Electrical Contracting News (ECN) May 2016 | Page 5

INDUSTRY NEWS

WELSH GOVERNMENT
JOINS FORCES WITH
TRUSTMARK IN CAMPAIGN
TO PROTECT AGAINST
ROGUE TRADERS

BECAUSE NOTHING IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN SAFETY

A campaign to protect Welsh householders
from rogue traders and incompetent operators
launches this week as the Welsh Government
joins force with Trustmark to promote its
consumer protection service.
The integrated marketing campaign – which
coincides with TrustMark’s 10th anniversary –
will target Welsh traders whose businesses can
benefit from gaining accreditation and also raise
awareness of the scheme amongst consumers
in Wales.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said she
was pleased the Welsh government was
actively supporting and promoting the benefits
of TrustMark. Mrs Hart said, ‘We have all
heard harrowing cases of rogue traders and
incompetent operators working in the home
repair, maintenance and improvement market
causing great distress, disruption and financial
loss for many home owners. Trustmark was
established to eliminate poor practice in this
sector and is a quality scheme that helps
householders find reputable local tradespeople
who have been vetted and inspected to work
on their properties. It covers the full range of
trades in and around the home and acts as a
signpost to help householders find local firms and
expert tradespeople, providing them with choice,
confidence and protection.
The Minister added that the campaign is
designed to raise awareness amongst consumers
while also highlighting the business benefits for
reputable traders. Traders that are accredited can
provide reassurance to customers that their work
is of the very highest standard.
Liz Male MBE, chair of TrustMark, added, ‘We
know it’s not always easy to find a reputable local
tradesperson, especially if you’re new to an area
or are bombarded with conflicting advice. But
there are some really fantastic firms out there who
are completely committed to doing a great job.
‘Rogue traders are the scourge of the sector,
seeking out vulnerable homeowners and taking
valuable jobs away from the best tradespeople in
the country. Checking things like recent work and
up to date qualifications are vital checks, so if you
don’t know who to turn to, trust TrustMark.’

ESSENTIAL INSTALL LIVE! SET TO SHOWCASE
NEW SMART BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES
Electrical contractors have much to
gain by visiting Essential Install Live!,
a trade show dedicated to providing
a route into the expanding world of
smart building systems.
With the growth in the Internet
of Things, the involvement of global
brands and more plug and play
products increasing the awareness
of the potential for smart homes
and buildings, as well as enhanced
entertainment experiences, it has never
been more important for electrical
contractors to be live to the potential
this sector offers.
A visit to Essential Install Live! South
will put contractors right at the heart
of the smart building industry, enabling
companies to learn in detail about the
people, products and systems that make
this lucrative sector tick. The show is
perfect for those wanting to add smart
building technology to their portfolio
enabling companies to add automation
systems to control entertainment
products and utilities as well as solutions
such as multi-zone or single zone music
systems and wired or wireless home
networks to make it all work.
With exhibitors well into triple
figures, new entrants will be able to
gain a complete overview of the very
latest solutions and the key players that
can deliver them.
The two-day show will also deliver a
series of talks and learning experiences
on some of the most pressing technical

issues and challenges facing the
industry, so visitors can walk away with
knowledge that can be take straight
into the field.
The Essential Install Live! Formula
One Challenge allows visitors to
compete around a real F1 track in the
UK’s top F1 mobile simulator. Always a
big hit at the show, competition is fierce
and some seriously good prizes are up
for grabs.
The show also plays host to
the Essential Install Live! Installer
Challenge. Sponsored by established
smart building installer Cornflake,
the initiative offers the chance
for established smart building
professionals to pit their wits against
each other and against the clock to find
some pesky system faults hidden away
in a specially created room set created
by Cornflake.
The event also plays host to the
Smart Building Awards, an industry
initiative that recognises some of the
best work being carried out in the
smart building industry today.

Many of the exhibitors at Essential
Install Live! are looking for new
customers and identify electrical
contractors as one of the key groups
they want to target. With many of the
skills and on site experience already
acquired, all contractors need is
the support and training that smart
building product suppliers are all set
up to provide.
Situated within easy reach of the
M25 and major road routes, the show
is completely free to attend and the
venue has thousands of free commercial
vehicle friendly parking spaces.

Venue: Sandown Park, Esher,
Surrey, KT10 9AJ
Dates: July 6-7
Opening times:
Wednesday 6th – 9.30am – 5pm
Thursday 7th – 9.30am – 4pm
Register for free at
www.essentialinstalllive.com

THE SEARCH BEGINS FOR BRITAIN’S TOP TRADESPERSON 2016
Screwfix is again searching for the nation’s top tradespeople. The Britain’s Top Tradesperson 2016 competition launches on 9th
May, and previous winners have included plumbers, joiners and electricians.
Not only will this year’s worthy winner carry the title of Britain’s Top Tradesperson to transform their business – but they will
also win the keys to a brand new Toyota vehicle worth £30,000 (OTR) with all the gadgets they need.
Last year, Darren Lawton, an electrician from Newcastle, walked away with the crown after fighting off worthy competition
from thousands of entrants. He wowed a judging panel with his passion and dedication to his trade. His entrepreneurial spirit,
attention to detail and passion for customer service also stood out amongst the finalists. He says it has had an amazing impact
on his business, bringing him new customers and filling his diary for months ahead.
Darren commented, ‘Holding the title has been a great endorsement for me and has helped me to secure