ELECTROTECHNICAL trade association SELECT has launched a new online ‘wall of support’ as part of its campaign for recognition of electricians as a profession.
SELECT, whose campaign is also backed by the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SIJB) and Unite the Union, described the wall as a visual representation of the “ever-growing” number of organisations and individuals supporting the issue.
The wall “illustrates vividly the strength of feeling across a huge range of disciplines that being an electrician is a highly-skilled and professional occupation and that those who practise it must be suitably qualified”, SELECT said.
Bodies that have contributed a brick in the wall include the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); the Scottish Association of Landlords; the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group; the Association of Electrical Safety Managers; Energy Action Scotland; BAM Construction; the Scottish Building Federation; the Federation of Master Builders and the Energy Saving Trust.
Gail Hunter, of RICS said, “The RICS supports the campaign to introduce Protection of Title, which would ensure that anyone calling themselves an electrician in Scotland would have to hold appropriate qualifications.”
Bruce Dickson, regional director Scotland for BAM Construction said, “BAM supports the importance of using professionals in all aspects of construction. It is vital that we ensure only properly trained and qualified people carry out these works.”
John Blackwood, CEO of the Scottish Association of Landlords said, “We support the importance of using professional electricians in all types of construction work, be they multi-million pound contracts or small domestic works.”
Alan Wilson, acting managing director at SELECT said, “The wall shows in a dramatic fashion the strength of feeling that exists within the construction sector about the issue of professional recognition.
“The issue has been raised and debated in the Scottish Parliament and this week (January 24) Jamie Hepburn, the Scottish Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, will be hosting a Working Group to consider how a legal requirement for electricians to be regulated could be introduced.”
He added, “We would like to thank the very significant and influential number of organisations which have given time and support to this vital campaign and we can assure them that SELECT will continue to press the issue towards a satisfactory conclusion.”
