The electrical industry in Scotland has hailed the successful completion of the latest series of Toolbox Talks, the practical events for disseminating the latest technological information to the widest possible number of trade professionals.
The wide-ranging nationwide tour – events were held in venues are far apart as Orkney and Dumfries – is organised by SELECT, the campaigning trade body for Scotland’s electrical sector.
Nearly 400 SELECT members and other interested parties attended 11 separate Toolbox Talks – all delivered by SELECT’s technical team. For the statistically-minded, the team travelled in excess of 3000 miles and attendees enjoyed 1600 sandwiches and more than 1000 cups of tea and coffee.
Dave Forrester, SELECT’s head of technical services, said: “The attendance at the Toolbox Talks events has more than exceeded our expectations and the numbers of members attending is significantly increased from 2013 events. Feedback from attendees has been very good and members have greatly enjoyed meeting the SELECT technical staff and benefiting from their expertise and up-to-the-minute technical knowledge.”
Topics covered at the Toolbox Talks included cable sizing, over-current protection, BS 7671 certification and amendment 3 to BS 7671.
Bob Cairney, technical services manager at SELECT, said: “The events are structured to provide detailed technical information and guidance which we hope our members will find useful.”
One of the attendees at the Borders Toolbox talk, Graeme Anderson from Powertec Electrotechnical Services, said: “I enjoyed it immensely. It’s a great chance to talk to like-minded contractors and I look forward to the next one.”
Members also had the opportunity to meet the various sponsors for the Toolbox Talks – including Aico, Avanti Group UK, Lutron, Martindale, Megger and Thin Red Line Products.
The organisation’s managing director, Newell McGuiness, said the series illustrated SELECT’s long-term commitment to the highest possible standards in the industry and the need to foster continuing professional development for skilled tradesmen and technicians.
SELECT Member companies account for 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland, have a collective turnover of £1bn and provide employment for 15,000.
