Sharon Miller, the newly appointed Managing Director Designate of SELECT, has issued a direct challenge to Scotland's political leaders to prioritise public safety in their upcoming election manifestos.

As she prepares to succeed current Managing Director Alan Wilson later this year, Ms Miller has pledged to intensify the association's long-standing campaign for the statutory regulation of the electrical profession.

In a formal appeal to party leaders ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May 2026, Ms Miller expressed her commitment to securing "protection of title" for qualified electricians. She warned that the current lack of regulation allows anyone to claim the title of electrician regardless of their training, creating a significant and avoidable risk to the public.

"Like many people, I once assumed there was a regulatory system in place to ensure that anyone carrying out electrical work was properly qualified," Ms Miller said. "The reality is that anyone who claims they can wire a plug can call themselves an electrician. Yet in unqualified hands, electricity can be dangerous and cause serious fire risks."

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A Modern Necessity for Net Zero The call for reform comes at a critical time as Scotland accelerates its transition to net zero. Ms Miller noted that the nation's increasing reliance on electricity for heating and transport brings new hazards, citing a seven-fold increase in fires involving lithium-ion batteries between 2018 and 2024.

SELECT's ongoing campaign highlights several key issues:

- Public Safety: Ensuring only those with verified technical competence can perform electrical work.

- Consumer Protection: Providing a clear way for the public to identify qualified professionals in a marketplace often cluttered with unverified schemes.

- Economic Resilience: Supporting the thousands of SMEs that make up the backbone of the electrotechnical sector.

Ms Miller criticised the slow pace of legislative progress over the last century, pointing out that even following the Grenfell tragedy, reforms focused primarily on cladding rather than the electrical faults that frequently trigger fires.

"Time and again, politicians have agreed that 'something must be done', but little has changed," she added. "SELECT is committed to working with partners, policymakers and the wider industry to achieve meaningful regulation. Together, we can build a safer electrotechnical industry that the public can trust and one of which we can all be proud."

In addition to writing to party leaders, SELECT representatives will spend several days campaigning at the Scottish Parliament next month to encourage MSPs to join their "Wall of Support" for the profession.