Industry News

SJIB, SECTT and SELECT hail ‘stunning victory’ as Scottish electrical apprentices take gold and silver in UK event

Scotland’s major electrical bodies have congratulated two apprentices from north of the border who have triumphed in a prestigious UK-wide competition. The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) and electrical trade association SELECT have all saluted Craig Fairweather and Andrew Horne for clinching gold and silver respectively in the SkillELECTRIC contest. Craig, 23, was crowned 2022 SkillELECTRIC champion after a challenging two-day final which saw the cream of young electrical talent from across…

New EV charge point preparation CPD available at the Luceco Academy

Never is this more true than when it comes to installing an EV charge point. There are a number of things to think about before installing an EV charger. This free CPD training course considers a few points that will make sure your installation runs smoothly, helping you to avoid common problems during the process, including: – Verification of the incoming supply– How to calculate maximum demand– How and when…

Outstanding women celebrated nationally at Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards

Three young women engineers have been recognised at the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards for their work in engineering. IET Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices: Lauren Smith (22) is a Trainee Medical Engineer at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust. Lauren is part of a team that ensures the proper function of medical devices within the healthcare setting and works to support the…

Apprenticeships and proper electrical training are key on the journey to net zero, SELECT’s Fiona Harper tells radio listeners

The skills supremo at Scotland’s largest construction trade association says the electrical talent of tomorrow needs a thorough grounding in ALL aspects of installation – not just the green technology that will help on the journey to net zero. Fiona Harper, Director of Employment and Skills at SELECT, insists it is essential for would-be electricians to follow the traditional apprenticeship route and undergo full training, not just try to specialise in low carbon…

SkillELECTRIC UK Champion announced

23-year old Craig Fairweather has been named 2022 SkillELECTRIC champion following a challenging two-day UK final event at Middlesbrough College. Employed by McDonald & Munro in Moray, Scotland, and trained by Moray College and SECTT, Craig excelled in a complicated task to install a range of first and second fix items including PVC/PVC surface clipping, plastic conduit, trunking and fireproof cable. Taking second place and a silver medal was Andrew Horne of A.…

Work continues to update Electrical Apprenticeship in England

Work is continuing to update the Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship standard in England. Overseen by a representative employer group, which includes a number of ECA members, the changes proposed include greater coverage of net zero and digital technologies, especially around electrical vehicle charging. During September, an industry-wide consultation on the proposed new standard, including these changes, elicited over 300 responses, the vast majority of them supportive. A revised version…

Short courses and ‘six-week wonders’ are no substitute for proper electrical training, SELECT MD Alan Wilson tells radio listeners

The head of Scotland’s largest trade body has warned against the rising trend of “six-week wonders” who are trying to enter the electrical industry after taking just a short course in basic skills. In a hard-hitting interview, SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson dismissed the spread of fast-track courses and said people with inadequate training and experience pose a safety risk to both the electrical sector and consumers. He also insisted there was no substitute for…