Rogue trader jailed after investigation
A man has been jailed for carrying out dangerous work while posing as a registered electrician. John Draco, 35, of Rowan Place, Newton Aycliffe, pleaded guilty to fraud and consumer protection related offences after falsely claiming to be a qualified electrician. He advertised his services on Yell.com as accredited by ELECSA and Trustmark-despite not having either accreditation. He also claimed to be NICEIC registered. He was jailed for 13 months following a trial at Durham Crown Court in January. The court heard how Draco had offered to complete a full rewire of a property for £3,000, but had left it in a highly dangerous state. When his shoddy work was challenged by the homeowner, he abandoned the job and kept the full sum. The homeowner got in touch with Hartlepool Trading Standards who took on the case with help from ELECSA. Such was the poor standard of the installation an investigation by an electrical engineer ordered it not to be used as it posed a serious risk of fire and electrocution. Work to rectify the problems left by Draco ran into thousands of pounds. Draco, who traded under the name J and A Electrical Solutions ended up paying the victim back £3,820. Ian Harrison, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, said: “This successful prosecution sends out a strong message that the courts will not tolerate rogue traders conning people out of their hard-earned cash. Kevan Parker, Interim Managing Director of Certsure, which operates the ELECSA and NICEIC brands, added: “We take a dim view of those who pretend to be registered electricians when they are not. “We will work with the appropriate authorities to protect those contractors who are legitimately registered with us and have the quality of their work assessed on a regular basis. “Anyone thinking about using our logo fraudulently will be caught and dealt with appropriately by the courts.”
Crowds flock to TechTalk events
Regional shows attract record number of contractors ahead of 18thEdition introduction NICEIC and ELECSA’s latest Tech Talk series has attracted record crowds as contractors prepare for the upcoming introduction of the 18thEdition. More than 3,000 conscientious contractors have now booked to attend one of the 23 regional shows. The NICEIC and ELECSA team are now gearing themselves up for the second part of the series, which will see them visit nine more locations, and deliver talks even more electricians. Darren Staniforth, Senior Technical Development Manager for NICEIC and ELECSA, commented: “Come January, all electrical contractors in the UK will have to work from the 18th Edition of BS7671. Because of this we are seeing more and more contractors coming to our events to update their knowledge and make sure they have an understanding of the changes. TechTalks are a perfect way for contractors to get an overview of what they need to know and ask us any questions they might have about how it applies to their day to day work.” More than 200 contractors attended each event in Manchester, Norwich and Chelmsford with other locations also proving popular. In addition to the 18thEdition, Darren and the team also take a look at other aspects of the electrical industry and how that could affect the way contractors work in the future. This includes talks on EICRs in rented properties, electric vehicle charging points and things to consider when designing heating installations. “TechTalks are a great opportunity for sparks to get together and have a chat about what is going on in the industry. The crowds have been great so far and I would suggest to anyone who hasn’t been already to book their ticket fast,” added Darren. Tickets cost just £25 and can be booked online at www.shop.niceic.com/eventsor calling 0333 015 6626. For further information about the TechTalk series please emailevents@certsure.com. Each event starts at 9am and finishes at 1.30pm. Every delegate gets a breakfast roll and refreshments as part of the package. Remaining TechTalk Dates and Locations: DATE VENUE LOCATION 05 December 2018 Newcastle Rugby Club Newcastle 06 December 2018 Middlesbrough FC Middlesbrough 12 December 2018 Doncaster Racecourse Doncaster 13 December 2018 Leeds United Leeds 23 January 2019 Cardiff City Stadium Cardiff 24 January 2019 Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham 06 February 2019 Amex Stadium Brighton 07 February 2019 Southampton FC Southampton *The 18thEdition of the wiring regulations was made available in July this year. Contractors were then given a six month transition period to get up to speed with the changes. From January 1 2019, it will then be a requirement that all electrical installations designed after this date comply with BS 7671:2018, 18th Edition (2018).
NICEIC and ELECSA announce Electrical Apprentice Competition 2019
NICEIC and ELECSA’s 2019 Electrical Apprentice of the Year Competition is now open for entries. The competition, run in partnership with The Scolmore Group, measures the technical skills of electrical students across the UK. It consists of three different stages and regularly attracts more than 500 entrants. Technical Development Manager for NICEIC and ELECSA, Darren Staniforth said: “Over the past three years, we have seen the standard of applicants improve each time so we are looking forward again to welcoming a new batch of contestants. “As the most recognised names in the industry, NICEIC and ELECSA have a responsibility to work with, encourage and promote apprenticeships and careers in the electrical industry to the next generation.” The competition is not only an opportunity for students to prove their knowledge and abilities but also a chance to win some fantastic prizes – all generously supplied by competition partner, Scolmore Group. Eight finalists will each receive a brand new iPad, with a £2,000 holiday voucher being awarded to the overall winner. There will also be two runner up prizes of a £750 holiday voucher and a £250 holiday voucher. Each finalist will also receive a Scolmore Van Pack, Trophy and NICEIC and ELECSA Goody Bag. Every college that enters 20 or more students into the competition will qualify for a College Pack from Scolmore, featuring: 25 Double Sockets, 25 Switches, 25 6″ Pendants and 25 Batten Holders. The College that produces the eventual winner will also receive £1,000 worth of Scolmore products. Marie Parry, Group Marketing Director for Scolmore Group said: “The competition continues to gather momentum and gain recognition throughout the industry. Students, lecturers, trainers and employers all recognise the opportunity and value it brings. “We understand the importance of supporting the next generation of electricians. We have a number of directors currently working in the business that started out as electrical apprentices and through hard work and determination; they have worked their way up to the boardroom. “This competition recognises the important role apprentices play within our industry and we look forward to working with them once again.” Last year saw 650 candidates whittled down to eight finalists before 21-year-old Zach Swift from North Star Electric, Glasgow, was chosen as the 2018 Apprentice of the Year. Zach said: “When my name was called out as the Apprentice of the Year I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised. I never thought I would even pass the first stage, let alone win the overall title. The quality of work that the rest of the guys were producing was fantastic so when I heard my name called out, I was staggered. “The competition is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your ability. It doesn’t cost anything to apply and I would say to anyone who is thinking about entering to just go for it. “ The competition consists of three stages and registration for Stage One is open now. Students can enter the competition and complete the first stage by visiting www.niceic.com/apprentice.
