It’s been a busy few months in the electrical industry, with new appointments and shake-ups across different sectors. Keep up to date with the latest movements here, as we details who has gone where…

CHRIS GREENWOOD
ESP

ESP has welcomed Chris Greenwood as the new Area Sales Manager for the East Midlands and South Yorkshire regions. Chris brings a wealth of experience to the team and will be a valuable asset to ESP as the company continues to grow and develop its product portfolios.

In his new role at ESP, Chris will be responsible for developing and strengthening customer relationships across both independent and national levels. He will also ensure that wholesalers stay informed of the latest developments, technologies and regulations as ESP continues to broaden its product ranges.

Chris comes to ESP with over 20 years’ experience in the electrical industry. Having worked extensively in both manufacturing and distribution sectors, he has gained the knowledge and skills necessary to seamlessly transition into his new role.

DAN ELLAMS
ELUCIAN

Following huge, continued success for its Elucian range since it entered the consumer unit market in 2021, Scolmore Group has invested in a dedicated focus for the category and has appointed Dan Ellams as the Elucian National Sales Manager.

Dan will be responsible for overseeing the recruitment of a newly formed external sales team, with a view to building on and developing the sales growth business strategy.

Dan brings 18 years’ experience within the electrical industry to the role, having begun his career as a qualified electrician. He then transitioned into sales with a leading electrical wholesaler, where he honed his skills and developed a deep understanding of the market. This was followed by a move into manufacturing, spending a large proportion of this period working within the switchgear market. This is when he developed a real passion for this particular aspect of the industry and has brought him to his current role with Elucian.

ANDY TAYLOR
SCOLMORE

Scolmore is pleased to announce the expansion of its sales team with the most recent appointment of Andy Taylor as the new Area Sales Manager for the Berkshire, Sussex and Surrey regions. Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, having worked as a branch manager for several leading electrical wholesalers. His years of managerial expertise and relationship-building will be key assets as he joins the Click team.  He will focus on maintaining and nurturing strong relationships with key customers, as well as identifying new market opportunities, potential customers and key accounts for sales expansion.

MARK HUMPHRY
OVIA

Ovia has welcomed Mark Humphry as the new Regional Sales Manager overseeing the Midlands area. Mark joins Ovia following eight years working in the electrical industry, where he held a number of key sales roles with several leading players in the lighting and electrical sectors. His extensive background has equipped him with the insights and expertise necessary to make his mark at Ovia. In his new position, Mark will lead the company’s regional sales strategy, focusing on driving sales growth and expanding Ovia’s market presence, leveraging his experience to build strong relationships with key customers.

Catch up on previous month’s ‘Movers and shakers’ here

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Scolmore’s innovative and award-winning IEC Lock range has been expanded with the introduction of the new C15 slimline locking connector, which is designed to meet the demands of both industry professionals and consumers.

The C15 is a robust lockable connector capable of operating at high temperatures with a heat tolerance of up to 120°C, making it an excellent choice for various applications where reliability is crucial.

The innovative rear release locking mechanism provides enhanced protection against high-vibration environments and accidental disconnection, particularly for computer equipment, servers and other network devices.

Compatible with both C14 and C16 sockets, the C15 locking connector is versatile and available with worldwide plug combinations approved for use across multiple regions including Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. This broad approval makes it an ideal choice for diverse sectors such as data centres, medical environments and military applications.

For more details, click here

Find more industry products here

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Scolmore International has picked up three prestigious Supplier of the Year awards in recent weeks, from some of the industry’s leading buying groups.

The company picked up the first Supplier of the Year Award from MIDA at the buying group’s annual GALA which this year took place in Budapest. This was followed up with the acceptance of the Supplier of the Year title at the AIEW 2024 awards ceremony which took place as part at AIEW’s annual trade show. Completing the trio of awards was the highest recognition from AWEBB which saw Scolmore win the Supplier of the Year award for the third year running.

In each case, the awards are voted for by buying group members and are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence in customer service and to take into account a range of measures including price competitiveness, field sales support, stock availability and product quality.

Kevin Beech, Managing Director, Scolmore Group, commented: “We are delighted to have received these awards and would like to thank all the members from across the three buying groups for their votes and continued support. These awards represent the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our entire team. We have a steadfast commitment to providing top-quality products and services to our customers, and receiving these awards reaffirms our efforts to drive growth and excellence across the electrical industry.”

Find more of the latest industry news here

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Katie Plumstead, Group Marketing Manager at Scolmore Group, looks at the current state of the UK home automation market and what is driving growth.

According to a recent report by market research company ReportLinker, the UK has emerged as a prominent player in the global smart home industry with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.45% from 2022 to 2027. By the end of this period the market is expected to reach a valuation of US$17.81 billion, fuelled by increasing consumer awareness, technological advancements, and government initiatives supporting energy efficiency and sustainability.

One significant trend shaping the UK smart home market is the rising adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which facilitate seamless communication between various home appliances and systems. This increased connectivity has paved the way for innovative home automation solutions, providing homeowners with improved energy management, security and convenience.

Another notable trend is the growing demand for voice-controlled smart home devices, driven by the popularity of virtual assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri. This has led to the development of a wide range of voice-enabled products, including smart speakers, lighting systems, thermostats and security systems, which are increasingly integrated into the daily lives of UK consumers.

Diverse sector

The smart home sector is diverse and incorporates a broad range of products, ranging from highly integrated, high spec systems, fully smart home designed through to low cost, lower spec, products with limited installation requirements and singular functionality.

Previously, smart home technology was primarily associated with luxury homes and large residential projects due to its high cost. However, there has been an increasing demand for retrofitting home automation products among enthusiastic consumers who are eager to integrate new technology into their homes.

Renowned for its innovative and intuitive solutions in lighting and wiring accessories, Scolmore continues to invest in its Click Smart+ home automation range to meet the growing demand from contractors and end users for smart products and solutions. The comprehensive range is available through the electrical wholesale channel and will assist installers looking to boost their business with an enhanced smart home offer that will deliver a complete connected home experience to householders.

Designed to simplify and streamline connected home products – lighting controls, smart sockets, security cameras and sensors – the Click Smart+ range utilises Zigbee technology – one of the most widely adopted smart home communication protocols. Zigbee certified devices require the Click Smart+ Hub and communicate with each other using a mesh network which creates multiple pathways for the connection of multiple smart home devices without compromising signal and communication range. A key benefit of Zigbee and the new Click Smart+ range is that there is no requirement for a signal repeater, as all wired Zigbee devices have repeaters built in.

Ultimate control

Click Smart+ has at its core accessibility and simplicity for the installer and end user and is designed to bring convenience, comfort, security, energy saving and ultimately more control in the home. Installation is simple and flexible, with no additional cables or wall cutting required, making it ideal for existing or newly constructed buildings. The bespoke Click Smart+ app gives householders ultimate control of the smart devices, which can also be operated through voice control in conjunction with a smart speaker.

As the rise in demand for smart home products continues, there is ample opportunity for wholesalers and installers to tap into this burgeoning sector. ESP, a Scolmore Group company, continues to enjoy success with its Fort Smart Security range launched over two years ago. Fort provides installers with a comprehensive range of products that covers all aspects of smart home security and is designed to be simple to install, maintain and use – making it an ideal solution for wholesalers to promote to their customers. The Fort range includes intruder alarms, video doorbell, video security light, sensors and a selection of 1080p cameras, and they all operate under a single app – the ‘Click Smart+’ app – which is completely subscription-free, with no additional fees incurred. By bringing the operation of the Fort range under the well-established Click Smart+ app from Scolmore, users have control of a raft of connected home and security products all from one secure, easy to access platform.

For more information, click here

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Scolmore continues to develop and expand its Click wiring accessories range to meet the needs of an evolving sector and has just added a new RCD socket to its popular Mode range.

RCD sockets have a built in residual current device which is designed to trip and cut the power if a fault with the current is detected. This helps to protect both appliances from damage and users from electric shocks if a bare wire is touched.

Mode – Click’s best-selling range – was conceived and developed as a high quality, flexible and modern solution for virtually any domestic wiring requirement. The smooth, contemporary lines of the Mode accessory plate will fit easily into traditional and contemporary designs alike and the modular design allows installers unprecedented flexibility in creating dedicated wiring solutions to deal with specific wiring needs.

All products in the Mode range are manufactured using Urea Formaldehyde, which has similar inherent properties to antimicrobial additives that inhibit the growth of infectious diseases.

For more information, click here

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The proliferation of connected devices continues and with it the need for fast, convenient charging.

With USB-C becoming more popular and taking over from the original Type A charging port, Scolmore has expanded its USB-C product range.

Already offering a 13A 2 gang switched safety shutter socket outlet with integrated Type A & Type C USB ports, the company has now added a new, one gang version to complete the range.

The 13A 1 gang switched safety shutter socket outlet with Type A & C USB (4A shared) has been designed to enhance and further expand the Click USB socket offering, with one gang and two gang socket outlets with Type A & C ports now available across the Click wiring accessories ranges.

The safety shutters contained within the one and two gang socket outlets with integrated Type A & Type C USB offer increased security and reassurance. All three pins of a UK BS Standard plug must be inserted to release the locking mechanism to allow the safety shutters to open.

At the same time, Scolmore has added new Type A & C New Media modules.  The dual USB module 2A Type A and 3A Type C modules are available in black, grey and white.

For more information, click here

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Scolmore continues to develop and expand its Click wiring accessories range to meet the needs of an evolving sector and has just added a new RCD socket to its popular Mode range.

RCD sockets have a built in residual current device which is designed to trip and cut the power if a fault with the current is detected. This helps to protect both appliances from damage and users from electric shocks if a bare wire is touched.

Mode – Click’s best-selling range – was conceived and developed as a high quality, flexible and modern solution for virtually any domestic wiring requirement. The smooth, contemporary lines of the Mode accessory plate will fit easily into traditional and contemporary designs alike and the modular design allows installers unprecedented flexibility in creating dedicated wiring solutions to deal with specific wiring needs.

All products in the Mode range are manufactured using Urea Formaldehyde, which has similar inherent properties to antimicrobial additives that inhibit the growth of infectious diseases.

For more information, click here

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Ovia has added a new gloss black finish to its range of Inceptor Pico non-fire-rated LED downlights.

Part of Ovia’s domestic range, Inceptor Pico provides contractors with a high-quality, cost-saving LED solution for those lighting projects where there isn’t the requirement for a fire-rated fitting and therefore, no need to incur the additional expense that a fire-rated model commands. With contractors keen to keep overall costs of a project as cost-effective as possible, but without compromising on quality and performance, Inceptor Pico ticks all the right boxes, producing an excellent light output for the power utilised.

The Inceptor Pico combines a number of key features. With its 47mm profile, the fitting is ideal for installations where the void depth is limited and it has an adaptable cut-out to fit apertures of between 65mm and 76mm in diameter. A 90° beam angle produces a larger spread of light to provide more light coverage. The fitting is also IP65 rated, which makes it dust tight and protected against low pressure water jets. This means it is an ideal solution for kitchens, bathrooms and wet rooms.

Available in a dimmable option as standard, the Pico can be easily switched or dimmed utilising a variety of methods. It is suitable for use with Scolmore’s range of ClickSmart+ smart home products.

The new gloss black finish for Pico joins the existing three finishes – White, Satin Chrome and Chrome.

For more information, click here

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Chris Hibbert

SWITCHTEC

Switchtec has announced the appointment of Chris Hibbert to its expanding National Wholesale team. With Switchtec’s continued growth in the Wholesale market, Chris will be working closely with Nick Morgan, the current Wholesale Manager, to enhance the support provided to wholesalers.

Chris brings with him extensive knowledge of the wholesale sector, having dedicated the last 20 years to working with National and Independent Electrical Distributors. His experience includes a successful 14-year role at Chint Europe UK, where he gained invaluable expertise and a deep understanding of the industry.

Commenting on his recent move to Switchtec, Chris said: “I am delighted to be joining Switchtec as I have known the company and senior members of staff for several years and found the products and customer service to be of excellent quality. I look forward to developing the business and achieving the goals and ambitions of the company alongside a fantastic team of people.”

Nathan Richards

SCOLMORE GROUP

Scolmore Group has welcomed Nathan Richards to the position of Area Sales Manager covering the Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands regions.

Nathan will be responsible for developing new and existing relationships with wholesalers and contractors to drive demand for the extensive Click wiring accessories and Elucian consumer units ranges.

Nathan has a wealth of experience to bring to his new role, having most recently spent a number of years on the wholesaler/distributor side of the business with a key operator in the industry, where he progressed from trade sales manager to trade area co-ordinator – picking up a ‘Trade Sales Manager of the Year’ award along the way.

For related articles, click here

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As electrical contractors look towards decorative wiring accessories to achieve a smooth, clean finish for interiors the demand for flat plate wiring accessories that complement a room’s décor has been on the rise. In response to this, the Definity Complete range which incorporates screwless, push-fit face plates has now been extended to include the stylish Antique Brass finish.

Definity Complete has evolved from Click Scolmore’s well-established Definity flat plate accessory range and features all of the same attributes including modular switching but without the visible fixing screws. Because the face plates are supplied independently of the electrical inserts it means that the initial installation of the product can be carried out and any subsequent maintenance or decoration completed before the final fixing of the face plate.

The inserts are available in black, white and grey and the addition of Antique Brass to the range of cover plate finishes brings the total number of finishes to eight. As well as Antique Brass the popular range includes Brushed Steel, Stainless Steel, Polished Chrome, White, Metal White, Matt Black and Metal Black.

The full range can be viewed on the Scolmore website – www.scolmore.com. The Definity Complete product brochure can be downloaded from the website as well as from the Scolmore Group app.

How to Enter

To be in with a chance of winning a £200 Amazon Voucher courtesy of Click Scolmore, simply choose the correct answer from the following choices:

Q. Which new finish has Click Scolmore added to its Definity Complete wiring accessories range?

A) Antique Bronze

B) Antique Brass

C) Brushed Brass

Simply fill out the form below and tell us your answer for the chance to WIN!

Deadline for entries 30/09/23. Usual T&Cs apply

The five winners of the June competition, sponsored by Carhartt, were: Gary Mansfield, Tracy Jenner, Alex Marinaccio, Paul Finnis and John Sutton.

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