SELECT’s new Managing Director Designate has pledged to continue the association’s long running crusade for regulation of the electrical profession – and has urged decisive action from Scotland’s political party leaders.

Sharon Miller (pictured above) said says she is “absolutely committed” to building on more than a century of campaigning to win protection of title, and has already written to Scotland’s party leaders urging them to put regulation at the heart of their Scottish Parliamentary election manifestos.

Ms Miller – who will take over from current MD Alan Wilson later this year – said: “Like many people, I once assumed there was a regulatory system in place to ensure that anyone carrying out electrical work was properly qualified.

The reality is that anyone who claims they can wire a plug can call themselves an electrician. Yet in unqualified hands, electricity can be dangerous and cause serious fire risks.

With the Scottish Parliament elections in May approaching, we will be working intensively to ensure politicians of all parties understand that regulation of the electrical profession must be a priority for public safety.”

She added: “I have already written to the leaders of all the major political parties encouraging them to build support for regulation and the electrotechnical industry into their election manifestos, and we have also asked other MSPs to add their names to our ever-growing Wall of Support.

This work will continue next month when myself and SELECT colleagues will spend a number of days campaigning directly for regulation at the Scottish Parliament itself.

Such activity will prove that I and the wider association are absolutely committed to working with Members and partners to achieve regulation and build a safe electrotechnical industry for generations to come.”

Ms Miller said that regulation will continue to be SELECT’s top priority, as outlined its own election manifesto, which was launched last year.

She commented: “SELECT members have called for statutory regulation since the organisation’s inception more than 125 years ago, yet progress has remained frustratingly slow.

Time and again, politicians have agreed that ‘something must be done’, but little has changed. The tragedy of Grenfell in 2017 horrified the nation, yet the focus of reform has been on cladding rather than the electrical fault that started the fire. That must change.

SELECT is committed to working with partners, policymakers and the wider industry to achieve meaningful regulation. Together, we can build a safer electrotechnical industry that the public can trust and one of which we can all be proud.”

With the UK’s transition to net zero accelerating, Ms Miller warned that the risks associated with an increasingly electric future cannot be ignored.

She said: “Our homes, transport and infrastructure are becoming more dependent on electricity. Lithium batteries alone are a growing concern, with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service recording a seven-fold increase in battery-related fires between 2018 and 2024. Once these fires take hold, they can burn for days and are incredibly difficult to extinguish.”

Ms Miller also said that regulation would help consumers, who often face a confusing and fragmented marketplace when trying to identify properly qualified tradespeople.

She said: “There are countless websites and schemes, many of which are unclear about qualification levels. Even Trading Standards’ Trusted Trader schemes rely largely on customer reviews rather than robust technical competence.

“Of course, using a SELECT member provides a safe haven for confused consumers but not everyone is aware of our organisation and the high standards to which we operate.

“As a potential customer, using a SELECT contractor means you can trust that they are fully qualified and reliable. That is why it is essential to always search the SELECT website to find a trusted electrician in your local area.”