Well here we are. I was getting quite used to the warm weather and long sunny evenings and here I am writing the editorial for September.

Is it just me or is time speeding up? I was at a music festival in July watching Fatboy Slim and a band I still thought of as being quite new before realising that Kaiser Chiefs released their first album, Employment, 20 years ago! While we’re reflecting on the summer it would be remiss of me not to mention the incredible Lionesses – who went one better than the men did in last year’s football European Championships and defended their title against Spain.

That’s enough looking back, however, it’s time to look forward in terms of business and trade with the recent publication of the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. Described by the government as a ‘new approach for a new era’, it provides a robust and strategic 10-year plan to make the UK the best country to invest in anywhere in the world. Success of course doesn’t happen overnight, but it also doesn’t happen if you sit around waiting for it. If my ‘Kaiser Chiefs’ timeline is anything to go by, the next decade will pass in the blink of an eye, so with this Strategy in place let’s hope it can deliver on its promises. It has been widely welcomed in industry quarters, including the electrotechnical sector, because of the potential support it will bring to SMEs. You can see the ECA’s response in News & Views on page 6.

Also in this issue we’ve got a Face-to-Face interview with Simon Cranton of Doepke UK, as well as special features on Lighting, Home Automation and Tools. I’ve taken delivery of several new tools and gadgets recently as I’ve embarked on various DIY projects at home in the last few months. But as any tradesperson will tell you, as you accumulate more tools they become more difficult to transport from job to job. On page 27 KNIPEX highlights the importance of a practical and durable tool bag. Rounding off the issue in Soapbox on page 48, Stuart Burns from The Lighting Industry Association explains what the 10th Edition of IEC 60598-1 means for the lighting industry.

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here