Articles by the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA)

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) is the UK’s leading trade association that represents and supports the interests of businesses and organisations involved in electrotechnical and engineering services design, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance and monitoring across the UK (excluding Scotland). Since 1901

ECA is a founder member of Actuate UK, a collective of eight leading trade, technology, research, and professional bodies in engineering services that deliver a single, consolidated voice for the sector.

[edit] Articles by ECA on Designing Buildings include:

1. The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy: A 10 year plan (mention). June 2025
2. Construction Skills Mission Board launch construction sector skills mission. June 2025
3. Welsh Skills Body (Medr) launches ambitious plan. June 2025
4. UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy. In brief with reactions. June 2025
5. The Lighting Industry Association endorses the Blueprint for Electrification. June 2025
6. International Electrician Day. June 2025
7. ECA welcomes reports on skills gap and investment returns on apprenticeships. May 2025
8. Design and construction industry podcasts. May 2025
9. ECA urges Government to uphold 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment. May 2025
10. 50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson apprentice award launched. May 2025
11. It takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing. May 2025
12. New President of ECA announced. May 2025
13. PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts. May 2025
14. ECA progress on Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter. April 2025
15. Electrical and energy industry calls for urgent reform of electricity levies. April 2025
16. Amendment to the GB Energy Bill to prevent investment in panels produced by modern slavery. April 2025
17. 50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson apprentice award launched. April 2025
18. Global Asbestos Awareness Week; highlighting the continued threat. April 2025.
19. The Aldershot Half-house. March 2025.
20. Spring Statement 2025. mention quote. March 2025.
21. 600 million investment for 60,000 more skilled construction workers announced. mention quote. March 2025.
22. Industry survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist. March 2025.
23. Treasury responds to sector submission on Labour Warm Homes manifesto pledge. March 2025.
24. ECA consultations on skills. March 2025.
25. Skills shortage and ageing workforce hampering Scottish transition to net zero. (mention). March 2025.
26. Reactions to the government response to the Grenfell inquiry final report. March 2025.
27. Electrifying our Future: ECA's digital series unveils road to net-zero. March 2025.
28. 50 years celebrating the ECA Apprenticeship Awards, as SMEs say the 10 years of the Apprenticeship Levy has failed them. February 2025.
29. Flexibility over requirements to boost apprentice numbers (mention). February 2025.
30. National Apprenticeship Week at ECA. February 2025
31. National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (mention). February 2025
32. Classroom electrician courses a 'waste of money'. February 2025
33. Amendment to Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations approved. January 2025
34. Solar PV company fined for health and safety failure. January 2025
35. Strategic restructure to transform industry competence. December 2024
36. Electrical businesses brace for project delays in 2025. December 2024
37. Building trust with customers, and trusting tradesmen. December 2024
38. New alliance will tackle skills shortage in greater Manchester. November 2024
39. ECA launches Recharging Electrical Skills Charter in Wales. November 2024
40. About the 5 Percent Club and its members. November 2024
41. Delivering radical reform in the UK energy market. November 2024
42. What does the UK Budget mean for electrical contractors? November 2024
43. Reactions to the Autumn Budget announcement. October 2024
44. Employment Rights Bill; making work pay. October 2024
45. 2024 ECA Industry Awards evening. October 2024
46. Can your business afford to ignore mental well-being? October 2024
47. ISG administration, October support update. October 2024
48. Crackdown on late payments in major support package for small businesses. October 2024
49. Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales. October 2024
50. ECA industry focus video channel. October 2024
51. ECA learning zone video channel. October 2024
52. Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees (mention). September 2024
53. ISG files for administration. September 2024
54. Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians highlighted on radio. September 2024
55. New ECA learning zone and industry focus videos (update). September 2024
56. Skills gap highlighted to Minister for Industry. September 2024
57. Industry responds to the final Grenfell inquiry report. September 2024
58. Extension to recognition of CE marking. September 2024.
59. Building engineering business survey highlights persistent skills gap. August 2024
60. What electrical contractors need to know about gate safety. August 2024
61. A-Level results and electrical apprenticeships. August 2024
62. ECA launches new Apprenticeship resources. August 2024
63. ECA Industry Awards 2024 shortlist revealed. July 2024
64. Electrical engineering firm's recruitment drive. July 2024
65. Industry reacts to first labour government King's speech in fifteen years. July 2024
66. Research project looking at UK cases of neutral current diversion. July 2024
67. Neutral current diversion (mention and link). July 2024
68. SkillELECTRIC Top 8 Competitors Named. July 2024
69. Anonymous and safe reporting service to stop meter tampering. July 2024
70. In brief, Rachel Reeves gives first speech as Chancellor (PR included). July 2024
71. Construction industry reactions to the election result. July 2024
72. At a Crossroads; Pathways to a Net Zero Future (mention). July 2024
73. The ECA Recharging Electrical Skills Charter included in key report. July 2024
74. The benefits of private medical insurance for large, medium and small electrical contractor firms. July 2024
75. Beware of rogue trainers warns the electrotechnical skills partnership. June 2024
76. ECA learning zone and industry focus video series. June 2024
77. ECA exceeds carbon reduction targets. June 2024
78. Future of Green Skills in Sussex. June 2024
79. ECA general election campaign. June 2024
80. The construction industry and the general election (mention). June 2024
81. New electrical apprentice rates. May 2024
82. Engineering services still struggle with labour shortages. May 2024
83. New ECA president 2024. May 2024
84. Coronation recognised eco apprenticeships continue help grow green workforce. May 2024
85. No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height. May 2024
86. CLC publishes retrofit competence framework. May 2024
87. ECA experts speak at Installation Seminar. May 2024
88. Auditory health. April 2024
89. An introduction to WERCS and WEEE responsibilities. April 2024
90. ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award. April 2024
91. ECA Industry Awards 2024. April 2024
92. Frankfurt industry fair leads the way. April 2024
93. Advice following Options Skills training collapse. March 2024
94. Electrical sector calls for safer public EV charge points. March 2024
95. Apprenticeship announcement by prime minister welcomed with call for more actionable detail. March 2024
96. Investing in Net Zero: bridging the gap between policy, finance and installation. March 2024
97. ECA joins HSE campaign to support mental health. March 2024
98. Industry responds to the 2024 Spring Budget announcement (mention). March 2024
99. ECA responds to 2024 Spring Budget. March 2024
100. The general election and why a shortage of electrical apprentices matters. March 2024
101. ECA calls on London Mayor to prioritise green electrical skills in the capital. February 2024
102. Final quarter 2023 survey of UK engineering services. February 2024
103. Improving the terms of contractor payments. February 2024
104. EBSSA unveils work to codify competences & standards for industry. January 2023
105. Legislation needed in response to the role of retentions in company insolvency. January 2023
106. Westminster urged to focus on local skills improvement or face skilled electrician shortfall. January 2023
107. ECA and FSA Members voice concern over Wales apprenticeship cuts. January 2023
108. First EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Providing Electronic Fire and Security Systems students handed awards by Dame Judith Hackitt. January 2023
109. UK WEEE compliance scheme responds to WEEE consultation. January 2023
110. Stress free guide to Self Assessment. December 2023.
111. ECA welcomes Government battery storage response. December 2023.
112. Solar energy workforce goals and the ECA Charter to recharge electrical skills. December 2023.
113. Electrical sector skills recharge at the House of Commons, as skills shortage bites. December 2023.
114. Update on the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). December 2023.
115. Does the Autumn Statement fire the starting pistol for an election campaign? November 2023
116. 2023 Autumn Statement in brief with reactions (ECA mention). November 2023
117. ECA applauds Chancellor’s 2023 Autumn Statement payment reforms for SMEs. November 2023
118. Environment Agency cuts waste red tape. November 2023
119. Bill to tackle lithium-ion batteries proposed. November 2023
120. Cabinet office payment rules within the procurement act welcomed. November 2023
121. Electrical skills shortage in Eastern England. October 2023
122. A view from the 2023 Conservative and Labour party conferences. October 2023
123. ECA helps Welsh Government consultation on Net Zero Skills. October 2023
124. Call for support in green electrical apprentice shortfall. October 2023
125. Electrician recognised for fundraising efforts. October 2023
126. ECA 2023 Apprentice of the Year Award announcement. September 2023
127. BSR Duty holder Regulations in force as of October 1. September 2023
128. Industry responds to Prime Ministers Net Zero policy announcement. September 2023
129. FSA welcomes Building Safety updates. September 2023
130. ECA Project Net Zero roadshow. September 2023
131. SSE begins BESS construction in North of England. September 2023
132. Engineering services industry grapples with rising demand and skills shortage. August 2023
133. ECA appoints new Technical Manager. August 2023
134. Industry Competence Committee for the Building Safety Regulator. August 2023
135. ECA Cyber Security policy template. August 2023
136. Spatial planning for climate resilience and Net Zero report. July 2023
137. Domestic electrician experienced worker assessment EWA. July 2023
138. ECA joins ESNZ Committee stakeholder event to set inquiry priorities. July 2023
139. National Electrotechnical Training AM2 certificate checker. June 2023
140. Put electricians at the heart of the clean energy transition, says ECA. June 2023
141. ECA Industry Awards 2023. June 2023
142. Edmundson Apprentice Award 2023 deadline extended. June 2023
143. ECA call for case studies of Net Zero Carbon work. May 2023
144. Net Zero not possible without right skills.May 2023
145. Impact of labour shortages worsen for engineering services. May 2023
146. New ECA president 2023. May 2023
147. Electricians pledge support for Manchester Baccalaureate. May 2023
148. Industry welcomes new fire and security apprenticeship for Wales. May 2023
149. Corrigendum to the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations. May 2023
150. Electrifying the elections. May 2023
151. ECA 2023 Apprentice of the Year Award. April 2023
152. Solving the fire and security skills shortage. April 2023.
153. BASEC joins forces with Kiwa UK. April 2023
154. Public sector PQQs look to the Common Assessment Standard. April 2023
155. ECA partners with adviser to help members navigate R&D tax relief. March 2023
156. 2023 Spring Budget summary and industry response. March 2023
157. Asbestos and you. March 2023
158. Business Survey: payment and recruitment challenges loom for engineering services in 2023. March 2023
159. England, Wales, electrical skills, training and net zero in 2023. March 2023
160. New Ministry champions holistic approach to decarbonisation. February 2023
161. East Midlands EV drivers lose out to Londoners says new evidence. February 2023
162. Apprenticeship developments in England 2023. February 2023.
163. leading the charge - ECA calls for swift action on EV ‘batteries on wheels’ OFGEM plan.January 2023
164. President of EuropeOn, Martin Bailey, on the outlook for 2023. January 2023
165. ECA 2023 Industry Awards dinner with Jeremy Vine, January 2023
166. Net Zero Review underlines role for engineering services. January 2023
167. Higher risk buildings definition 2023. January 2023
168. Europe moves to phase out electrical sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas. December 2022
169. Winter energy crisis: ECA’s advice for managing power cuts. December 2022
170. Leading the charge‎. (added Award update). December 2022
171. Sector survey shows optimism tempered by staff shortages.November 2022.
172. Defining hazardous areas. November 2022
173. Chancellor's 2022 Autumn statement industry response. (joint mention) November 2022
174. No net zero without skilled workforce. November 2022
175. ECA joins voices calling for joined-up policy approach.. November 2022
176. Leading the charge‎. (added COP 27 update). November 2022
177. ECA reacts to Rishi Sunak's appointment as PM. October 2022
178. National policies and local skills.October 2022
179. Actuate UK calls for practical measures to achieve building safety reform agenda. October 2022
180. Procurement Bill to mandate prompt payment. October 2022
181. Electricity market reform must promote clean energy. October 2022
182. Apprenticeships for prisoners. October 2022
183. Amendment 2 18th Edition Wiring Regulations BS 7671 come into full effect. October 2022
184. World EV Day 2022. September 2022
185. ECA 2022 Apprentice of the Year Award. (updated) September 2022
186. ECA responds to Energy Bill Relief Scheme. September 2022
187. Managing the risks of state events following the Queen’s death. September 2022
188. Energy bills now a defining challenge and opportunity. September 2022
189. Leading the charge.September 2022.
190. Act now to avoid industry crisis, ECA warns Liz Truss. September 2022
191. Electricians urged to join fight against tool theft. August 2022
192. Common Assessment Standard uptake grows. August 2022
193. Health and early intervention. August 2022
194. Government mandates smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rented homes. August 2022
195. ECA 2022 Apprentice of the Year Award. August 2022
196. Changes to the construction route. August 2022
197. ECA members named top apprentice employers. July 2022
198. Legislate for competence and safety. July 2022
199. The future of construction interview with ECA CEO. June 2022.
200. Cleaning up air quality and the Environment Act 2021. June 2022.
201. The Building Safety Act and standard training for electrical contractors. June 2022
202. Net-zero opportunities for electrotechnical contractors‎. May 2022
203. Queens speech 2022 (ECA press release within article). May 2022
204. Local Elections 2022: ECA calls for better local EV charge point policy. May 2022.
205. ECA calls for stronger competency requirements in Building Safety Act. May 2022
206. Construction leadership council professional indemnity insurance survey 2022. April 2022 ‎
207. ‎ECA Project 18 Amendment 2 Roadshow. April 2022
208. PPE regulations 2022. April 2022
209. ‎ECA joins calls for unprecedented action on energy prices in Spring Budget. March 2022
210. Achieving efficiency through systems and integration. March 2022 ‎
211. The Building Safety Bill, regulations and competence. March 2022.
212. Court of appeal ruling on holiday pay and employment status. February 2022.
213. CO2nstruct Zero programme grows to over 70 businesses. February 2022.
214. ECA calls on Government to reform and rebalance energy levies and avoid cost of living crisis. February 2022.
215. CONIAC produces essential messages on safe work at height. January 2022.
216. IET announces release of 18th Edition Amendment 2. January 2022.
217. Industry work placement. January 2022.
218. Electrotechnical Assessment Specification guidance for installers. January 2022.
219. ECA and UKPN launch EV guide. January 2022.
220. Energy price crisis: ECA calls for energy levy reform. January 2022.
221. Reflections on 2021. December 2021.
222. 2021 Building Engineering Business Survey. December 2021.
223. Prompt Payment Code boosted to help SMEs. December 2021.
224. ECA warns lack of EV strategy could leave UK divided. November 2021.
225. Two thirds of local authorities have no plans to install EV chargers. November 2021.
226. Leading electrotechnical businesses win top industry awards. November 2021.
227. ECA backs Government plans for low-carbon heat. October 2021.
228. Electrotechnical industry gears up for All-IP switch. October 2021.
229. Construction leadership for mental health. September 2021.
230. Post-Grenfell product code combats misleading marketing. September 2021.
231. Actuate UK issues climate warning and urges action. September 2021.
232. Industry must add 12,000 people a year to meet net zero 2050 targets. September 2021.
233. Order books fill but skills shortages worry contractors. September 2021.
234. Home thoughts from abroad: skills development. September 2021.
235. Deadline for CE marked products extended to 1 January 2023. August 2021.
236. Digital building dashboard tech on the horizon. August 2021.
237. ECA responds to the UK hydrogen strategy. August 2021.
238. Home thoughts from abroad: Immigration. August 2021.
239. A level results day 2021: Students consider jobs of the future after the pandemic. August 2021.
240. Flexible working in engineering services. July 2021.
241. Careful planning required during cable management materials shortages. July 2021.
242. CLC publishes Construct Zero Performance Framework. July 2021.
243. Green Homes Grant vouchers extended. July 2021.
244. ECA calls for urgent energy price reform. June 2021.
245. Is social media the new way to plug the gender skills gap? June 2021.
246. Economic upturn masks mental health crisis in 2021. June 2021.
247. Net zero by 2050. June 2021.
248. Converting commercial offices to residential accommodation. June 2021.
249. CLC Maintaining Employment in Construction report published. May 2021.
250. Q2 2021 trends indicate higher costs, lower employment. May 2021.
251. Materials shortage prompts extra planning. May 2021.
252. What to know about foundation earthing. May 2021.
253. ECA welcomes the Value Toolkit for the construction industry. May 2021.
254. Opportunities for EV charging. April 2021.
255. TESP calls for industry mentors. April 2021.
256. Workplace noise exposure estimator. April 2021.
257. 2021 PRS electrical safety standards. April 2021.
258. Pre-qualification standard 2021. March 2021.
259. Right to Repair law. March 2021.
260. Cash incentives for employers to hire new apprentices doubled. March 2021.
261. Prompt Payment Code: the story behind the headlines. February 2021.
262. Skilled workforce unable to meet net zero ambitions. January 2021.
263. COVID-19 and mental health within construction firms. January 2021.
264. Eight organisations form engineering services alliance. January 2021.
265. CLC document on claims and disputes in construction. January 2021.
266. Shortages of cable management products. December 2020.
267. Energy White Paper presents Government plans to build back greener. December 2020.
268. Getting zero carbon done. November 2020.
269. CICV creates COVID toolkit. November 2020.
270. Modular housing and electrical circuitry. November 2020
271. Winter Support 2020 - 2021 packages for businesses. October 2020.
272. CLC releases Site Operating Procedures v6. October 2020.
273. What’s the best way into the industry? October 2020.
274. Half of public sector bodies not planning for net zero carbon. September 2020.
275. ECA Survey: Industry remains optimistic despite downturn. September 2020.
276. Competition and the independent electric wholesalers. September 2020.
277. ECA calls for petrol and diesel ban by 2030. August 2020.
278. ECA apprentice secondment service. August 2020
279. Face coverings and a shifting policy background. August 2020.
280. Microgeneration Certification Scheme 2020. July 2020.
281. Skills for Climate consultation launched. July 2020.
282. Payments for recruiting new apprentices. July 2020.
283. UK Points-Based Immigration System 2020. July 2020.
284. Engineering services and industry recovery guide. July 2020.
285. Organisations prompt government to Build Back Green. June 2020.
286. Celebrating women in engineering. June 2020.
287. Electrical safety in the private rented sector. June 2020.
288. Plan proposes to reinvent construction industry. June 2020.
289. Survey records business projections after coronavirus storm. May 2020.
290. The future of the coronavirus furlough. May 2020.
291. New domestic electrical work video. May 2020.
292. IR35: essential steps for compliance. May 2020.
293. Engineering services bodies issue coronavirus site safety guides. May 2020
294. Officials pledge to continue housebuilding work. Apr 2020
295. Coronavirus job retention scheme. Mar 2020
296. Coronavirus impact survey. Mar 2020
297. Government procurement post-Carillion. Mar 2020
298. 37% of SMEs suffer mental health problems due to pay issues. Mar 2020
299. Carbon emissions of electric heating v gas. Mar 2020
300. Coronavirus and force majeure. Feb 2020
301. ECA backs joint rail electrification statement. Feb 2020
302. Electrotechnical Assessment Specification. Feb 2020
303. Building an electrical grid for our times. Feb 2020
304. Achieving zero carbon. Jan 2020
305. Ancona eco-mansion. Jan 2020
306. The real impact of late payment. Jan 2020
307. SF6 - the greenhouse gas at the heart of our industry. Jan 2020
308. Opening the door to apprenticeships for all. Jan 2020
309. Cutting VAT can unleash green housing revolution. Jan 2012
310. How installer competence can help prevent major residential fires. Dec 2019
311. Survey shows offsite construction is safer, faster, greener and cheaper. Dec 2019
312. Business owners forced to stop paying employees due to late payment. Nov 2019
313. Qualifying as a professional electrician. Nov 2019
314. Disturbing complacency over short courses. Nov 2019
315. Low-voltage switchgear and protective devices. Nov 2019
316. New standards for better fire safety in homes. Nov 2019
317. Data cables and the CPR. Nov 2019
318. Zero Carbon by 2050 - pipe dream or possibility? Oct 2019
319. The SME's updated guide to Brexit. Oct 2019
320. PowerLottery helps give electrical industry colleagues a better tomorrow. Sep 2019
321. 18th Edition Wiring Regulations. Aug 2019
322. Vulnerable residents at risk from under-qualified workforce. Aug 2109
323. Careers in the electrotechnical industry. Aug 2019
324. Employee assistance programme EAP. Aug 2019
325. Levelling the playing field. Aug 2019
326. Industry backs leading fire and security awards.Aug 2019
327. Changing lives with the Practical Participation Programme. Aug 2019
328. Electrical system. Jul 2019
329. Electrical wiring. Jul 2019
330. Electrical definition. Jul 2019
331. Electricity bill. Jul 2019
332. Progress on poor payment practices. Jul 2019
333. Higher penalties for employers breaching workers' rights. Jul 2019
334. VAT hike puts brakes on home solar and batteries. Jul 2019
335. Electrical safety. Jun 2019
336. Electrical power. Jun 2019
337. Electrical installation. Jun 2019
338. Electrical equipment. Jun 2019
339. Electrical energy. Jun 2019
340. Electrical consumption. Jun 2019
341. Electrical component. Jun 2019
342. The real deal - at last? Jun 2019
343. A zero-carbon UK by 2050? Jun 2019
344. CAS answers an expensive problem for industry. Jun 2019
345. Consumer unit. Jun 2019
346. Electrical appliance. Jun 2019
347. Electric motor. Jun 20019
348. Electric lock. Jun 2019
349. Consumer electronics. Jun 2019
350. How the Electrical Industries Charity helps tackle domestic abuse. May 2019
351. Formula E drives electric vehicle market forward. May 2019
352. ECA 2018 Apprentice of the Year. May 2019.
353. EIC apprentice support programme. Apr 2019
354. Employment status: a concise guide. Apr 2019
355. Smart meter owners report higher, not lower, bills. Apr 2019
356. Good Work Plan promises clearer contracts, fairer rules. Mar 2019
357. Campaign for cash retentions reform. Mar 2019
358. The commercial implications of Brexit. Mar 2019
359. The UK's low-carbon future is increasingly electric. Mar 2019
360. Work at height checklist for managers. Mar 2019
361. Maintaining standards through Brexit and beyond. Feb 2019

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