- Coming up on this week's news,
thousands of electricians vote to quit the trade
for a new life down under.
Electrical innovations dominate this year's,
Build Back better Awards,
and we report on the remarkable recovery
of the electrical contractor who received
the world's first double arm transplant
following a massive electric shock.
Welcome to Electrical News Weekly, whether you're listening
in the van, onsite or down at the wholesale counter,
I'm Joe Robinson and I've been through the best
of the electrical industry news to save you the trouble.
And as always, if you think you've spotted the two words
that I've been challenged to slip into this week's show,
comment with them below for the chance to win a prize.
Thousands of UK electricians are set to hang up their tools
in the UK for a new sunshine life down under.
An estimated 4,000 sparks have applied for jobs
in Western Australia following a recruitment blitz
here earlier this year.
One determined electrician drove for four hours
to submit his CV.
In total, some 60,000 Brits, including plumbers, nurses
and police officers have bid for the 31,000 jobs available.
Paul Papalia, who led the mission to recruit the sparks
said that while he knew that plugging a new life
in 30 degree Aus would not be a hard sell.
He was overwhelmed by the response.
However, industry observers say that the loss
of so many trained workers will add to the skill shortage
and make it harder for the UK
to roll out renewable technologies such as solar panels
and EV charges.
Let us know in the comments if you've applied to go
but don't worry if you'd rather stay incognito.
There is however good news for those staying in Britain.
The UK's top boffin says that electricians have one
of the safest jobs in the country
as we enter a future of artificial intelligence.
Scientist, Lord Rees believes electrical contractors
along with plumbers and gardeners are the occupations
least likely to be taken over by AI.
But many white collar professionals are in trouble.
Lawyers, accountants, computer coders and gulp
even presenters are already beginning to be replaced
by machines.
But Rees says that robots can't go to a strange house
and fix appliances and install electrical circuits.
So skilled blue collar workers may have the last laugh
in a future jobs market.
In fact, far from stealing our living,
computers are actually providing more work for the trade.
The boom in data centers is proving a bonanza
for the big contracting firms.
T Clarke says it made 10 million pounds profit last year
largely on the back of these types of projects.
In fact, data center cabling accounted for
129 million pounds or 30% of its 426 million pound revenue.
And the London based firm says it has a bulging order book
to keep it's 1,300 employees
and subcontractors busy throughout 2023.
It says the orders will put it on track to have sales
of half a billion pounds this year.
Sounds like they won't just be buns for tea
but roast hummingbird caviar at T Clarke then.
Working on those data centers is bringing many electricians
into contact with a non-traditional method
of bringing energy to electrical equipment.
Power over ethernet, also known as POE,
enables the electrical current necessary
for operating each device to be carried by data cables
instead of twin and earth.
It's been used for computers and small electronic equipment
for years, but increasingly it's being used for applications
such as low energy LED lighting, security cameras,
control units and audio visual equipment.
An expert says that the UK is lagging
behind the rest of the world when it comes to POE
and contractors could be wasting their time
connecting electrical installations with standard wiring
because they're simply not aware
that ethernet cables can do the job.
Rob Pritchard of Darby based company Scenario believes
that POE isn't a threat to electrical contractors
but an opportunity for it to upskill itself
and stop work going to other trades.
The firm has become only the second UK firm
to join the power over ethernet consortium
a global industry trade group set up last year
to promote the technology.
Pritchard says that in a low carbon world
smart buildings will be the future and power over ethernet
is vital to that world.
Still on innovation,
the results of the Build Back Better Awards
have been unveiled for 2023 and the good news
is that electrical inventions have dominated the winners.
Myenergi swept the boards
with no fewer than four winners in four categories.
It's electrical system of the Zappy Charger,
the Eddie Inverter and the Libby Battery proved a big hit
with judges who awarded it both gold and green ratings.
The experts cited the range
because they say it forms a seamless network in a home
with each device integrating with the others
to maximize the savings from renewable energy.
Taking gold was the Aereco home ventilation system
which varies airflow rates according to indoor air quality.
A light switch from Retrotouch, which operates wirelessly
and needs no battery also took a gold.
Others taking gongs included the ArcBox enclosure
which is designed to snap around a DC connector
in a solar panel installation.
It ensures that if an arc ever occurs
it is safely contained
and doesn't spread to combustible materials.
The judges thought it was an important contribution
to safety and awarded it a platinum rating.
EV charges making the grade included the I07 from Ratio,
the Ohme range and the Monta app.
The judges also loved the Zypho which recovers heat
from the wastewater from a shower.
They gave it both a platinum and a green award.
I actually made a video on that last year
while I was down at Future Build.
You can find that over on our sister channel Efix Energy.
Again, I'll leave a link in the show notes.
In the circular economy section, they gave an award
to a chandelier made by Diplomat Design
from discarded laughing gas canisters and light switches
from Schneider made from waste fishing nets.
You can see a full list of winners
on the Build Back Better Awards website,
I've popped a link in the show notes.
And finally, the trade continues to be amazed
by the remarkable recovery of the electrician
who received the world's first double arm transplant.
Felix Gretarsson received a massive electric shock in 1998
while working on power lines in his native front,
there was confusion about how far he needed to go down
the power line to get to the part that needed fixing,
and he grabbed the wrong cable.
When he received the electric shock, both his arms
immediately caught on fire and he fell 32 feet
to the ground.
He broke his back in three places and fractured his neck.
Later in hospital surgeons decided it was best
to amputate both arms,
but a determined Gretarsson convinced them to replace them
in the world's first double arm and shoulder transplant.
And now just two years after his operation,
the electrician has achieved a remarkable milestone.
He has shocked surgeons by getting back on his bike,
an activity he used to enjoy before his accident.
Gretarsson says his steering still isn't the best,
but he's getting there.
He's even started cycling to his hospital appointments.
His next ambition, in 2024 the plucky spark is planning
to climb Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps.
Really inspiring stuff.
All the best, Felix, we're rooting for you.
Now, just before we get to your favorite bit of the show
where I reveal last week's challenge words and winners,
we want to thank our premium partners.
We couldn't make the news without you.
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Big thanks to you all, we really appreciate
your ongoing support for the news.
If you think you know the words I've smuggled
into this week's show, pop your guess into the comments
and we'll dig out a goodie bag prize
to the first to get the right answers.
Last week's words were equilibrium and hypnotic.
And the first person to get both right was someone who goes
by the name Captain Stephen.
Whether or not that's an official rank
has not been disclosed, but either way
click the link to claim your prize, Captain.
Thanks for listening to this episode
of Electrical News Weekly.
Make sure you subscribe to receive the next update.
Thanks for listening, and until next time have a great week,
stay safe out there and remember, there's no such thing
as a top calibrated arm.