The Scottish government is to recognise officially that member firms of Select, the body for the electrotecnical industry, are the sector's true professionals with a right to the trust of the public and their commercial clients.
The seal of approval is being awarded to all firms with approved Certifiers of Construction and officially endorses the culmination of Select's long-term commitment to the highest possible standards.
The historic development has the potential to transform the perception of the skilled tradesmen and technicians within the Select family and will exponentially increase the opportunities available to qualifying businesses, including those who have driven forward the green agenda of micro-renewable technologies.
The award is being made under Building Standards legislation and will entitle all Select members who are approved certifiers to bear a brand new government logo on communications literature, websites and as highly visible stickers for company vehicles.
Alick Smith, president of Select, said: "The opportunity to carry the government logo has been hard earned by those who have made the grade. It represents another, enormously valuable string to the bow of the skilled entrepreneurs in Select companies.
"It will become truly meaningful as Select member companies take every opportunity to ensure that all building warrant work is signed off with a Certificate of Construction"
Bill Dodds, head of building standards at the Scottish government, said the award was designed to make a real difference to Scotland's built environment.
He said: "This award reinforces the intention of Scottish ministers to raise building standards throughout Scotland. Through its use, the skills and professionalism of all approved certifiers will be more visible to the general public and within the construction industry itself."
Select managing director Newell McGuiness said: "This is a momentous day for our organisation and its member companies. Earning the right for certifiers to bear the Scottish government logo is right up there with the greatest contributions Select has made to the public good in its 110-year history.
"It enables householders and other clients to unambiguously identify properly qualified professionals, and so will raise safety standards yet further.
"I rank it alongside our commitment to driving up industry skills, our passion for our apprenticeship system, our partnership with the Unite union through the Scottish Joint Industry Board and, significantly, the legislation that started it all with the introduction of the Building Standards System in 2005."
