View the SELECT Wall of Support at bit.ly/selectwallof support


FIONA SPEAKS UP FOR SAFETY Regulation


would have a significant uplift


on the economy and drive massive improvements in public safety, SELECT’s Fiona Harper recently told radio listeners. Appearing on BBC Radio


Alexander Burnett, above, and left, SELECT President Kevin Griffin with Colin Beattie


Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland show, our Head of Employment Affairs told presenter Andrew Black why change must come sooner rather than later. She said: “In Scotland


at this moment anyone can call themselves an electrician and carry out electrical work. If you decided tomorrow, Andrew, that radio is no longer for you, you could buy a van, call yourself an electrician, and it wouldn’t be against the law. “But electrical


SELECT Immediate Past President Eric Rae and Stephen Kerr


yourself an electrician should be limited to those who are qualified at this highly skilled profession. “Not only will this prevent rogue traders from carrying out work that could be unsafe, but it could also help reduce costs to the consumer by preventing further repairs required on shoddy work.” Mr Simpson, Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, said: “Poor quality electrical work causes huge dangers to homes and business across Scotland. It


Kevan Parker said: “Tis adds further momentum to our commitment to improve safety.” Fiona Harper, Secretary


of the SJIB, added: “ It is another step on the road to


installation is what is described as a safety-


critical activity. It’s always important that installations are safe, because if not, they can result in injury or death. “Some faults lie hidden


for years, lurking behind a socket, under a floorboard or hidden in a wall, just waiting for a combination of circumstances for a flashpoint to occur.” During her appearance


on 19 September, Fiona, who is also Te Secretary of the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), said up to 16% of all domestic electricians in Scotland are either unqualified or under-qualified. She said: “We


estimate that upskilling training would cost around


is therefore vital to ensure that only properly trained and suitably qualified people carry out such work.” Meanwhile, Mr Mason, SNP MSP for


Glasgow Shettleston, added: “I am very happy to add my name in support of SELECT’s campaign. “Having registered tradesmen with recognised accredited qualifications is essential for safety and peace of mind.” The backing comes as cross-party support for the campaign grows. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie,


protecting the reputation of qualified electricians”. But SELECT Managing


Director Alan Wilson warned: “We want to see it come to fruition as soon as possible.”


£1,000 per person, so if that meant 10,000 unqualified or under- qualified people, that’s about £2 million. “But the benefit to the


Scottish economy would be huge. We have made a cautious estimate of the net benefits to Scotland from proper, recognised, regulated electricians of around £58 million. “By upskilling the


workforce and regulating the playing field we would inevitably reduce damage caused by faulty work, there would be fewer injuries and deaths and better-functioning installations – but most importantly, consumers would be happier and safer.”


Fiona Harper


and SNP MSP Clare Adamson have added their names, along with Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston and the Greens’ Alison Johnstone. Politicians also voiced their support when SELECT visited the SNP conference in Edinburgh in April and the Scottish Conservatives’ get-together in Aberdeen in May. The issue has now progressed through the Scottish Parliament and a Member’s Bill is being prepared for discussion. SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson said: “We are grateful to all these politicians for backing our campaign to make electrician a regulated profession.” Other bodies that have contributed a brick to the wall include the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), Unite the Union, Electrical Safety First, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Scottish Association of Landlords, the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group and the Energy Saving Trust.


CABLEtalk OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 9


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