The latest quarterly survey of the UK engineering services sector, backed by trade bodies ECA, BESA, SELECT and SNIPEF, has revealed that electrotechnical businesses are feeling the effects of the economic slowdown and a shortage of skilled workers, despite high activity and growing order books.

While two in five survey respondents (40%) said their business’ turnover increased in the final quarter of 2023, a third (34%) said staff shortages are the biggest threat to their business and predicted business growth to stagnate in 2024.

The survey also revealed that most business owners in the sector continue to grapple with high prices and slow payment times. Nearly two thirds (62%) of respondents said commercial clients and main contractors took 31 to 60 days to pay for work, and 15% said this could take 61 to 90 days.

Half (47%) of respondents said public sector clients can take 31 to 60 days to pay. One in 10 (9%) said they can take 61 to 90 days.

Three in five (60%) respondents said between 1 and 10% of their turnover is currently being held in retentions.

Rob Driscoll, ECA Director of Legal and Business, said: “In light of the wider economic slowdown, these latest survey figures are far from surprising. However, they offer some vindication for the hard work ECA has been doing to give electrotechnical and engineering services contractors a voice, and the opportunity to play their part in the nation’s economic recovery.

“While the outlook for the sector is pessimistic for the rest of 2024, there are signs that the economy could turn a corner by 2025 and the sector could return to growth.”

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LEDVANCE has launched a new product series, EVERLOOP, featuring luminaires with conveniently replaceable LED light sources and drivers.

Using replaceable parts, EVERLOOP products maximise a luminaire’s lifespan, avoiding the need to dispose of complete luminaires and reducing the number of electrical products going into the waste stream.

EVERLOOP products are not only a sustainable choice but also a convenient one for installers and facility managers. The first model of the series to be available is the LEDVANCE Linear IndiviLED Gen 2 in December 2023, offering both direct and indirect versions with on/off or DALI options respectively. The range offers CRI90 and UGR<19 which makes it perfect for office applications.

With a greater lifespan these luminaires are a sustainable and convenient choice for installers, planners, and facility managers, ensuring sustainable efficiency of industrial and office applications as well as public buildings. In addition to an extended lifetime and reduced waste, benefits include cost savings, as well as allowing buildings to maintain the same looks.

The IndiviLED range will be expanded in spring 2024 with further types in the colour black and accessories to create a complete lighting system.

For more information, click here

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Armorduct has joined the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) as an affiliate manufacturer has also joined the EDATA data pool, where manufacturers share their product data with multiple wholesalers.

Alfie Rowe, Managing Director at Amorduct, said: “We pride ourselves on offering the wholesaler the best possible service by working closely with them to meet a contractor’s needs. Joining the EDA and EDATA is an important step for us in that drive by making as much information as easily available as possible.

“Having the highest quality product information readily at hand is a vital part of that service, but we aim to go further than other manufacturers by offering a more flexible alternative in addition to our standard product offer. We will work as an extension of the wholesaler so that we can help them solve problems for the contractor, whether that’s to save time on site or to meet a particularly tricky design brief for cable management.

Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA added “We are delighted to welcome Armorduct to the Association and to the EDATA data pool, which is a key pillar of our work to digitalise the UK’s electrotechnical sector. Armorduct recognises the efficiencies in productivity that streamlined high quality data can deliver to every point in the supply chain. This is primarily about driving sales from manufacturer to wholesaler, and wholesaler to contractor, but it is also about improving the accuracy and traceability of product information during a building’s lifetime – an increasingly important demand in the construction sector.”

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The launch of Jefferson Tools latest Autumn/Winter catalogue showcases a lineup of 79 new products, providing professional tradespeople an extensive selection of quality tools and equipment that meet the needs and standards of stockists.

Introducing 360 lumens rechargeable LED neck light and 800 lumens cob LED work light with charging base. e Blade Light is a compact and lightweight tool designed for easy portability providing a hassle-free lighting solution for on-the-go professionals.

Built a robust and versatile illumination device, the work light features durable housing, multiple working modes, and hands-free operation thanks to its magnetic base and hanging hook. Both lights are crafted to meet the needs of professionals, ensuring convenience and reliability in various working environments.

Additionally, the iR75 infrared heater is a top pick for professionals, a meticulously designed companion for spaces craving efficient and swift heating solutions. It emits 70,000 BTU (20.5kW), helping to create warmth in spacious areas like warehouses and garages during the winter months. The heater boasts a 12L steel fuel tank, durable for a long haul with an average fuel consumption of a mere 1.6L/hr.

For more information, click here

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Draper Tools is proud to announce six new appointments. Sarah Hartland has been promoted to Head of Marketing, alongside five impressive new hires across the company’s sales and finance teams.

Sarah Hartland, who previously held the position of Marketing Campaign Manager, will be the youngest member of the 104 year old company’s senior leadership team at just 32 years old. Having joined the business over four years ago, Sarah has been an integral part of the marketing team during that time, playing a crucial role in many of the company’s most successful product launches. Sarah also brings with her a wealth of industry knowledge having previously held marketing roles at Elliotts Builders Merchants as well as gaining valuable experience at globally recognised PR firms. Speaking about her appointment as Head of Marketing, Sarah commented:

“Draper is a brand with so much potential, which is why I’ve been passionate about growing my career here. When I joined the company in 2019 as a Senior Marketing Executive, I never thought I’d be leading the department. Yes, I’m the youngest person in our leadership team, by quite a few years but I’m proof that if you work hard then age does not matter. I am excited to be part of Draper’s future and to support the business with modern marketing.”

Mark Broughton joins Draper Tools as Director of Finance and will be overseeing the company’s financial future and strategies for growth and expansion. Mark equally brings a great deal of relevant knowledge and experience to the role, having joined Draper from Cycling Sports Group and worked in finance for over 20 years.

Draper’s expanding sales team has been boosted by the appointment of Paul Middlemiss as Automotive Sales manager as well as Nick Ward and Carl Osborne as Key Account Managers. With over 20 years of industry experience and a real passion for the sector, Paul is well-placed to manage Draper’s automotive sales. Meanwhile, Nick and Carl both join Draper with significant experience, having previously held roles with Metabo.

Also newly appointed to the sales team is Jack Alcock who joins Draper as Lead Marketplace Account Manager from Rinkit Ltd, where he was Head of Marketplaces.

The appointments come at a time of innovation and modernisation for family-owned Draper Tools, which kicked off with the appointment of Matt Sheen as CEO in January 2023. Commenting on the new appointments, Matt Sheen said:

“It’s been a really exciting year at Draper Tools and these new appointments to the team will certainly help us keep up the pace and continue towards our goals.

“I’m delighted to have Paul, Jack, Nick and Carl as part of our salesforce, their combined expertise and passion will be an asset to the business. It’s also a real win for the business to have someone as experienced as Mark heading up our finance team. In marketing, I’ve been continually impressed by Sarah’s hard work and creativity, she’s absolutely the right person to drive our future marketing plans.

There’s no doubt, Draper’s in a strong position for the future and we are all very much looking forward to the next phase of growth.”

Originally established in 1919 by Bert Draper, Draper Tools is still family owned and run today by the fourth generation of the Draper family. The business remains as committed to progress as ever, with a state-of-the-art new warehouse build currently underway at its Hampshire headquarters to enable it to meet strong demand. The rapid growth and expansion plans at Draper Tools have seen a recruitment drive with a number of exciting new roles being created across the business – for details, click here

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Tradespeople are being warned to take extra security measures over winter to protect the tools they store in their van.

Motoring experts at Lease Van have warned vehicle owners that January is a prime time for criminals to strike and have offered advice on how to protect their equipment.

A Freedom of Information request found that 35,098 tool thefts were reported to the police in 2022 – equal to one every 15 minutes.

An eye-watering £66m worth of tools was stolen from tradespeople’s vehicles, which are frequently targeted by thieves. Tool theft is likely to increase in January as opportunistic thieves look to make some extra cash after Christmas.

Steps tradespeople should take to protect their tools from thieves include parking in well-lit areas and marking equipment.

Tim Alcock from Lease Van said: “Thieves and burglars see January as the perfect time to take expensive equipment from tradespeople.

“Burglars are more likely to steal tools over the New Year because they know many are celebrating and therefore less vigilant, so see it as the perfect time to strike. Last year £66 million worth of tools were stolen from trade vehicles, and we expect that figure to be just as high this year with the cost-of-living crisis fuelling crime.

“Criminals are well aware that tools and equipment are expensive, so it is important to take extra security measures like storing equipment in an indoor secure location and using warning signs to protect yourself.”

These are Lease Van’s seven tips to protect tools:

Park carefully

Avoid parking in isolated and quiet areas as this will appeal to thieves, and stick to where there is CCTV in operation. At home, park with the back door against a wall, in sight of a window or a well-lit area to deter thieves.

Additional security 

Consider investing in extra security like deadbolts, alarms and slamlocks which will make it harder for thieves to break in and act as a deterrent.

Warning signs 

It may seem simple, but making it known that there is CCTV or that tools are not kept in the van or a work site, can deter thieves. Thieves like easy targets and the extra risk of being caught will put them off.

Store indoors

When finished work, take tools out of the van and leave them somewhere more secure, like inside your home or a storage facility.

Mark tools

An effective way to deter theft is to mark tools and equipment with the name of your business as it can aid their recovery if they are ever sold on and will be easily identifiable to the police.

Tech preventions

For tech-savvy tradies, there are several ways to protect tools including motion-sensing cameras, GPS tracking devices and smart padlocks.

 Insurance

Some providers will cover the cost of replacing tools if they’re lost or damaged so the business can keep running if the worst should happen.

For related articles, click here

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In a move that further supports professionals with convenient and unrestricted access to power, Makita has announced the launch of its new BAC01 36V Power Converter. This useful solution turns DC power into AC power and is suitable for battery charging or the use of corded tools in outdoor job sites where an AC outlet is not available.

Specifically, the new solution converts power from Makita’s 36V battery packs to AC power for a wide range of applications – simply by connecting the PDC01 or PDC1200 battery pack to the power station.

The power converter has been designed to support a variety of requirements, offering multiple outlets that include two AC outlets, two Type-A USB output ports, two Type C USB outlet ports and one DC12V cigar socket. Collectively, users have access to a wide range of options to power multiple items when out on site and it can also be used to recharge Makita’s batteries for use with its cordless power tools or outdoor equipment.

Runtime is application dependent. For example, the PDC1200 will power a 1000W load for about 56 minutes, and the PDC01with 4x BL1860B batteries will power a 750W load for approximately 20 minutes.

Owing to the focus on portability and functionality, the power converter is also compatible with Makita’s Makpac system to allow for easy transportation. Measuring just 39.5cm by 34.5cm by 16.3cm and weighing 7.3 kilos, it can otherwise be handled using the built in carrying handles located on both sides of the unit which are retractable when not in use.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK, commented: “We’re always looking for opportunities to meet our customers’ needs, with our new BAC01 Power Converter doing just that. We foresee this being a highly useful and complementary piece of equipment for tradespeople working on large sites, or in remote areas where there isn’t a power supply available. It’s an easily transportable, highly effective source of power that is compatible with a variety of tools and lighting equipment.”

With a nominal battery voltage of 36V, the BAC01 has a maximum power output of 2,800 W and continuous rating output of 1,400 W.

To discover more about Makita and explore its full range of products including batteries, chargers and adapters, click here

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In this month’s Face to Face we hear from Ade Solomon, Group Sales Director at Olympic Fixings, to find out more about the company and the sector it operates in.

1. When and how was Olympic Fixings established?

Olympic Fixings was established over 30 years ago. I joined at the start of 2018, now with over 36 years of experience selling fasteners and fixings, along with fellow Directors Paul Gordon & Gareth Williams. Our aim was to modernise the business and drive growth through product innovation and a new customer service proposition.

2. What sets Olympic apart from other fixing suppliers?

Our mantra is “Quality at our core”. That’s quality in our products, our packaging and the service we offer our customers. We believe fixings are more than just commodities to be traded simply on price. The electrical contractor needs to be able to trust the integrity and suitability of the fixings that are being used. We get great feedback from end users that they trust the quality of the Olympic fixings brand.

Relative to some players in the market we are a small team, passionate about what we do, flexible, innovative and prepared to respond quickly to changes in our customer’s needs.

3. What products and solutions are currently proving popular in the electrical sector?

We have sold a limited range of our products in convenient Trade-Tubs for many years. Based on customer feedback we have added many new variants and the feedback from end users has been fantastic. In addition to the ever-popular screw and red plug tub we’ve added tubs of popular sized steel and brass machine screws, self-drilling screws, self-tapping screws, grommets and fire rated fixings. All designed to help the electrical contractor keep van stock organised and avoid time lost on site by not having the right fixing for the job.

Many of our customers have asked us to source non-catalogue products and so we have launched Olympic Fixings Sourcing – OFS. Instead of turning away an enquiry for “unusual” fixings, wholesalers can now use OFS to satisfy their customer requirement and make some additional sales and margin along the way.

4. How does Olympic Fixings support its wholesalers?

We are loyal to the channel – we don’t supply directly through Amazon or, unlike many others, the hybrid national retailers who have taken so much value away from the electrical wholesale channel.

Our customer proposition is based on being easy to deal with – 3,500 SKU offered for sale, in nearly all cases, down to the single unit as part of a carriage paid order.

Wholesalers can order by phone, email or through our online catalogue which carries an additional discount to recognise that the wholesaler is doing more of the work.

By building brands rather than simply trading commodities, wholesalers who sell Olympic Fixings products can expect to make higher cash margins. We have a range of merchandising solutions from simple countertop units through to full metre wide merchandising stands.

Product data is now available through the ePim platform and we are very proud that we’ve recently been awarded Gold Standard by EDATA. 

5. What are Olympic’s goals for the year ahead?

More product innovation is coming with an exciting range of solar fixings about to be introduced. We have recently launched the “tetra” four way nylon expansion wall plug which can be used in brick, stone concrete or drylining – another value-add product for the wholesaler.

We have signed up to attend all the Elex Trade Shows and are we’re excited to continue the dialogue with our trade end-users. We are working hard on our sustainability plan under the headers of people, product and planet and you can expect to see further innovation in our packaging and in the way we work.

An exciting year ahead for Olympic Fixings and its wholesaler partners.

For more information, click here

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Airmaster, by the CED Electrical Group, already boasts a comprehensive and established range of nearly 50 space heating products, strengthened each year with new innovative products – Wi-Fi enabled panel heaters and bathroom downflow heaters being recent stand-out additions.

New for 2023, PTC or Positive Temperature Coefficient heaters join the range, offering automatic temperature and power adjustment once maximum levels are reached, delivering both energy efficiency and increased safety via the elimination of over-heating.

This new floor standing and portable fan heater range includes a mini 500w with a 12 hour timer, an upright with 900w/1800w settings and adjustable thermostat, plus an Industrial rolled steel version with 1000w/2000w settings.

These new high-tech heaters join the existing ranges of panel heaters, oil filled radiators from 500w to 2kW, 2kW convector and fan heaters, infrared wall, ceiling and patio heaters, tubular heaters and everything in between – giving the end user even more choice at a time when energy costs remain high.

For more information, click here

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It’s cold and now it’s dark really early we basically just want to hibernate until Spring……… so what better way to brighten up our day than to play some tunes!!!

We get a lot of info into the PEW office every month and the majority of it makes it into the magazine so that we can share all of the news with you. There is always a bundle of new products, new people and some generally rather interesting stuff, but every now and then we receive something a bit different which really sparks my interest.

This month it was the announcement from Toolbox by Admiral that the ‘magic of music can be a secret weapon in the workplace helping to boost brain activity and turn up the volume on productivity’. I’m not sure about you but my main route to turning up the volume on productivity is coffee….lots of coffee! I am however a massive fan of music for lifting the spirits and when embarking on any car journey the playlist is chosen before the sat nav is initiated – this may say a lot about why I am always getting lost!!

Anyway those lovely people at Admiral have trawled Spotify to come up with a list of the favourite songs attributed to various trades……this is obviously something of a relief because well that’s been on my To Do list for a few months now!!

Electricians apparently favour Guns N’ Roses – they are big fans in fact with Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O Mine and Paradise City featuring in their top ten – but then who doesn’t like a good sing along to Paradise City? I’m not sure if we should be concerned that Sabotage by the Beastie Boys comes in at number 7 in the electricians hit parade – perhaps I will just leave that thought for you to ponder.

Sadly there isn’t a top ten for Electrical Wholesalers which definitely leaves a hole in the Spotify playlist hit parade – maybe we should do something about that – what’s your thoughts on Under Pressure by Queen for number 1!

See you next month

Tracey

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