The increase in self-employed contractors must not be at expense of competence levels, says the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA):
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show a significant increase in the number of people setting up as self-employed builders, plumbers and electricians. This increase must not be at the expense of standards of training and technical competence warned the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA).
The Labour Force Survey for December 2003 found that some 80,000 people became self-employed during the three months to October and that more than 225,000 have become self-employed over the past 12 months. During the same three-month period the numbers of people in full-time employment have fallen by 92,000. The Survey found a 41% increase in the number of people entering the construction industry.
A good thing…but qualified:
The increase in self-employed skilled tradesmen such as electricians is a development encouraged to a degree by the continued buoyancy of the housing market. However, it is essential that the new industry entrants have the relevant skills and technical competence. The concern from the ECA is that new self-employed electricians will enter the industry without completing the necessary training to ensure safety and competence.
It is quite common for courses to be offered which fall short of the recognised industry entry-level qualification, an NVQ level 3.
"At a time when the marketplace requires minimum levels of competence, enshrined for instance through proposed legislation within the Building Regulations, the continued emphasis must be on maintaining and promoting standards of training which guarantee safety of operatives and consumers", said David Pollock, ECA Director.
Essential to remove ‘cowboy’ elements:
The ECA believes that the number of trained electricians will continue to rise but not at dramatic rates. "What is important, in the interests of the consumer, is to ensure the cowboy element within the industry is removed completely", said Pollock. "Within this context the relative merits of having a large number of self-employed electricians must be assessed. Such a large number of self-employed operatives could present a risk in terms of overall training investment by the industry.
Electrical Contractors' Association
ESCA House, 34 Palace Court, London W2 4HY
Tel: 020 7313 4800
Fax: 020 7221 7344
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.eca.co.uk