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

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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

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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

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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

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Welcome to our combined July/August issue of Professional Electricians Wholesaler. I’m writing this editorial the day before the summer solstice and although my memory might be hazy it looks like we’re getting the weather it deserves this year for the first time in a while.

In recent years I’m sure it has felt like the ‘longest day’ has come and gone with a whimper as it’s been so overcast but this year the forecast at time of writing is 30°C for 21st June!

No, I’m not going to be one of those people who say it’s too hot, but such temperatures do make you more appreciative that most modern cars come with air-conditioning as standard these days. I remember a time when it only came in more luxurious cars and the only way to try and stay cool was to have to have all your windows down, and that only felt like you were being blasted with a hair dryer. As well as air-conditioning we’ve seen a range of in-car innovations over the last few decades such as electric windows, assisted parking, built-in satnav and Bluetooth. The engines powering our cars, however, have remained largely unchanged for well over a century.

Now the tide is definitely starting to turn. In this column 12 months ago I mentioned that electric vehicles (EVs) were around as far back as the 1830s. Now, the ‘hum’ of EVs is almost as common as the ‘brrrum’ of petrol and diesel cars on our streets. It does make me wonder what noises toddlers will be making with their toys in years to come, but I digress…

The transition to EVs in the UK is accelerating. In 2024, a record 381,970 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold – an increase of 21.4% from 2023 and a 19.6% market share. Looking ahead, the government has set a target that requires 80% of new cars to be zeroemission by 2030 and 100% by 2035. More than 80,000 EV charge points are already available in the UK and a further 100,000 have just been pledged by the government in the coming years. While ‘range anxiety’ and affordability remain obstacles for many potential customers, the UK’s EV transition does appear to be well underway.

In this issue we have feature articles from CTEK and Eclipse, which discuss the problems of widely misunderstood messaging surrounding smart EV charging, and also how the information generated by EV charging can help meet the energy demands of Artificial Intelligence. We also have a Face to Face with Paul Ruddick of D-Line who talks about the latest developments in cable management, and a Soapbox column from David Barnes of KNIPEX who explains how responsible toolmaking can shape a better future.

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

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Welcome to the June issue of Professional Electricians Wholesaler. It creeps up on you doesn’t it? One day you’ve still got your heating on and the next you’re looking for your floor-standing fans to cool you down.

This time last year we were looking forward to the Euro 2024 football championships – where has that time gone? I say ‘we’ when my own real interest only extended as far as whether my team in the office sweepstake – Albania – could maybe win me some money. It turned out that outcome was about as likely as Danny Dyer being named as the new Pope.

So it’s safe to say that tournament didn’t exactly light a football spark in me that I never knew existed and I’ve been quite happy living in blissful ignorance of the sport since then. Well until recently, however, when former England footballer Stuart Pearce was announced as the new Patron of the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC). “Odd choice”, some people might think. “Why does an ex-professional footballer have any interest in our industry charity?” Well, as many of you will already know, Pearce started out as an electrician before signing his first professional football contract and he has continued to be a great ambassador for the electrical trade, speaking at industry events and highlighting how useful a working knowledge of a trade can be in life.

Reading up on him a little bit more, he did continue with his ‘second’ career even after turning professional, doing jobs for teammates and famously advertising his business in matchday programmes. Now, I’m not going to turn this column into a “How many of today’s millionaire players would do that?…” kind of rant – as I’m sure you can do that yourself!

It’s a fantastic appointment for the EIC as it continues its amazing support for people in the electrical industry who have suffered or are suffering personal hardships.

Stuart Pearce’s ‘sliding doors’ moment, in terms of his career at least, got me thinking about our own paths we’ve taken, and what our alternative lives might have looked like had we followed a different route. In the extended team in just our office alone we’ve got staff who have previously worked in other areas that could have led them in a different direction. One is a former motor racing journalist, another was a stage manager in the West End, while a third enjoyed a brief stint at the BBC with Top Gear, (no, they weren’t The Stig.)

Personally I wanted to be a fighter pilot – but I wasn’t allowed as I was too small!

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

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Welcome to the May issue of Professional Electricians Wholesaler. The clocks have changed, the sun is shining and the evenings are lighter and so we can all enjoy being outside doing whatever it is we all love doing outdoors.

For some that might be going for a bike ride or run, for others it might be sipping a glass of wine on the patio. Sport of course can also result in injuries (so can drinking too much wine but I won’t get into that now) and various team members here at PEW have experienced their own fair share in recent times, myself included.

At the Annual Luncheon for the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) in April our guest speaker, former sprint and hurdling athlete Colin Jackson, shared stories from his career, including the frustrations that injuries can bring to professional sportspeople. Their potential successes and livelihoods can disappear in a flash with an awkward fall or slip. Our jobs at PEW are a bit more ‘desk-orientated’, however there are occasions when we do have to venture outside and lift the odd heavy box (back straight, bend your knees etc) and personal injuries can throw the odd spanner in the works.

We’re a pretty small group at PEW, which I find much more preferable than working for a large organisation. Everybody knows and talks to each other and the ‘left arm’ of the team generally knows what the ‘right arm’ is doing and vice-versa. Problems only arise when one of the arms becomes incapacited for whatever reason, like, I don’t know being pole-axed by an angry teenager in a five-a-side football match. Unlike the Pep Guardiolas of the world, we don’t have an array of substitutes to call upon when this kind of thing happens. I sometimes wish we could skip forward a few chapters in the advancement of Home Automation – one of our special features this month – and deploy robots to cover staff absences, but then I wonder if I’ve been watching too much Black Mirror!

In this issue we are also taking a look at Renewables & Green Technology. With the 2030 phase-out date of new petrol and diesel cars recently being confirmed by the government, this is going to be a crucial sector of the industry in the next five years and beyond.

I’m off to cover the PEW team in bubble wrap – enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

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It feels a bit strange writing my last editorial before Christmas seeing as we were only closing the December 2023 issue of PEW last week. Oh no, what’s that? I’ve just checked and yes apparently another 12 months have indeed passed and here we are careering towards 2025.

Because of how editorial deadlines work we’ll actually be doing a lot of the work for our January/February issue in December. Once upon a time this could be quite difficult as in my early editorial days you had to squeeze your work in between the days you were attending multiple industry Christmas lunches – keeping up appearances and all that! But times and habits change and now I sit here still with an ever growing job list – for both business and leisure – wondering how I ever found the time at all!

In 2024 we’ve had both the UK and US elections, the results of which I won’t dwell on too much here, but rather what they might mean for the electrical and wider construction industry as a whole for the next few years. The new Labour government’s first Budget in October received a mixed response (as most Budgets tend to do), and in the electrotechnical sector the commitment to house building and low carbon technology was widely welcomed. However, many industry leaders also felt crucial details were lacking in several key areas, including the Future Homes Standard, manufacturing, and the development and access to skilled personnel. It is of course still early days but clarity in these areas and others is needed sooner rather than later.

Across the pond, Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term as President in January, and the early indications are that he will withdraw his country from the Paris climate agreement. This will obviously alarm other global leaders who continue to work toward a greener future. Whatever Mr Trump decides, those of us who can make a positive difference must continue to do so where we can, and that includes us in the trade press. And, right on cue, we have a Renewables & Green Technology feature in this issue, where we take a look at some of the products available to help customers make environmentally-conscious choices.

I would like to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and we’ll see you in 2025!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

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Although I have learnt about a lot of different sports during our action-packed summer, I remain totally clueless when it comes to motor racing, in particular Formula 1…

It is, however, frequently discussed by colleagues in the office and the big gossip this week has surrounded a man by the name of Adrian Newey – a lot of gossip in fact for somebody who isn’t even an F1 driver! I now know of course that he is a very successful racing car designer who has recently agreed to join the Aston Martin team from Red Bull (I thought that was a drink…). To summarise briefly, Newey-designed cars have won 13 World Drivers’ championships, with his first coming in 1992 when he was just 33 and his most recent in 2023 at the age of 64. During that time the sport has seen a considerable amount of change, yet here is an individual who has demonstrated superbly an ability to adapt to changing technology, methods and regulations – a very useful skill to have I think we can all agree.

If you have been well tuned into your telecommunications news you may well know all about ‘The Big Switch-Off’, that is the switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network, which will be completely closed down by January 2027. This means telephone landlines for homes and businesses will no longer be able to run off the old copper wire network and will need to be switched to a fully digital network that uses Internet Protocol across a fibre based service. In a nutshell, BT says the current system is old and difficult to maintain, and that what is essentially a 20th century technology cannot keep up with the demands of 21st century communications.

Although a lot of us now use smartphones, or communicate remotely on platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom, many households and businesses still rely on landlines for their phone systems and will therefore need to be updated. If any readers are unaware of all of this and have started to panic, don’t worry. There is plenty of time to take the necessary action and there are plenty of signposts on the Internet to help, including the BT and Openreach websites.

Returning to my opening paragraph it is just another example of using new technology and adapting to the times. Smart technology, which is one of our special features this month, is playing a crucial part in adapting buildings, old and new, to modern demands. Smart technology can be used for an array of building functions and in this issue we have articles discussing, among other things, solar-compatible EV chargers and centrally controlled smart heating systems.

On a final note, I’d like to wish Carhartt a very happy anniversary. The workwear brand is celebrating an incredible 135 years in the business and you can read all about the company’s evolution on page 38. Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

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