SELECT, the trade body for Scotland’s electrotechnical sector, has highlighted a European report that emphasises the importance of the organisation’s campaign for recognition of electricians as a profession.
The Europe-wide sector report reveals the safety-critical contribution electricians make to life across the continent as well as being key players in areas such as infrastructure, the digital economy and climate change aspirations.
The report – by AIE, the European Association of Electrical Contractors – reveals that the 300,000 electrical companies in the EU and EFTA have a combined annual turnover of €214 billion and employ 1.8 million skilled individuals. It says electrical companies account for 15% of the overall construction sector turnover in Europe and that growth is being driven by decentralised and green technologies.
SELECT said the report backs the argument that skills in the sector are ‘evolving rapidly’ to keep ahead of technology and that the sector is quickly becoming white collar rather than blue.
Alan Wilson, MD of SELECT said, “This snapshot of the electrical sector across Europe confirms that the work of electricians is more complex and more highly valued than that of other construction professionals. The intricacies of modern electrical installation underpin everything from the internet to cars, hospitals, homes and businesses and the ubiquity of electricity and its applications must soon be recognised with professional status.
“This is why SELECT and other organisations – backed by many influential individuals and MSPs – have been campaigning so vigorously for Protection of Title for electricians in Scotland, a campaign which is being considered in Parliament even now.”
SELECT’s campaign for Recognition is supported by the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and Unite the Union, among others.
