Editorial
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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.
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Total Average Net Circulation 10,863 Jul-Dec 2011
ECA T oday would like to give a special
acknowledgement to our launch partners and thank them for their continued support.
March 2013 ECA Today 3
elcome to the March issue of ECA Today. This may be the season for green shoots to start appearing, but when it comes to recovery on the construction front, you can be sure that any mention of such nascent growth will be very thin on the ground right now. A sustained upturn is more likely to be
a topic of conversation this time next year, if recent forecasts turn out to be accurate. None the less, there’s still plenty of green conversation surrounding the sector at the moment, with the Green Deal finally being launched at the end of January, and other government initiatives continuing to roll out. Some electrical contractors may have already dismissed the Green Deal as not relevant to their business,
and there are serious questions about what impact it is likely to have on the consumer market. However, like any potential business opportunity, it’s worth knowing what exactly the deal is, how it works and what – if any – opportunities it can provide for your operation. We provide an update with the latest on the Green Deal initiative and an assessment of its likely impact on page 24 of this issue.
Opportunities Of course, the green agenda offers plenty more opportunities for electrical contractors to explore new
business or build on existing relationships. Providing energy solutions is a growing area for many ECA members, and one where government commitments to carbon reduction targets and incentive schemes dovetail conveniently with the business imperative of cutting energy costs. You don’t have to be environmentally aware to see how reducing energy consumption is a swift way to reduce bills – particularly when the payback times for many energy efficiency solutions can be so short. However, as ever, it’s essential to be able to demonstrate the business case for investment in energy solutions,
whether it be for a large client, an SME or a domestic customer. On page 28 of this issue we explain how the ECA is enabling registered members to make that case, with a free-to-download tool that helps calculate and present key figures that show clearly the financial benefits of particular energy solutions.
Business support While winning new business and exploring new avenues to diversify may be essential to sustaining your
business, of critical importance is maintaining the cash flow that is the lifeblood of any business. In these tough times, the ECA is dealing with many more instances of bad payment practice, and is working hard to address this issue with both government and industry. And as well as helping to promote new business, the ECA continues to provide invaluable support for members when it comes to many issues that affect them – from dealing with late payment and debt recovery to helping with contracts, dealing with disputes and offering technical advice and support. Its in-house experts provide a first class service that’s free to registered members of the association. On page 54, we take a look at how the ECA helps members practically to ensure they get paid what they are
owed. It’s a must-read for anyone concerned about late payment impacting on their business. On a positive note, The Electric Event is fast approaching and generating fantastic interest within the
industry. Running from 20-22 June at the ICC in Birmingham, the ECA’s groundbreaking business event brings together the ECA Electrical Industry Conference, an all-new Technology Live workshop session and Meet the Suppliers exhibition, plus the annual ECA gala Dinner and prestigious new ECA Awards. It’s an event not to be missed, and you can read more about it on page 37 of this issue. See you again in June.
Phil Lattimore Editor
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