Welcome to the April issue of PEW. News headlines are dominated at the moment by wars and conflicts, whether it’s Russia- Ukraine, Gaza, or the wider Middle East region. Without getting bogged down in the politics – that’s for other channels – I’m sure we can all agree that war is a bad thing, more so for the people directly affected by it but also for the knock-on effects on the global economy.

Wars throughout history have been extensively covered by film and TV, and future catastrophic disasters are also depicted with varying causes and themes – I’m talking about the likes of The Day After Tomorrow, Greenland, Armageddon and The War of the Worlds. Many such films include storylines in which world leaders, scientists or other important figures are hidden away and protected in underground bunkers or secret bases (well apart from Bill Pullman’s President fighting the aliens in Independence Day). It got me thinking, who would be top of the UK’s list for protection should the end of the world become imminent. The Prime Minister and the reigning monarch are top of the list, whatever your views on them they are a given – some other politicians and royal figures might find themselves left behind! Moving on to trades, you have your key workers, in the medical field, food production and law enforcement among others. As much as I’d like to put myself forward as future editor of Nuclear Bunker Monthly, I feel print journalism might be a bit further down the pecking order. You want your bunker’s services to run smoothly and it to remain structurally sound, so construction professionals are of course a shoo-in.

In fact, tradespeople are sought-after in general anyway, without any national disaster. New research from welding specialist Tadweld has revealed the UK’s highest-earning trades for 2026, with bricklayers, carpenters and plumbers all in the top 20 – and electricians proudly top of the pile. It’s no secret that demand for electricians is booming. Between EV chargers, solar installs, battery storage and the general push toward electrification, there’s more work around than ever. The problem? Not enough people to do it. Contractors across the UK are still struggling to recruit qualified electricians, and many believe the industry needs a stronger pipeline of apprentices to keep up with future demand.

Scotland’s largest construction trade body, SELECT, has recently criticised the UK and Scottish governments for policies it says will undermine the electrical workforce of the future, with rising apprentice wages and decreasing financial support for taking on apprentices causing major concern. If the industry can’t bring enough new talent through the ranks, the skills gap could become the biggest challenge facing the electrical trade over the next decade.

One thing’s certain: the sparks are definitely flying in the sector right now.

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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Welcome to the March issue of PEW! I have been working from home for the last two weeks and am now in recovery mode having had my old bathroom ripped out and a new one put in. While at home I did manage to catch bits of the Winter Olympics and see what new and creative ways they had managed to come up with to hurl people down an icy slope as quickly as possible.

Out of curiosity I started delving into the history of the Winter Olympics. First held in Chamonix in 1924 and made up of five sports (bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, Nordic skiing and skating), it has evolved over the years with new subdisciplines introduced, categories dropped and others modernised – for example military patrol eventually became the biathlon event. There have also been some surprising sports that, while never introduced as an official event, were showcased as demonstrations at various Olympics, such as skijoring (being towed on skis behind a horse or dogs), acroski (ski ballet), and speed skiing – where athletes descended a steep, straight course in a tight aerodynamic tuck at speeds of up to 130mph! Unsurprisingly, concerns about safety prevented that from ever becoming an official event.

So yes, the Olympic Games, both summer and winter, have evolved but at their core remain the key values of excellence, respect and friendship which have helped the games to endure for so long.

“Where are you going with this?” you might ask. Well, Theben’s journey began just before the first Winter Olympics. The topic of ‘sustainability’ might be considered a very modern movement but the thought process behind it goes back a long way. At Theben, as explained in this month’s Soapbox column, it was precision engineer Paul Schwenk who started developing time switches in 1921, with the principle that buildings don’t need to run at full tilt all the time. Fast forward about 100 years, with a lot of innovation and progress in between, we are living in the age of smart buildings.

Evolution runs throughout the built environment, including the electrical wholesaler, ever since G. Binswanger and Company, later to become the General Electric Company, first started selling electrical components over the counter in London in the late 19th century. In the 21st century traditional distribution methods are being challenged by rapid changes in customer expectations (especially digital buyers), sustainability requirements, and broader shifts in the energy and construction sectors. To evolve and thrive, wholesalers are rethinking their business models across technology, operations, sustainability and customer experience. In fact it’s evolving faster than an average curling match seems to take.

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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Welcome back….is what I would say if I was a mid-morning TV chat show host after a commercial break. It does seem kind of appropriate here though as we return to work in a new year, re-engage our brains and start where we left off.

Let’s be honest, January is unlikely to ever win the People’s Favourite Month award, but (I’ve checked) apparently, we’re not allowed to remove it from the calendar year. And even if we could we’d still need a first month to get through, so it would become February, and if we removed that it would become March, and if…well you get the idea.

We all know the first couple of weeks of a new year can take a while to get going and the infamous terms ‘January Blues’ and ‘Blue Monday’ seep into our minds and trigger us to want to do something to cheer ourselves up. Crowds used to flock to the high streets for January sales – although with the rise of online shopping this has declined slightly in recent years. Holiday promotions are also unavoidable – you can’t turn on the television or radio without Paddy McGuiness telling us about those ‘booking geniuses’. Of course, not everybody is in a position to book a week of winter sun or buy a new sofa, but there are other ways to achieve little victories. Starting a new hobby, taking a short walk on a frosty morning, meeting a friend for coffee or lunch, or simply bingeing a TV series are just some of the things we can do to brighten our days and evenings. Inspiration can come in all sorts of forms and lead us down a positive path.

For example, a January de-clutter can start as something quite small, as you pick a couple of things out of your wardrobe that you’ve not worn in years and list them on Vinted. Before you know it your living room floor is covered in old books, shoes and jackets and you’re planning your next DIY project.

So, while December can be a busy time for tradespeople and wholesalers, with a rush of jobs to finish in amongst seasonal shutdowns, office parties, shopping and holiday traffic, January and February can almost feel too slow in comparison. But new projects are never far away and before you know it there’s blossom on the trees and it’s the Easter bank holiday and you can eat chocolate again. See, you feel better again already!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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A lot can change with the test and measurement landscape in a short period of time, as Metrel’s Mark Johnson can testify. Here he shares his thoughts after returning to the industry following a near two year break.

Returning to the test and measurement sector after a break of 18 months has been a most illuminating experience.

In that time it would appear that most/all of the major manufacturers have introduced the ability to update their premium instrument’s firmware in the field rather than by specialists at calibration time, having told everyone it was impossible for many years. To its continued credit, Metrel remains one of the only companies to offer updating for all testers – not just the most expensive.

Another shift has seen more manufacturers including help screens, which are now being built into top-end testers. It’s the same story with an SPD test, which Metrel machines have incorporated for 20 years.

Field firmware updating allows manufacturers to respond to changes in the Regulations or introduce new tests should the need arise, giving the customer better value from the investment in a test machine.

Adapter and overcome

A perfect example was the introduction of EVSE testing. Metrel updated its tester firmware free of charge to include an EVSE test protocol for those testers that had the hardware capability.

At the same time an adapter was introduced which could test the functionality of the charger and gave access to the electrical supply system for testing at a cost in the region. The adapter’s cost-effectiveness was ground-breaking at a time when some other companies were expecting end users to pay premium sums for a new tester with the same functionality.

At Metrel we see these types of adapters as the future. At the end of the day, if your tester is working well why spend more for another screen, processor, plastics etc. when you can use it as the interface and save your results to the memory?

The latest update to the MI3152 multi-function tester allows the unit, with the addition of an adapter, to transform itself into a precision high current earth loop impedance tester, operating up to 300 A.

Earth resistivity testing is not an everyday activity for most contractors, so it makes sense that they might not want to pay for the functionality. But if you need to measure specific earth resistance for the design of a grounding system, it is reassuring to know you just need to buy a Ro-adapter rather than purchase another complete test set.

More commonly, ring final circuit testing can be made quicker and transformed into a one-man job using Metrel’s unique ring continuity adapter (A2214). Firmware upgrades are available for the MI 3100, MI 3125 adding to their longevity, as well as the touch-screen MI 3152 and MI 3155.

Common themes 

Another change is that domestic 3-phase supplies have become more common. To facilitate their testing, the 3-phase active switch (A1507) is an adapter that automates testing, making it faster and keeping you safe.

You make the connections to the installation under test once. The switch is then controlled by either of our touch-screen testers, making and breaking connections as required and running through a suite of measurements – all under your expert supervision from a safe distance.

For further information, click here

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Welcome to the December issue of PEW. As another year hurtles towards its conclusion I am writing this at home while my early Christmas present – a new bathroom – is fitted. As I occasionally wander from office to kitchen, passing said bathroom and checking the installers are OK for drinks, I try and steal a moment and observe them going about their craft with meticulous pride. It rekindles memories of WorldSkillsUK events I have attended in the past.

WorldSkills supports young people across the world via competitions based training, assessment and benchmarking, with members’ national teams ultimately testing their ability to achieve world-class standards in the biennial ‘skills olympics’. The UK National Finals took place in November this year at various locations across Wales and while I could not attend this time around my role as a trade journalist has given me opportunity in the past to speak with WorldSkills finalists and champions. As I alluded to earlier, there is something magically mesmerising about watching professionals go about their chosen trade, whether it’s aircraft maintenance or graphic design, culinary arts or hairdressing, and feeling their passion (and competitiveness) shine through at these events is inspiring to witness.

While I am championing young people and their various trades, however, it would appear that electrical apprenticeships require a boost, as the latest ‘Apprenticeship Gap Report’ (Industry News) has found that the electrical trade faces the most severe deficit across all sectors analysed, with a 227:1 ratio representing a gap of just over 9,600 unfilled positions. This of course adds to the problem of the widening skills gap and the industry as a whole has work to do in 2026 to promote trade industry jobs in the electrotechnical sector if we are to establish a workforce sufficiently equipped for the years ahead.

Let’s end the year on a positive and celebrate the work of you – the wholesaler. Christmas is a pivotal time for this sector, as demand surges not just for decorative lighting but also for the infrastructure that keeps commercial spaces running through extended trading hours. Contractors rush to complete last-minute projects, and wholesalers must balance festive goodwill with the logistics of tight supply chains, fluctuating demand and staff holidays.

So, as the lights go up across towns and cities this December, we raise a glass of mulled wine to the wholesalers keeping the current flowing. Your work may be behind the scenes, but without you Christmas simply wouldn’t shine as brightly.

See you next year!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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Welcome to the November issue of Professional Electricians Wholesaler. I’m writing this at the end of a hectic few weeks which culminated in three days at an industry tradeshow in London – and a pop concert – but more on that later.

Tradeshows are always useful networking events and provide the chance for a variety of industry professionals to get a close up view of the latest products on the market, as well as catching up on the major talking points, particularly in the seminar theatres. One talk I did manage to get along to was a panel discussion on the changing dynamics of the modern workplace. The Covid-19 lockdowns were obviously a massive gamechanger as people realised they could achieve a better work/life balance by working from home. This has driven the increase in flexible working in organisations where it’s practical to do so. However, while a senior figure may have a large house and family to look after, and therefore may have a greater need to work from home some of the time, this will not be the case for everybody. A younger panellist raised the very good point that many graduates might be living in flatshares where personal space is limited and they need a dedicated workspace provided by their employer. Equally important was the personal workplace interaction with their seniors to help them develop and grow in their careers, which is much harder to achieve while hunched over a laptop while sitting on their bed.

These shifts in working patterns have also forced companies to reassess their building’s usage, with staff occupancy levels becoming more fluid and driving the need for tighter control on the building’s energy usage, for example ensuring lights are not kept on in unoccupiued areas. This is where lighting controls come in, which is one of the main topics covered in this issue. By allowing users to adjust light levels based on occupancy, daylight availability, or specific tasks, lighting controls help reduce unnecessary energy consumption and lower utility costs. Automated systems such as motion sensors, dimmers and timers ensure that lights are only used when needed, which not only conserves energy but also extends the lifespan of lighting fixtures. In commercial and industrial settings, this translates into significant operational savings and supports sustainability goals by minimising the building’s carbon footprint.

Back to the topic of work/life balance, the night before the aforementioned tradeshow I did allow myself the luxury of attending a Katy Perry concert at the O2 with some industry colleagues. It was a spectacular performance but I mention this not to brag, but rather to highlight a comment from one colleague who said, “You know you’re getting old when you’re admiring the stage hydraulics and lighting just as much as the performance itself….”

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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Welcome to the October issue of Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

My column in September drew some amusing comments from colleagues, in particular the opening paragraph about my referencing seeing Fatboy Slim and Kaiser Chiefs at the Latitude Festival this summer. The inference from some was that I was only including this information to appear ‘cool’ to my readers. Nothing could be further from the truth of course, but to avoid such accusations I shall avoid any further mention of music festivals – a decision I reached while I sipped champagne at the Burghley Horse Trials.

The weather was warm enough to make us believe that summer was still going strong but a few days later I started seeing Christmas products in the shops and my heart sank just a little – we’ve not even had Hallowe’en yet! I do believe retailers are just trolling us now. We have Christmas adverts playing on the radio and television, so by 1st December you are already sick of the festive songs you used to love – and I’m not sure I can take any more hype about the new M&S, John Lewis or Boots seasonal commercials. It won’t be long before they’re being directed by Steven Spielberg and getting a Leicester Square premiere!

I would be curious to know how early electrical wholesalers decorate their stores, if at all. Sure, you’ll get the odd customer coming in looking for some new fairy lights, but I’m not convinced reindeer-themed workwear or tools wrapped in tinsel will be huge sellers…(famous last words). All this premature marketing must work though and, despite all my ranting above, the date and location for our office Christmas dinner have already been confirmed.

Moving on, October is also when we see the weather really begin to turn, and I start wondering how long I can survive before I give in and switch the heating on. From a personal and selfish point of view, yes I want to be warm and comfortable but I also want to keep my energy bills down. With my professional hat on, and as someone who has spent years writing about the built environment – I am also thinking about my environmental impact. Energy efficient heating systems are going to play a crucial role in the UK’s decarbonisation journey and we are likely to see the emergence of systems once considered niche, like electric radiant heating, into the mainstream. Schwank’s article on page 22 goes into more detail about the benefits radiant heating can bring to large premises like factories and warehouses.

Also this month, Knightsbridge highlights some current trends in wiring accessories on page 27, and we learn about Tridonic’s plans for sustainability and Net Zero in Soapbox on page 48.

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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Mike Collins, Managing Director at Ovia, shines a light on some of the issues facing electrical wholesalers and how Ovia is helping to mitigate those challenges.

The lighting industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by shifting technologies, regulatory updates and market pressures. At Ovia, we recognise that our wholesaler partners face daily challenges in maintaining competitiveness and delivering value to contractors, specifiers and end-users.

Product proliferation and complexity

The transition to LED, connected lighting and increasingly sophisticated control systems has expanded product offerings dramatically. Wholesalers now manage more SKUs, often with highly technical specifications, while customers expect instant product knowledge.

Prices for panels, battens, downlights and basic floodlights have dropped significantly over the past 5–7 years and the commoditisation of LED lighting has led to increased competition from brands on price with near-identical specifications, eroding differentiation.

Price competition

There is intense competition from online sellers and direct imports, and market saturation. Contractors and facilities managers now price-check online, putting pressure on wholesalers, requiring them to differentiate beyond pricing alone.

Supply chain pressures

Global supply chain volatility, fluctuating demand and long lead times can leave wholesalers struggling to maintain the right stock levels while controlling costs.

Digital expectations

Contractors increasingly expect online ordering, instant stock visibility and digital tools for quoting and submittals, pushing wholesalers to enhance their digital capabilities.

The value of a brand

In today’s competitive lighting industry, where technology rapidly evolves and prices fluctuate, a strong brand is one of the most valuable assets a lighting manufacturer can possess. Beyond logos and marketing slogans, a brand encapsulates trust, quality and a promise that customers rely on when choosing lighting solutions for their homes, businesses, or cities. A respected brand demonstrates consistent product quality, longer warranties and a proven track record.

Trust and reliability

Lighting is integral to safety, productivity and comfort. When customers select a lighting brand, they are not just purchasing a product; they are investing in reliability. A well-established brand assures architects, contractors and end-users that the luminaires will perform as promised, meet compliance standards and be supported with service throughout their lifecycle.

Ovia, a well-established brand following more than six successful years operating within the lighting industry, has the backing of Scolmore Group. As a family-run business for more than 36 years, the company is agile, able to make decisions quickly and react to market changes to continually deliver improved products and services. A sustained programme of reinvestment in the business infrastructure as well as its people, is what drives the business.

Differentiation in a crowded market

The lighting sector is saturated with manufacturers offering similar specifications and technology. A strong brand differentiates a manufacturer beyond technical data sheets, signalling design leadership, sustainability commitments and innovation.

A partnership with Ovia guarantees a range of high quality, value-for-money products backed up by excellent local stocks, next day delivery and outstanding customer service.   We are committed to helping our customers sell our products and this is demonstrated through our proactive marketing effort, attendance and support for trade events and helping them make the most of the training opportunities we offer to ensure the end user gets the best possible products and solutions for the job.

Driving customer loyalty

In a field where product life cycles can span years, a brand is what keeps customers returning. Positive experiences with product quality, responsive support and consistent performance build emotional loyalty, turning customers into long-term partners rather than one-time buyers.

Find out more here

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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

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Sustainability has shaped KNIPEX for over 140 years. But today, the challenge is bigger. From climate-friendly steel to global partnerships, David Barnes, Sales and Marketing Manager, explains how responsible toolmaking can shape a better future.

When people talk about sustainability in manufacturing, it is often reduced to carbon targets and compliance checklists. These matter of course, but at KNIPEX it goes much deeper. Sustainability has been part of who we are for over 140 years, but it’s no longer enough just to do better than yesterday. Our challenge now is to rethink how we design, source, produce and recycle across the entire supply chain, because we believe we have a responsibility – to the environment, to our communities and to the generations who will use the tools we make.

Targets backed by action

This mindset drives our approach to our operations. We have set ourselves a clear goal: to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, using 2020 as our baseline, and by 2045 we aim to be climate neutral across the board. It’s a tough target, but we are already making great progress.

Since 2020, we have cut our emissions by a third. A big part of that is thanks to switching to 100% green electricity and 100% biogas in our operations, but we are also investing in long-term change. We promote e-mobility with our company’s electric cars and our public e-charging station, which runs using the solar power we have been self-generating since 2011 (and we are continuously expanding that capacity). We have even started converting our first large power units to run on hydrogen – another step towards decarbonising production.

Over 83% of our pliers now come in packaging made entirely from recycled material and all our plastic handles are made with recycled content. Inside our factory gates, it’s about considering waste a resource, not a problem; steel, wood, cardboard and other residual materials are fully recycled.

Over half of our greenhouse gas emissions are generated in Scope 3 – indirect emissions that originate from sources outside KNIPEX’s immediate control, such as transportation of materials and emissions from externally sourced raw materials. Steel production is a carbon-intensive process and the lion’s share of these Scope 3 emissions comes from the steel used to manufacture our high quality pliers. But we are committed to achieving our climate goals.

Climate-optimised raw materials will play a big part here and we are working closely with our long-time steel supplier, the Swiss Steel Group, to reduce emissions at the source and make sustainable steel a core part of our production. We were the first tool manufacturer to purchase Green Steel Climate+, a product made using hydro-powered electric arc furnaces and 100% recycled scrap. The carbon saving is huge; compared to conventional crude steel, emissions are cut by 98% per tonne, marking a huge shift in how raw materials can support Net Zero goals.

Thinking in circles, not straight lines

Our sense of responsibility doesn’t stop at our own factory gates; it also shapes how we work beyond them and has led to our involvement in initiatives like Circular Valley. For those who haven’t come across it, Circular Valley is a regional project in Germany that brings together manufacturers, researchers and start-ups to explore real-world solutions for a circular economy.

Through Circular Valley, we have supported efforts like Plastic Fischer, a start-up company that is the first in the world to tackle river plastic, working to intercept it before it reaches the ocean. With our backing, it has removed over 70 tonnes of plastic from the Ganges’ tributaries and created local employment in the process. It’s a clear example of how partnerships can make a global impact, even if they start small.

We are committed to climate protection on an international basis. Since 2016, for example, we have been involved in a project aiming to regreen areas of the Libyan desert with our local cooperation partner SEKEM. So far, 49,366 trees have been planted, which annually offset 1.804 tonnes of CO2.

The truth is, we live and work thanks to the world around us. The conditions and resources we rely on, air, water, raw materials, aren’t infinite. At KNIPEX, we believe that acknowledging this is essential for business. We want to be a good employer, a reliable partner and a positive presence in society. Success matters to us, but not at any cost. We are guided by long-term thinking and a belief that you can run a responsible, profitable business without cutting corners.

The demand for sustainably made tools is also growing. Whether it’s working on public sector sites with procurement requirements or just doing their bit for the planet, tradespeople increasingly want to know that the products they are using have been made responsibly.

At KNIPEX, we don’t claim to have all the answers, but we are taking action. From cleaner steel and recycled packaging to solar energy and international reforestation, we are proving that toolmaking can be both high quality and low impact. It’s not about ticking sustainability boxes, it’s about doing what’s right, now and for the future, and we are proud to play our part.

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