Littler by Littler

Ever met a man with no regrets, a man who can count the number of days in his life when he’s been unhappy on one hand? No? Then you’ve never sat back and enjoyed a coffee with Allan Littler.

Rising up the ranks to ECA president may be a big responsibility, but Allan is far from austere. This year’s top dog comes across as easy-going and friendly – traits that are somewhat enhanced by a gentle Merseyside lilt.

That’s not to say that he doesn’t take his role very seriously, and training is a hot topic following the introduction of the government’s draft Apprenticeship Bill.

“I think one of the key issues at the moment for the whole industry is the lack of training and the lack of co-ordination from the government when it comes to training both young people and adults.”

Labour has pledged a pilot wage subsidy programme to encourage SMEs to provide apprenticeships, and the Tories promise smaller firms a lump payment of £2000 per apprentice if they get into power.

So, does Allan think this is the best way to promote and increase apprenticeships?

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary. The real key is realistic government funding.

“I also think it should be treated as an on-cost that is recognised in the way contracts are let. On every contract, there should be an allowance for the degree of training required. I know that’s fairly radical, but if the government is giving out a contract for £1m, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to say that £20 000 had to be spent on training during the course of it.”

As Allan is keen to point out, the public sector accounts for a third of UK construction, and where it leads, the private sector is likely to follow.

Cap in hand

“It’s in everybody’s interest to have enough skilled people in this country. I absolutely hate the thought that we would have to go cap in hand to other countries to provide the skilled labour force that we require,” says Allan.

Training stirs up Allan’s passions at a highly personal level. He began a varied and prolific career as an apprentice for electricity board Manweb, where he rose

to the ranks of managing director of the contracting division. “It was competitive at every stage, but they had a strong emphasis on training. As well as my apprenticeship, I received three weeks of training every year for the 35 years I was there.”

“In the 1960s and 1970s, training apprentices was cheap. We were on very low wages, but they could train more of us.”

Even allowing for inflation, a starting wage of £4 a week was hardly going to transform Allan into a Merseyside playboy, but he remembers having some wild nights out on 10 shillings.

Early retirement

In 2000, Allan took advantage of early retirement. “I retired from Manweb because the time was right. We’d been taken over by Scottish Power, and when you’ve been managing director of a division of a company, being second director is not quite as satisfying.”

Among other hobbies, Allan used his new-found freedom to pursue caravanning. But, believe it or not, he traded in the joys of the Lake District for a position as chairman to fire and security firm Amalgamated just the following year.

Or at least, he acquiesced to some extent.

“Becoming non-executive chairman suited me. I could work when I wanted, instead of every day,” he says.

“I already got along with the managing director, Geoff Teader, as he was a subcontractor to Manweb. “My job is to go in and challenge Geoff and his senior managers on how they run the company in terms of business management and profitability. In other words, ‘Is the cash coming in?’”

Although the latest ECA survey has revealed a lack of confidence among contractors, due to the market downturn, Allan insists that the £2m family-owned Amalgamated business, which employs 30 people, is doing very well.

“At this time there is sufficient business. I think there will be more of a problem in 12 months’ time. The electrical contracting market always follows the construction market by about 12 months.”

Allan is keeping the firm’s profitability under wraps, but says it surpasses the 2-3% average. Not that he views this as a particularly inspirational marker.

“Two to three percent is not going to sustain a company. You only need a single contract to go wrong and people are out of business. I would like to see profitability raised. If it was 10%, people would start looking to the future.”

Two to three per cent profit is not going to sustain a firm. You only need a single contract to go wrong. I’d like to see profitability raised. If it was 10%, people would start looking to the future

Despite the credit crunch, Allan is optimistic about times ahead. “There are always opportunities out there for contractors. There’s the Olympics, which is going to provide a lot of work in the building services area. And the sustainability agenda is becoming more and more prevalent. Energy efficiency, smart homes, renewables are all opportunities.”

New technologies

This is a fair point, although it begs the question, are contractors well enough equipped when it comes to the latest green technologies?

“A lot of skills are already out there,” insists Allan. “Believe it or not, my firm was installing solar panels in 1975.”

At present, however, one of the ECA’s major goals is to ensure members are up to date with ever-expanding technologies.

“We’ve been concentrating on how to implement new technologies, and that’s important,” says Allan. “The association has been looking at software and at providing advice when it comes to new estimating packages.”

Winning goal

Allan also nurtures his own industry goals, which he hopes to achieve within the course of his presidency. He is eager to improve the image of the ECA, and wants to ensure the nature of its operations is more open to members. He wants the association to “tell the contracting fraternity what it’s doing and how it can help to influence government and decision makers”.

He also aims to improve the public image of the electrical industry, which he feels has been waning for some time.

“The image of Britain of a nation that works with their hands is far lower than it should be. I can honestly say that there are very few other trades and activities where you make such a difference,” he says.

“Electricity is the lifeblood of modern society. We need to be expanding people’s knowledge of the value of the engineers, the craftsmen, the professionals – and what difference they make to people’s lives.”

This is all impressive sentiment, but how does Allan propose the industry goes about re-educating the public? He pauses, then admits a tad reluctantly: “I haven’t quite solved that one yet.”

Perhaps it’s time for the ECA to mastermind a mass blackout. That would teach them.

The strategic review, which Allan reports is being “shaped for the future” with clear corporate goals and business plans, plays a big part in his ECA activities, and he feels that one of the key areas on which it is focusing is collaboration.

“If you’re talking about collaboration you’re talking about an industry where the contractors, the trade associations, the manufacturers and the wholesalers talk to each other about key aspects and, when we need help from the government, we interact and lobby the government as a whole to get that help.”

Does he think that’s happening enough at the moment?

“No I don’t, but then, I don’t think you can ever develop these things enough, even if you work night and day.”

As most are aware, collaboration isn’t just confined to those within the electrical industry. Despite the obvious benefits, convergence between the ECA and HVCA has been on the cards now for longer than many of those affected can even remember. However, things do seem to be pushing forward at the moment.

“We’re at the stage now where both councils have given the go-ahead for a working party, comprising the offices of the ECA and HVCA, to develop a model for convergence, and the model should be out by about December,” says Allan. “We are consulting at every stage to make sure that it’s not just a few people’s ideas, but there is feedback from every member of the ECA and HVCA.”

Early feedback suggested that HVCA firms were more enthusiastic about the partnership than their electrical cousins.

“I don’t know if that’s the case, but anyway, it takes two to tango, and it’s not a very good dance if there’s only one partner on the floor,” says Allan.

If nothing else, he makes one keen jive partner. “I can say, hand on heart, that I am a staunch supporter of convergence,” he says firmly.

So, is the ever-enthusiastic Allan Littler going to be the one to drive some optimism into the industry, despite inevitable hard times ahead? Well, he’s certainly going to give it a good try.

“One thing about being in the electrical contracting industry is that we are flexible, adaptable, and able to change very quickly when new opportunities come along. And we’re always looking for innovation.”