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The HSE has released a very hard hitting video which illustrates the tragic cost in human terms of construction accidents and ill-health.

To give you an idea of how many people are affected each year, here are the statistics for  2010-2011: 

• 1.2 million working people were suffering from a work-related illness.
• 171 workers killed at work.
• 115 000 injuries were reported under RIDDOR.
• 200 000 reportable injuries (over 3 day absence) occurred (LFS).
• 26.4 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury.
• Workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) cost society an estimated £14 billion (in 2009/10)

To see the video click here.

A NICEIC registered contractor has been nominated for a prestigious Enterprise Award. Eleanor Bell who runs her own sculpture and lighting design consultancy in Falmouth, Cornwall has been shortlisted in the south west region of the Lloyds TSB National Enterprise Awards - an awards programme set up to recognise the achievements of graduates who have started up their own business.

“I am thrilled to have made the shortlist,” comments the 38 year-old. “The regional heat for the south west covers from Herefordshire down to Cornwall and it is a real honour to have been selected against such a lot of competition.”

Eleanor graduated from University College Falmouth in 2007 with a First Class Honours degree in Contemporary Crafts. Strongly influenced by the use of light and its ability to transform spaces, she then embarked on a career as an electrician.

This decision was twofold – firstly, it would give her the technical knowledge to develop her creative practice and secondly, it would provide her with a good income thereby offering the freedom and security that she required.

To complete her knowledge and to be able to offer a one-stop shop from design right through to installation, she has also gained the Lighting Industry Federation Advanced Lighting Design Certificate.   Her business now encompasses every aspect of lighting design, albeit domestic, commercial, public, interior or exterior. She also makes light sculptures, both to commission and for exhibitions.

Eleanor is an approved contractor with NICEIC and played a key role supporting the regulatory body’s Jobs for the Girls campaign. She was one of several female contractors who visited the House of Commons last year to lobby parliamentarians about the need to promote women in the industry.

www.niceic.com

The Government has launched a campaign called “Business in You” which will offer you with range of support, provided by both the private sector and government.

If you work for a small company, or are thinking of starting up your own business, there is a wealth ofinformation and help available to you. Various partners have come together through the campaign to make sure that small firms know what is available, with some of the campaign partners providing free services including workshops, web-based seminars and video tutorials on issues like finance, as well as providing mentoring and face to face consultancy sessions.

Each month, the campaign will focus on a different theme relating to start ups and growth and will highlight the wide range of support available; from online advice on www.Businesslink.gov.uk through to specialist schemes such as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee - www.startups.co.uk - a loan guarantee scheme that encourages banks to lend to viable SMEs which lack the collateral or credit history to secure a normal bank loan.

For more information about the “Business in You” campaign go to: http://businessinyou.bis.gov.uk

In a move that will be welcomed by its 26,000 registered contractors, NICEIC has announced it is freezing all registration fees from April 2012 through to April 2013.

“NICEIC has made this decision in recognition of our customers’ continued support and the business pressures every one of our contractor’s face,” states Emma McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer, NICEIC (pictured below).

The price freeze is the fourth in five years and comes at a time when contractors are facing tough economic challenges.

“We want to assure our customers that NICEIC is here to help build their businesses,” comments Emma. “Registration with NICEIC marks you out as the best and we provide a range of other services to help our customers at work.”

Contractors registered with NICEIC can also access a range of business critical support services, including technical advice; industry recognised training, industry literature and contractor insurance.

All surpluses from NICEIC fees are passed to the Electrical Safety Council so the charity can carry out its work promoting registered electrical contractors and the importance of electrical safety.

For more information on how to register with NICEIC log onto www.niceic.com

Two more traders have been fined and prosecuted for fraudulently claiming to be NICEIC registered. Leicester based Deepak Virdi, who traded under the name of R.K Builders, was recently fined a total of £3,015 at Leicester Magistrates Court. He pleaded guilty to four counts of unauthorised use of a trade logo. Among them, two counts of using an NICEIC Approved contractor and NICEIC contractor logo.

Meanwhile, Paul Oldridge, of Veritas Support Services Ltd in Portsmouth, was fined a massive £14,800 at Southampton Magistrates Court for a range of offences relating to false advertising on his company website. In all Oldridge pleaded guilty to 13 breaches of practice. He was charged in his capacity as a Director of three companies whose websites displayed information relating to the misleading Trade Association claims.

NICEIC’s Head of Customer Relations, Sandra Kerr, said: “We take misuse of our logo very seriously and we welcome the latest prosecutions. The NICEIC name is associated with quality and we must protect those contractors who are legitimately registered with us and have the quality of their work assessed on a regular basis.

“We must also send out the message that anyone thinking about misusing our logo will be caught and dealt with appropriately by the courts.”

Last year NICEIC stepped up its fight against firms incorrectly using its logo by setting up a Wall of Shame. Contractors caught falsely claiming to be members will be named and shamed on the NICEIC website and their details passed to Trading Standards.

Anyone who is suspicious of a contractor falsely claiming to be NICEIC registered should check the NICEIC website at www.niceic.com which contains a full list of all those approved contractors registered with NICEIC.