As one of the most influential voices in the industry, representing more than 1,250 businesses across the electrotechnical industry, SELECT makes a clarion call for a brighter, more efficient and more sustainable future for the sector in its manifesto, entitled Creating a Brighter Future. 

Among its key declarations, SELECT is asking the next Parliament to introduce: 

• Protection of title to stamp out unqualified electrical workers 
• Laws to make it illegal to carry out electrical work when unqualified 
• Procurement based on quality, not best bids 
• Timely payment and no retentions 
• Recognition of the sector’s role in delivering a sustainable future. 

Among its focus on regulation and renewables, the manifesto also emphasises the vital role that electrical professionals will have in delivering the next Scottish government’s plans for reduced energy use, decarbonisation, climate change and other principal policy objectives. 

Alan Wilson, managing drector of SELECT, said: “As our ‘wish list’ for the next Scottish government, this manifesto reflects real needs, not aspirations, when it comes to the future of our industry, our economy and our country. 

“Ongoing feedback shows that the sector wants, needs and demands the changes we are seeking, so we are merely reflecting the opinions of a significant workforce which contributes so much to Scotland’s economy.” 

Mr Wilson added: “We have made great progress in the outgoing parliament on the issue of protection of title and professional recognition, and it is of the utmost importance that our regulation campaign comes to fruition in the next parliament. 

“The pivotal role we will play in the roll-out of renewable energy must also be addressed, and our political representatives must recognise how vital it is not only to train and upskill the existing workforce but to make sure new entrants are similarly skilled. These skills will be crucial to the nation achieving its zero-carbon goals.” 

The manifesto – which will be distributed to candidates ahead of May’s Parliamentary elections – also points out that the existing procurement model used by most of Scotland’s public sector is fatally flawed, as it is skewed towards bids based on always accepting the lowest price rather than favouring a more balanced price and quality approach.  

Mr Wilson added: “SELECT favours a whole-life cost bias to construction projects which places the emphasis on getting decisions right at the design and procurement stage to dramatically reduce whole-life performance costs, benefitting everyone. 

“Tied into a better procurement model, it’s crucial that all businesses are paid in full and on time and we must end the iniquitous practice of retentions, which divert monies away from improvements to the industry.” 

The manifesto from Electrical Safety First aims to help reduce the number one cause of fires in Scottish homes.

Electricity causes nearly three-quarters of all house fires in Scotland each year. In 2019 alone, it cost the Scottish economy an estimated £35 million. The personal cost is, however, incalculable and, not surprisingly, older and vulnerable people are most at risk.

The charity’s manifesto contains five key asks of the next Scottish Government and elected MSPs, to protect people and property from electrical risk.

Central to these is a call for an integrated approach - a cross-government plan for electrical safety. In this way, intelligence can be shared and the evidence base improved, to ensure better targeting of resources, particularly for the most vulnerable.

Despite electricity being the primary cause of Scotland’s domestic fires, housing legislation and standards are subject to a ‘tenure lottery’ with different ‘levels’ of safeguards for different tenures.

So the charity is also calling for a common housing standard for electrical safety. In this way everyone, regardless of tenure, would have equal protection from electrical risk. Safeguards against dangerous, substandard, and counterfeit electrical products – particularly those available online – is another issue Electrical Safety First wants to see addressed; along with the development of a simple, straightforward, route for consumers to find registered electricians.

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, said: “While our manifesto offers pragmatic, cost-effective recommendations to improve electrical safety in Scotland’s homes now, it also looks to the future.

“We want to see the new Scottish Government provide a clear focus on the many future challenges for electrical safety - from the decarbonisation of heating in our homes, to the mainstreaming of electric vehicles.

“We are urging the new government and elected members to champion electrical safety in the next session of the Scottish Parliament. And we want people to ask their prospective representatives to support our manifesto and our recommendations for safer Scottish homes.”