Leading the charge – ESC industry seminar

The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) is aiming to create a collaborative approach to recent changes to the industry's landscape.

An electrical industry seminar - designed to bring together key players to consider a range of developments currently impacting on the sector – will be hosted by the ESC in March, at a Westminster location. In addition to a review of the changes to Part P of the Building Regulations for England, the event will also cover issues ranging from what the Green Deal means for contractors, to how smart metering is likely to affect the safety of electrical installations.

“The industry as a whole is experiencing considerable change and we need to explore the consequences of new developments and how a partnership approach can help improve the sector and our offering to consumers”, explains Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC. For example, with Part P, government amendments have now made it less bureaucratic and more effective by allowing a registered third party to certify notifiable work. We believe this reduces the time, costs and inconvenience to both the consumer and the contractor. However, it is imperative that this is properly 'policed', in order to be effective, and that the public are made fully aware of Part P and its requirements”.

One outcome of the seminar will be the production of a Green Paper, providing a summary of industry and stakeholder views on current and future challenges - and how best to deal with them. The intention is to submit the paper to relevant government departments and executive agencies for consideration during the policy development process.

For more information email angela.murphy@esc.org.uk