Nation prepares to spend £61.8 billion improving homes as restrictions lift
Homeowners and renters have been using their unexpected time at home to reassess interiors and make a wishlist of work that needs doing. New research from Checkatrade, one of the UK’s leading online trade directories, reveals that a third (35%) of Brits have come to dislike at least one of their rooms in lockdown, with kitchens and bedrooms coming out top. Overall, Brits are planning to spend an average of £1,179 on improvements as soon as restrictions lift; the equivalent of £61.8 billion nationwide. Over half (53%) of people have noticed more things wrong with their home while in lockdown than ever before. Common causes for improvement include a general desire for new décor (40%), a craving for more space (28%), a longing for more storage (27%) and a need to get rid of ugly wallpaper (16%). In fact, almost half (47%) of Brits are feeling so wound up by the work that needs doing, they would be willing to give up lockdown treats in order to get a qualified tradesperson in to fix a problem – including chocolate (17%), beer and wine (16%) and their games console (14%); 6% even said it would be worth giving up their partner. During lockdown though, people have already been getting creative with their spaces. With less time away from home, 39% have been busy tailoring both interior and exterior areas to match their professional, social and mental needs at this testing time. Top 10 new spaces created: Vegetable plots Workstations Garden oasis Outside social space Home gym Home schooling area Calm / meditation zone Man cave Playroom Games room Mike Fairman, CEO at Checkatrade, said: “The phrase ‘the home is where the heart is’ has never been truer but living looking at the same four walls for weeks on end is enough to make anyone crave a refresh or refurb. With money tighter than ever though, it’s important that it’s spent wisely on a properly qualified and checked tradesperson. Checkatrade does at least 12 checks on every single member, meaning our trade experts are second to none when it comes to planning your next big or small home project.” Checkatrade has worked closely with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to produce guidance for homeowners looking to carry out work in homes to ensure that any maintenance or home improvement work is carried out smoothly and safely.
Tradespeople ready for DIY fixes
According to a survey by global workwear brand Dickies, over the coming months nearly three-quarters of tradespeople are ready for DIY fixes after botched DIY jobs carried out by people at home during the lockdown imposed in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. The poll, carried out through Dickies Workwear’s Twitter feed1, revealed that 72.9% of respondents anticipated spending some of their time fixing DIY disasters over the next few months. “If the queues outside B&Qs recently reopened stores were anything to go by, many people will have been using their time during the lockdown to attempt home improvements – including the kind of jobs they’d usually rely on a tradesperson to complete for them,” said James Whitaker, Marketing Director for Dickies. “It’s very likely that tradespeople will be busy over the coming months putting right the efforts of those who haven’t been able to match the skill that’s often required to do those jobs well. While our poll has been a fun way of looking at this, it does serve as a reminder of how much we rely on the expertise of trained and experienced tradespeople in our day to day lives.” Are you a tradesperson who is spending some of your time fixing DIY disasters? Tell us about it on social media, using the hashtag #DickiesDIYfix and tagging Dickies using the following details: On Twitter: @DickiesEurope | On Instagram: @dickiesworkwearofficial | On Facebook: @DickiesWorkwear | www.dickiesworkwear.com
SELECT offers much-needed financial support to members
SELECT is giving its members financial support by offering a significant discount on membership fees to help ease some of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The trade association for electrical contractors in Scotland has informed its 1,246 members that they will be receiving a 30% discount on their 2020 subscription fees. Members who have already paid their subscription in full will receive a refund, while those who pay by direct debit will only have seven of their 10 instalments collected. SELECT President Kevin Griffin said: “This financial support package is unprecedented, but we are living in unprecedented times and we believe this decision will offer some much-needed financial assistance to Members. “SELECT’s Central Board is made up of working electrical professionals, all of whom are facing the same challenges as their fellow members. We therefore understand first-hand the issues our sector is experiencing and want to do everything we can to help each other. “Also, as a not-for-profit organisation, we are purely here to assist our Members and put their needs first – so that’s exactly what we are doing.” SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson commented: “As we begin to come out of the immediate crisis and to return to work, SELECT will continue to ensure that it does as much as possible to support its Members in a host of different ways.” The move is a number of emergency measure that SELECT has introduced to help Members weather the pandemic, including online training, advice webinars and a dedicated COVID-19 hub, updated daily with the latest employment, financial and contractual information. The association is also playing a leading role in the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, a collective of Scotland’s largest trade and professional bodies who are currently gathering intelligence, sharing advice and speaking directly with government on a variety of vital COVID-19 issues. SELECT Director of Finance and Resources and Association Secretary, John McGhee said: “This financial assistance is the latest in a host of measures we have taken to ensure our members are fully supported. Our advice and information system has been unrivalled in the construction sector and our staff have supported us magnificently in all sorts of ways.” Alan added: “While it has not exactly been ‘business as usual’, the SELECT offices have remained open in a virtual sense throughout the crisis and dealt with hundreds of queries from members. “We have added virtual training courses and online Digital Drop-in meetings as well as updating our website and social media channels daily with the most comprehensive guidance and advice available. This support will continue long after the pandemic has subsided, as we continue to put the needs of our members first.”
Midlands contractors help to boost NHS capacity
Midlands engineering contractors I.C. Electrical and Franklyn Yates Engineering Limited have helped to strengthen and boost NHS capacity at a critical time by supporting the delivery of an external consulting room, for the treatment of non-coronavirus-related illnesses. The project, for Burton upon Trent-based Wetmore Road Surgery, involved the businesses completing electrical installations for a new external patient consulting unit. Designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the main surgery building, the temporary structure will only be used for treating patients with other illnesses. Patients showing symptoms of coronavirus are being asked not to attend the surgery but to follow government advice by self-isolating and seeking guidance from the Government’s online coronavirus service. Following the successful launch of the unit and to help the surgery maintain continuity during the pandemic, it also sought the support of I.C. Electrical and Franklyn Yates Engineering Limited with a second external consulting room, focused on nurse appointments. I.C. Electrical, part of international Finnish company, VEO Group, provides complete engineering solutions including the designing and building of control panels, high- and low-voltage electrical systems, as well as communication and automation systems. Franklyn Yates Engineering Limited is an experienced mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation (MEICA) company with experience across a wide range of sectors. Shaun Marriott, engineering director at I.C. Electrical, commented: “The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting the NHS with unprecedent challenges in delivering patient care, so any measures that can be taken to boost capacity and protect staff and patients are invaluable. It was a privilege to be able to join forces with David and his team to support on these critical projects, which are helping to save lives in the local community.” David Yates, managing director at Franklyn Yates Engineering Limited, added: “At a time when the nation is saying a huge thank you to NHS workers, we’re proud to have played a role in delivering this much-needed infrastructure. From start to finish, we collaborated effectively with I.C. Electrical to deliver both projects to tight timescales, and look forward to any opportunities to work with the team in the future. We also want to thank local healthcare workers for all their hard work.”
Checkatrade equips trade members with new support tools during COVID-19 uncertainty
New video calling function promoted to facilitate virtual quotes Partnership with Claritas Tax provides straight-forward, financial tax and planning advice Financial support packages offered to help members during lockdown period Checkatrade, one of the UK’s leading directories of recommended, vetted and monitored trade experts, has announced a number of new support tools & initiatives designed to help its trade members during this unprecedented period of lockdown. It has promoted a new video calling function on its website, a first within the online trade directory market, enabling tradespeople and potential clients to more easily ‘meet’, discuss jobs and obtain quotes from the comfort of their own homes. This means jobs can be safely scoped in advance or booked-in ready for when restrictions are lifted. Checkatrade has also partnered with Claritas Tax, an accountancy firm specialising in tax advisory and compliance services, to offer trade members practical advice on accessing the financial support available at this time. The guidance, available on the Checkatrade blog, covers three main areas; help for the self-employed, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and VAT deferment. Checkatrade is offering its members financial support and new affiliate packages for the duration of lockdown to allow them to maintain or build their online profile at a fraction of the usual cost. Mike Fairman, CEO at Checkatrade, said: “Our members work across a broad spectrum of industries. For some it’s business as usual, for others their pipeline of work has collapsed overnight, leading to huge financial uncertainty and untold stress. We’re committed to doing all we can to support them. With our members ranging from sole traders through to limited companies, it’s important that everyone has access to the best tools and sound advice so that risks are minimised and opportunities maximised.”
Protecting Electronics Components – Why it is Key in the New Automotive World
Sales of electric cars and hybrid vehicles are likely to grow further in the coming years following the UK government’s recently-announced plan to end the sale of new combustion engine-powered cars and vans by 2035. The automotive printed circuit board (PCB) market is already growing fast, thanks in part to reduced hardware costs and consumer expectations, but in the coming years we can expect to see an increasing quantity of electronics being fitted into both new and second hand vehicles: whether petrol, diesel or electric-based. Consequently, the global automotive PCB market is expected to reach more than $14 billion during 2018-2024 according to a new report available from ResearchAndMarkets.com. We would also expect to see this market continuing to grow far into the future, for a variety of reasons: According to a report from MarketsandMarkets.com, the global in-vehicle infotainment market is projected to reach US$54.8 billion by 2027 from an estimated USD 24.3 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 10.7%. Features like rear-facing cameras and automated parking that were once luxury items are rapidly becoming standard. Markets for applications from vehicle lighting and safety to powertrain components, engine control and interiors are all growing rapidly – and all this growth will drive further expansion in automotive PCBs. Consumer expectations of the reliability and safety of these electronic components are increasing all the time. In part, this is driven by manufacturers increasingly looking to stand out from the competition in terms of the reliability and safety of their vehicles, as exemplified by the length of the warranties they are prepared to offer. The impending arrival of autonomous vehicles on our streets will merely serve to raise the reliability and safety stakes even further, and by association, the need for more reliable PCBs. We are already seeing stringent regulatory standards in place governing automotive PCBs: from IPC-6011 which defines the generic performance specifications for PCBs to AEC Q100, which delivers failure test qualifications for integrated circuits. Adding to the pressure, product recalls in the automotive industry are very expensive, which further pushes the need to ensure PCB vendors deliver maximum performance and reliability. Additionally, the need to protect the PCB rises with the number of PCBs on each car. Traditional vehicles have incorporated PCBs for some time, often in peripheral applications such as entertainment systems and central locking. Since these PCBs were few in number and not vital to the proper functioning of the vehicle, their reliability and lifespan was not necessarily a priority. Modern vehicles, however, are designed with increasing numbers of electronic components which are vital to their normal day-to-day function. As more electronic components become integral to vehicles, there is an ever-increasing need to improve the reliability of individual components to safeguard the functionality of the system as a whole. In essence there is a need to match the reliability of more traditional, less electronics-dependent vehicles, which have fewer points of failure, by protecting the PCBs from damage. In pursuing this aim, manufacturers are effectively putting an ever-higher premium on the integrity and lifespan of PCBs. Taken together, all this is enough to make the need to protect these boards an imperative for any automotive manufacturer. Yet, the trend to miniaturisation of components makes achieving this protection ever more challenging. In light of these trends, it is becoming ever more important that manufacturers integrate the latest water protection methods to protect these components and help ensure longevity. Unfortunately, there are a range of issues and weaknesses with current water protection methods. The most commonly used are conformal coatings, which have been employed for around 40 years. Their main weakness is their inability to protect the entire PCB. Connectors cannot be protected as the coating is too hard and thick, meaning that any coated connector would be unable to mate with its counterpart. Spray coatings, brush coatings and CVD (chemical vapour deposition) coatings also age poorly, cracking and delaminating over time, leading to reduced protection levels. Gaskets and sealed enclosures are commonplace modes of protection. However, they tend to deteriorate badly through vibration and natural aging processes. Cracks often appear as a result and let in water and humidity, which leads in turn to board failures. The age of miniaturisation These traditional approaches to water protection also struggle to manage miniaturised boards. This is an especially big problem given the trends we see in today’s marketplace. More components and functions being added into cars inevitably leads to a reduction in the space available for each circuit board, and therefore also to a focus on miniaturisation. This often makes protecting the boards more difficult. It is a lot easier to seal a big thick plastic box, than a thin small one. Moreover, the more densely packed the PCBs inside a console or engine, the less space there is for physical seals. Finally, more PCBs mean more connectors for communication. As these cannot be protected by traditional conformal coatings, they are often poorly protected, or need mechanical seals built into the connectors themselves. Finding a Way Forward Today we see nano coatings emerging as the ideal solution to these kinds of challenges. Typically, they are ultra-thin. By applying them instead of thicker coatings, manufacturers avoid the problem of underfill behind the board. They can protect every part of the PCB including connectors and do not crack and delaminate with age. As it is a plasma process the coating is chemically bonded to the surface of the PCB, meaning that it becomes part of the product and will last for the lifetime of the board. From the miniaturisation perspective, nano coatings don’t have the same challenges with space limitations that traditional sealants have. Today, the use of nano coatings is growing across the electronics industry as an effective way to protect PCBs. Given the increasing integration of electronics with vehicles and continuing technical innovation in the field of nano coatings, it follows that the use of
Earnings fall as virus hits electricians
Earnings have decreased by nearly 10 per cent last month as virus hits electricians and the construction industry. Weekly pay averaged at £1,086 in March, down from £1,205 in February, according to the latest figures from Hudson Contract. The Government imposed a wide-ranging social and economic lockdown on March 23 but said the construction sector can continue to work under new site operating procedures developed by the Construction Leadership Council. Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “Our thoughts first and foremost are with those electricians and families whose health and finances have been affected by this terrible virus. We are closely monitoring the impact of coronavirus on the wider industry through our bellwether pay trends survey and are sharing our insights with the Bank of England so policymakers are best placed to respond to the rapidly changing situation. The latest survey from purchasing managers shows the steepest fall in construction output since the fallout from the global financial crisis in 2009 although housebuilding dropped at a comparatively modest rate. However, we know from speaking to clients and freelancers that most housebuilding sites are closed. Essential infrastructure and utility repair work are continuing but planned upgrades are stuttering. Work on government and privately funded projects stopped while the main contractors and our clients took stock and worked on safe working methods. They are now ready and opening up again testing whether work can be done safely. We are functioning as near normal as can be and are focused on supporting our clients as they build the housing and infrastructure that Britain will need to recover from this period of crisis.” Hudson Contract delivers the most accurate indication of subcontractor pay trends across the construction industry, using payroll data from 2,200 construction SMEs to publish the average pay for a spectrum of 17 different trades split across ten regions in England and Wales. About Hudson Contract: Hudson Contract, founded in 1996, is the UK’s largest professional workplace audit and Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) contract provider. The family-owned group provides audit contract and payroll services to more than 2,200 construction SMEs, on whose behalf it processed 1.7m payments last year. Hudson Contract’s monthly figures offer a valuable insight into pay trends in the £90bn construction industry, which accounts for 6.7 per cent of the UK economy and supports 2.9m jobs.
SELECT makes special film to show support for the nation’s carers
Staff and office bearers at the electrical trade association SELECT show support for the NHS and key workers by putting their hands together in a new film for the weekly ‘Clap for our Carers’ event. The isolated workers filmed themselves clapping in a special compilation video that was screened on social media on Thursday 23 April at 8pm as part of the now-regular #clapforourcarers initiative. Among those taking part were SELECT President Kevin Griffin, vice-president Donald W Orr and office bearers Alex Guyan, Alistair Grant, David Smith, Jim Cooper, Graeme Anderson and Paul Erasmuson. Also shown clapping while they work at home were SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson, Director of Technical Services Dave Forrester, Director of Employment and Skills Fiona Harper, Director of Resources John McGhee and Director of Membership and Communications Iain Mason. Mr Mason said: “We wanted to show our appreciation for everything the NHS and other key workers are doing throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, so we thought we would make a film that would help us join in the weekly national clapping event that’s been organised in their honour. “Many of us know key workers working in the front line, so it seemed fitting for us to show our appreciation like this.” Staff and office bearers provided clips on their phones, which were then collated and edited together by Simon Organ of video production company Skills Player. Mr Mason added: “With staff continuing to work in isolation, it was also a good way to do something together and see our friends and colleagues again. It was an enjoyable experience and we hope to do more in the future.” Others seen clapping in the video are Training Manager Jenny Cryans, Technical Standards Adviser Bob Cairney, Training and Development Officer Malcolm Duncan, Technical Adviser Stuart McKelvie, Certification Scheme Administrator Mary McSporran and Technical Administrator Susie Liddle. Also taking part were Membership Manager Sandra Bennett, Events, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Linda Rolfe, Membership and Communications Administrator Anita Horeckyj and Membership Representatives Diane Hales and Emma Paterson. ICT Project Manager Carolynn Shaw also contributed a clip to the video, along with Employment Affairs Adviser Nicola Jengaenga, Employment Affairs Administrators Gilian Hogarth, Riki Gillespie and Nicky Deighan, Temporary Support to Employment and Skills and the SJIB Alex Kerr, and Receptionist Adrienne Thompson. Thursday’s event was the fifth week in a row that the initiative has taken place, with the first ‘clap for our carers’ held on Thursday 26 March. While the first event was held in honour of the NHS, the 8pm event now pays tribute to all key workers including NHS staff, supermarket workers and teachers. During the current pandemic, SELECT has created a dedicated COVID-19 hub, offering open source advice and guidance to contractors. It is also a key member of the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, a collective of 16 industry bodies offering vital information and lobbying for protection of cashflow and jobs. As Scotland’s largest trade association, SELECT has nearly 1,250 members businesses with a collective turnover of approximately £1 billion, employing more than 15,000 people and 3,500 apprentices. It also delivers a wide range of training courses and campaigns for regulation of the industry. Watch the clip here.
Guidance to contractors and customers during emergency domestic work
The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has issued an engaging new animation that offers clear and practical advice to contractors and occupiers undertaking emergency domestic work. In simple and graphic form, the short film outlines the precautions and operate-at-distance policies which the Forum has issued as guidance in order to provide the maximum protection for both parties from potential COVID-19 transmission. Entitled In This Together, the film is now being rolled out in the wake of the recent Scottish Government instruction for all non-essential work to cease, in order to provide parameters for essential emergency domestic work which may arise. The theme of cooperation also echoes the strategic aims of the Forum itself, which was formed last month (March 2020) in response to the emergency and now has 16 members from across the construction sector pulling together in the interests of the industry as a whole. Anne Vessey, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) and Head of the CICV Forum Communications Sub-Group, said that the new film was open source and was designed to be shared by as many people as possible. She said: “It has become very clear that we will only beat this devastating virus by co-operating, and the different members of the Forum have come together in a remarkable way to support a sector which itself supports so many different trades and skills. This short film explains how we can all reduce risk of Coronavirus exposure when necessary emergency work or repairs have to be carried out in the confined spaces of the domestic environment.” The animation advises that contractors: Use the CICV Forum template to communicate and plan work Check that no one in the work site has symptoms, and assure that contractors have no symptoms Stand two metres apart and don’t shake hands Wash hands during and after work, using their own towel Wipe down all tools and instruments. Ms Vessey said the film also emphasised how homeowners can also play their part by: Opening doors and windows and staying in a separate room Signing work off electronically Using bank transfers, not cash, for payments. The CICV Forum has already acted swiftly to help to end the uncertainty around which construction works can be undertaken and has issued guidance to companies to resolve the conflicting messages from the Scottish and UK Governments. Ms Vessey added: “This film is a further initiative in the Forum’s campaign to provide clarity and transparency to Scotland’s construction firms during the current pandemic emergency.” The Forum now has 16 members, including the electrical contractors’ trade association SELECT, the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Scotland), the Lift and Escalator Industry Association, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) Scotland, the Scottish Building Federation, the Federation of Master Builders, the Scaffolding Association, the Electrical Distributors’ Association, the Builders Merchants Federation, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, the British Constructional Steelwork Association, SNIPEF, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the Stone Federation (GB), the EDA and the Scottish Contractors Group. The film can be viewed here.
