Taking the future by the horns and knocking it into submission requires some anticipation, a crystal ball and a bit of planning. We asked some leading contractors to tell us what they thought the future had in store.
Nobody can be absolutely sure what the future holds but there are some things that are pretty certain. For the electrical contracting industry we can be quite confident that there are more challenges ahead and that contractors and the ECA will need to keep on their toes to handle these challenges. Every challenge also represents an opportunity, of course, and the future will certainly hold plenty of those as well.

Some of the greatest demands on ingenuity are sure to come from the ongoing desire to reduce the cost of construction through innovations. Innovations like working with other members of the project team rather than watching your back all the time.

It is happening on some very rare occasions but will trust and partnership become the norm?

There are all sorts of other challenges on the way of course, in relation to new technologies as well as new ways of working. Will relatively new sectors that have emerged, such as network cabling, dominate contractors' workloads in the future? Is offering clients mechanical as well as electrical services the way forward? Overleaf, we invite leading contractors to say what they thought are the key issues for the future. Definitely food for thought.

Mark Lench, N G Bailey & Co
"In the future, we will see the formation of a premier league of main contractors whose focus will be on large-scale projects. To reduce costs and increase the efficiency of tendering, these companies will be looking to tie-up long-term strategic relationships with specific contractors. These supply-chain partnerships will become increasingly important and provide tremendous opportunities. This will also mean that there are many smaller jobs where m&e contractors with the right experience can manage the whole project in the role of prime contractor."

David Hill, Hills Electrical and Mechanical
"The new art gallery in Walsall is world class. A building of around 30,000 sq ft and it cost £21 million. And what happened to the electrical installation? It went to the bidder who was persuaded to give an uneconomic price for the job. Is price really all that matters? I really don't believe so. But it is bloody important. So how are we going to reduce price and make a profit?

"We are going to prefabricate more of the project, make installations functional, do more of the work that was traditionally specialist, reduce the number of components and types of products we use in a project. We are going to think more and work less. In short, we'll have to make it cheaper in terms of both new cost and lifetime cost, include all the systems, make it better and make it faster."

Simon Bartley, C J Bartley & Co
"In answering the question 'what does the future hold', my glib answer would be 'even more of the same'. However I can select one challenge and one opportunity.

"The opportunity is to improve the image of the industry to one that encourages young people, of both sexes and of all racial groups, to see electrical contracting and the construction industry as a worthwhile, safe and well rewarded career.

"The challenge is to persuade all clients, be they main contractor or end user, that the work done by electrical contractors, and building services engineers, is worth more than the pittance they aim to pay for it today."

David Harrison, ABB Building Technologies
"The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) has become one of the UK Government's main instruments for delivering higher quality and more effective public services. It is anticipated that 100 new major hospital projects will be built by 2010. This will generate £1.2 billion pa worth of construction revenue. This translates to about £500 million per annum in m&e installation work. The service and replacement revenue stream will build up to approximately £200 million pa for 30 years.

There is a great business opportunity but some serious challenges too. Services that provide the best value for money over a 30-year period. They must deliver the right service quality while achieving the optimum balance between design, construction, maintenance and on-going service to give best value for money. To succeed, the PFI team must demonstrate the value it gives to the public sector, and must win the contracts against strong competition. Furthermore, once appointed the pressure is on is to deliver in the shortest possible time."

John Steward, Farebrother Group
"As we stand at the beginning of a new millennium and in particular consider the challenges which lie ahead for the ECA and its members, it is interesting to spare a moment to the aspirations of the first contractors who joined the Association 100 years ago.

Their expectations of the new century must have brought with them trepidation and ponderous fears of what lay ahead. They, for their part, had experienced tremendous development in the years following the commercial development of electricity as a means of power and light. Only a short time ago, we ourselves were apprehensive at what havoc the Millennium Bug might reap on industry and in turn on our livelihoods.

We now look forward to what challenges the next 100 years might hold.

Our challenge is really 'managing the change'.

Investment in training of people, systems and a managed approach towards excellence in our chosen field, will guarantee our success."