MORE THAN 37,000 ATTEND BIGGEST EVER SCREWFIX LIVE

A 19% rise in attendance at Screwfix LIVE, taking visitor numbers above 37,000 at Farnborough this year, is a sign of how much appetite there is across the trades for hands-on contact with tools, products and manufacturers. For electricians, events like this are one of the few places where you can handle new kit, ask technical representatives detailed questions and compare products side by side before committing to them on site. That matters as the range of equipment electricians are expected to work with keeps widening. Consumer units, protective devices, EV chargepoints, solar inverters, battery systems and smart controls all evolve quickly, and keeping up with what is on the market is part of staying competitive and giving customers sound advice. There is a useful distinction to draw, though, between product familiarity and competence. Seeing a new chargepoint or battery system demonstrated on a stand is valuable, but installing it safely and compliantly depends on understanding the regulations and design principles behind it. BS 7671 has been updated several times in recent years, with growing attention given to installations that generate or store electricity rather than simply consume it. Electricians moving into these areas will usually need specific training, often alongside their 18th Edition qualification, to work confidently and to meet the expectations of competent person schemes and manufacturers' warranty conditions. Trade shows can be a good prompt to identify skills gaps, but formal training and assessment are what turn interest into a recognised capability. The mix of trade professionals and DIYers at the show is also worth noting. Greater public interest in home improvement is no bad thing, but it reinforces the importance of clear messaging about what electrical work should be left to qualified people and what is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. For trainees, a well-attended show is a reminder that this is a busy, evolving industry with plenty of opportunity. Building a solid foundation through recognised qualifications, then adding specialist skills over time, remains the most reliable route to a long-term career, with events like Screwfix LIVE serving as a helpful window onto where the industry is heading.