The ESC Industry Summit took place on 12 March. Its purpose was to discuss recent changes and look at how the electrical industry can take a collaborative approach to the challenges it is facing. At the event, we brought together a range of key stakeholders to discuss consumer safety and the changing landscape of the electrical industry.

The event focused on three significant developments: the changes to Part P and the ongoing review of the Building Regulations; what the Green Deal means for contractors; and how smart metering is likely to impact on the safety of electrical installations.

Don Foster MP, Minister of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) opened the event with a speech in which he acknowledged concerns about awareness and enforcement. However, he believes that overall Part P has been successful – the most notable evidence being that the number of registered electrical installers since the introduction of Part P in 2005 has gone up significantly, from 13,000 to nearly 40,000.

Mr Foster stressed the overarching legal requirement for all electrical work to be safe and noted that changes to Part P would be reviewed. However, he emphasised the need for a collaborative approach to raising consumer awareness of electrical safety and the need to use a registered electrician.

During the Part P Panel discussion it was clear that main areas of concern for industry related to the reduction in notifiable works and third party certification. Additionally, low awareness amongst the public of what Part P means and a lack of understanding about what makes someone a competent electrician was a common theme. Whilst this is not news to most of us, the Summit has confirmed that collaborative action would be a welcome step forward and the ESC has noted several areas that can be developed as part of its campaigning activity. We will seek to work with industry bodies, and wider stakeholder groups, to understand public barriers and motivations and explore opportunities for shared and cohesive messaging.

Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, Shadow Minister for CLG, called upon those present to provide evidence and lobby government in those areas that give rise to safety concerns. Scheme Operators and others may begin to consider ways of gathering evidence about the effects of third party certification and consumer bodies will wish to monitor any safety concerns that arise from works carried out in kitchens and gardens. The concerns about a drop in registration numbers due to the option to use a third party certifier were discussed and this is something that industry will continue to monitor.

Other presentations on the day included Philip Arend, from Carillion, on its Green Deal partnership with Birmingham City Council and Jaqui Russell, Head of Roll-Out, Smart Metering Implementation Programme, Department of Energy and Climate Change. The ESC’s Technical Director, Mike Clark, also spoke on the electrical safety issues arising from smart meter installations.

Establishing the Industry Summit allowed us to gather industry views to develop a Green Paper for submission to the relevant government departments. Although of course we cannot control the political agenda, we hope this paper will influence government thinking, by providing expert comment and opinion.

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