With another lockdown announced in response to the rising Coronavirus infections, the Joint Industry Board (JIB) has issued a reminder of the benefits a JIB membership can bring. During the first lockdown period in March the JIB worked swiftly to implement flexible and supportive measures to ensure jobs and businesses were fully protected. The JIB, however, carries out ongoing work in a number of areas to assist in enabling a secure and healthy industry for the longer term.
The JIB’s membership comprises the UK’s largest electrical contractors to the SMEs who make up the bulk of its members. Together, they benefit from a ‘one-stop-shop’, which takes care of employment matters, a comprehensive health and benefits scheme, and unique access to markets other contractors cannot reach.
Popular membership benefits include:
Dispute Resolution – The JIB acts as an impartial ‘go-between’ when disputes arise, covering grievances on unfair dismissal, underpayments of wages, holiday pay and redundancy. Free to JIB members, this type of mediation can cost up to £800 per day from other providers.
Skills Development Fund – Employees of JIB member companies can benefit from the JIB Skills Development Fund. Support is available to cover up to 75% of eligible courses, which are usually those which are over and above the requirements of JIB grading.
JIB Benefits Scheme – Employee benefits can have a positive effect on company productivity and morale, while health insurance can reduce the impact of sickness absence on the bottom line. Providing a benefit such as private medical insurance can help with the acquisition and retention of staff, helping employees feel valued and motivated.
Nick Woollacott, Labour Manager for Boulting Ltd, a JIB member, said: “JIB membership helps us to stand out as a quality employer and the JIB benefits package demonstrates to our people and the outside world that we value them. The JIB brings stability to the industry by implementing good work practices and setting standards. It sets benchmarks to assess competencies that ensures the workforce is suitably skilled, it also promotes personal professional development that encourages all members to adopt and learn new skills and practices. Furthermore the JIB team are always at the end of a phone providing support when we need it.”
Jay Parmar, JIB Chief Executive, said: “Our members range from companies with one qualified electrician (often the business owner) and one apprentice, setting their employment arrangements on a sound footing, through to some of the largest players in the industry, who benefit from recognised Gold Standard employment practices. Whatever your company’s size, JIB membership offers electrical contractors not only an industry recognised employment package but also a range of cost savings and other benefits designed to support your business.”
