Highlex 2007

INDUSTRY AWARDS A HUGE HIT

ASLEC and HEMSA held their annual conference and exhibition at the prestigious Celtic Manor Hotel on 1 November and featuring the second ASLEC/HEMSA industry awards.  Over three hundred and fifty people attended the event from a broad cross section of the Highway Electrical Industry. 

The day commenced with the ASLEC and HEMSA annual general meetings during the course of which Graham Cartledge took over as chairman of ASLEC from Barry Smith of EDF.  Gareth Kings from BEI was elected as chairman of HEMSA, taking over from Mike Strickson from Lucy Lighting.

During the discussion at the AGMs concern was expressed at the effect of high energy costs on market conditions for contractors and suppliers.  In his report the ASLEC/HEMSA Director said

The PFI Process - John Reed

Highway Electrical Industry - What's changed in 30 Years - Vas Siantonas

The work of the Lighting Board & its influence in shaping the market - Roger Elphick OBE

The Sector Scheme - not just health & safety - Gareth Pritchard

Living with Climate Change - Barry Smith

What do we think of PFI so far - Ray Stowell

“The changes taking place in the industry have come about as a result of government policy, procurement methods and market forces. Over the last ten years, recognition of the lack of investment in the public lighting infrastructure has seen a step change in local government procurement policy with the steady increase in PFI contracts and new players entering the market.  In the Highway Electronic sector, growth has come primarily as a result of increases in vehicle use and the reduction by government of the road building plan.  As a result we have seen a healthy market for contractors.  

“The big change in the market is likely to come as a result of increasing energy prices.  Over the last two years prices have increased by up to 100% and local authority budgets have not been able to be flexible enough to meet the pace of energy price change.  Many authorities are therefore facing the need to cut back on maintenance in order to pay for their energy.  As a result the level of spend by authorities has seen a decline, especially this year causing challenging trading conditions for ASLEC and HEMSA members..  Whether this will continue will depend on many factors but a period of stability in energy prices will help.

“Local authorities are at present facing a dilemma of choice; how to maintain services and meet budgets in an era of high and increasing energy charges.

This will be a challenge not just for them but also for the whole industry because it will be to manufacturers and contractors that the client organisations will be looking to for workable solutions.  It is likely to be new technology that will be providing the initial solutions such as dimming, part night lighting, a greater use of white light, electronic control gear, photo voltaic systems, LEDS etc.  Whilst the client will be looking to minimise energy costs, the government will also be looking to reduce carbon emissions and the two needs are mutually compatible”.

The theme of the conference was the commercial implications of the current market place for Manufacturers Suppliers and Contractors.  Many of the papers reflected the trading concerns of ASLEC/HEMSA members with a keynote speech from John Reed from 4Ps outlining the case for PFI but warning that we should not expect the level of PFI funding to continue at current levels.  Ray Stowell from Scottish and Southern Energy gave a contractor’s view on operating PFI contracts.  Outgoing ASLEC/HEMSA Director Vas Siantonas gave a paper looking at the impact of events over the last 30 years that have shaped the way the market is today.

Roger Elphick chairman of the UK lighting Board profilied the work of the Lighting Board emphasising the impact of increased energy costs on local authority budgets.  Gareth Pritchard presented a paper identifying the close correlation between a good organisational health and safety culture and commercial success. The final paper, which was presented by Barry Smith from EDF Energy, identified the key drivers for excess energy consumption in the industry and how ASLEC and HEMSA are working with other industry stakeholders to obtain a grant from the Carbon Trust for the purpose of producing a CO2 calculator which will lead to a reduction in emissions.

Thirty organisations exhibited at the exhibition and all were extremely satisfied at the range and quality of the attendees.

During the evening the second ASLEC HEMSA industry awards were held.  As last year, these were a tremendous success reflecting the status and position that ASLEC and HEMSA members have achieved.  Nominations and award recipients are shown in the table below.

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