The ECA and convergence
Clients are demanding unprecedented levels of efficiency and productivity from electrical contractors and companies engaged in other building services disciplines.
There is a trend for companies to provide electrical and mechanical services. Over 40% of members of the ECA are both mechanical and electrical – or 'M and E' – and the ECA and the Heating and Ventilation Contractors’ Association (HVCA) share a significant number of members, including many of the largest companies in the sector.
The ECA's stance
The ECA believes that the representative organisations in the building services industry must cooperate to address these challenges effectively. We already work very closely with many in our sector.
The ECA and five other representative bodies support the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group, the cross-disciplinary lobbying organisation which achieved phenomenal success in obtaining the present review of the payment and adjudication provisions of the Construction Act. SEC Group extends its influence by embracing the professional building services organisations and others through the Specialist Engineering Alliance.
The ECA and HVCA
The relationship between the ECA and HVCA is close. We share our headquarters.
Both Associations recognise that a hugely important area for co-operation in future will be the creation of a coherent Industrial Relations framework, building on our respective traditions but ensuring that it is fit for today’s purpose. The success of the Major Projects Agreement Forum at Terminal 5 is a good example of M & E co-operation in this specialist area.
The Associations are now committed to the creation of compatible, or, if possible, common, M and E working agreements. Our Strategic Industrial Relations Forum has been established for this purpose. It is our aim that a common approach to working agreements be operated within, and supported by, a suitable framework of co-operation between employers and the union. The ECA is committed to determining, with our HVCA colleagues, the form and functions of such a framework for the future.
In late 2006, the ECA and HVCA launched the ground-breaking set of Core Criteria for health and safety, thereby heading off the possibility of a proliferation of alternative criteria with consequent costs to the industry.
While committed to collaboration and convergence with other building services organisations, the Association continues to provide comprehensive support for companies whose businesses are entirely in electrical and electronic disciplines.
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