticeship standards and qualifications to be set by industry in cooperation with employers, to ensure that they are fit for purpose. The board is due to report on its findings
shortly, and the ECA is also hoping that greater flexibility for public-funding of apprenticeships is included here, as well as in the government’s Autumn Statement, which is due in early December. This would remove a pressing issue for the
construction industry, which is particularly affected by the current funding regime, where support for training apprentices drops by 50 per cent after students reach 19 years old. Given the insurance implications of having younger workers on site, the ECA hopes to see post-19-year-old funding made equal to that for 16 to 19-year-olds. The ECA’s views on apprentices have also resonated with the Labour Party. We
2012ECA Circulars OCTOBER 2012 n Circular 176 2012 – Purchase an ultra-low emission van and receive a Government grant Date published online: 10/10/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 175 2012 – ASHRAE updates their publication ‘Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments’ Date published online: 10/10/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 174 2012 – Domestic Green Deal Advisor Training: Special rates for ECA members Date published online: 10/10/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 173 2012 – CEDIA Conference 2012 Date published online: 10/10/2012, Category: Technical. n Circular 172 2012 – The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 Date published online: 03/10/2012. Category: Legislation. n Circular 171 2012 – Banning of eight-foot T12 lamps Date published online: 03/10/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 170 2012 – Free Green Deal advisory events Date published online: 03/10/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 169 2012 – Registered Members receive 10% discount on Considerate Constructors Scheme fee Date published online: 03/10/2012. Category: Sales and marketing. SEPTEMBER 2012 n Circular 168 2012 – TIA-942, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers has been updated
20 ECA Today November 2012
strongly welcomed leader Ed Miliband’s recent announcement that, if elected, he will give industries the chance to set training standards and direct funding to target training that most suits their needs. We are also working tirelessly for the
introduction of other measures, including tying training to public procurement contracts. This will help support apprenticeships and safeguard the future of our industry, while ensuring a level playing field for companies that already train.
by CarolWrench, head of Communications
Although heartened that Labour has
committed to this policy, action needs to be taken now. As such, the ECA continues to call on the current government to ensure that public sector contracts are only awarded to those in the private sector who train the next generation.
The ECA continues to call on the current government to ensure that public sector contracts are only awarded to those in the private sector who train the next generation
Date published online: 26/09/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 167 2012 – New numbering for UK standards for LV wiring and flexible cables Date published online: 26/09/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 166 2012 – Let us know what you think of PAS2030, ‘Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings’ Date published online: 26/09/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 165 2012 – New qualifications for Inspection & Testing Date published online: 26/09/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 164 2012 – ECA Technical Manager Ian Marsh has passed away Date published online: 19/09/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 163 2012 – ESC updates its Best Practice Guide No. 6 on consumer unit replacement Date published online: 19/09/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 162 2012 – ECIC offers Renewable Energy Policy Date published online: 19/09/2012. Category: Insurance matters. n Circular 161 2012 – Holiday Pay Changes: notification for JIB Members Date published online: 19/09/2012. Category: Employee relations. n Circular 160 2012 – Congratulations to the three iPad winners in Big Survey prize draw Date published online: 12/09/2012. Category: Sales and marketing. n Circular 159 2012 – New tax help & learning tools on the ECA website Date published online: 12/09/2012. Category: Finance matters.
Housing Government policy on housing has predominantly focused on reducing bureaucracy, with recently announced measures to streamline the planning system and enable private investment in housing and infrastructure. However, at its conference in October, Labour committed to directly build 100,000 new homes. This announcement could up the ante,
as government may come under increasing pressure to fund – either directly or indirectly through housing associations –a new programme of housebuilding. We will be scanning the Autumn Statement to see how the government reacts.
nVisit
www.eca.co.uk/lobbying for more info on the ECA’s engagement strategy and lobbying.
n Circular 158 2012 – PV Installer Update for MCS accredited installers Date published online: 12/09/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 157 2012 – New Lodging Allowance form for JIB members Date published online: 12/09/2012. Category: Employee relations. n Circular 156 2012 – The 2012 Solar Power UK event is just around the corner Date published online: 12/09/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 155 2012 – Update on the JIB Wages, Terms and Conditions Review for 2013 and 2014 Date published online: 05/09/2012. Category: Employee relations. n Circular 154 2012 – New energy savings finance tool for ECA members Date published online: 05/09/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 153 2012 – Restrictions lifted on £1,500 Apprenticeship Grant for Employers Date published online: 05/09/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 152 2012 – ECA’s Griff Thomas to discuss the revised PV Installer Guide at 2012 Renewables Roadshow Date published online: 05/09/2012. Category: Environment. AUGUST 2012 n Circular 151 2012 – The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Date published online: 29/08/2012. Category: Sales and marketing. n Circular 150 2012 – Tax refunds for ECS cardholders Date published online: 29/08/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 149 2012 – A new way to learn all about lighting
Date published online: 29/08/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 148 2012 – ECA’s Skills Ambassador appears on BBC Breakfast Date published online: 29/08/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 147 2012 – HASCOM health and safety advice line number has changed Date published online: 22/08/2012. Category: Health and safety. n Circular 146 2012 – ECA reminds members to use credit control best practice Date published online: 22/08/2012. Category: Tendering and contract administration. n Circular 145 2012 – Cable Selection and the Wiring Regulations: Join our next technical webinar Date published online: 22/08/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 144 2012 – Millions of pounds still available for social landlords to install energy efficient heating Date published online: 22/08/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 143 2012 – New ESC app helps contractors achieve safe isolation Date published online: 15/08/2012. Category: Technical. n Circular 142 2012 – Survey seeks industry views on future of environmental management accreditation Date published online: 15/08/2012. Category: Environment. n Circular 141 2012 – The Sector Skills Councils need your views on low carbon skills requirements Date published online: 15/08/2012. Category: Training. n Circular 140 2012 – Manual handling risk assessment template for ECA members Date published online: 15/08/2012. Category: Health and safety.
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