Most of the work of the electrical contracting industry is derived from supplying the various sectors of the construction industry, namely housing, commercial, industrial and non-commercial building, infrastructure, repair and maintenance, which has steadily recovered from the deep recession of the early 1990s. Electrical contracting generally includes all the design, installation and repair of electrical engineering equipment which supplies power, lighting, control and communication systems to domestic, commercial, industrial, medical, educational and other establishments. It is the second biggest specialist trade among all the firms involved in supplying the construction industry, with a range of essential services.
Employment varies from the one man self-employed electrician to firms employing hundreds.
Prospects for the industry are closely tied to the fortunes of the construction industry, whether for new work or repair and maintenance. The general revival in the economy over several years has generated greater investment in housing, commercial and industrial buildings, public buildings and in the infrastructure. Although construction is a cyclical industry, and it would now possibly be due for a downturn in business, the revival has been sustained for a longer period by some major infrastructure developments in transport, a housing boom in the South East, new building in some city centres, and building work connected with the Millennium festivities. A greater contribution can be expected from private investment in public services, especially railways and the water utilities which need to spend more heavily on their assets to improve their operational standards. Despite this additional investment, it is anticipated by Key Note that as demand for electrical contracting services will continue to closely parallel the construction industry, around the year 2000, the pace of new developments will slacken considerably.