The majority of qualified electricians would rather choose quality over cost, the latest Select survey has revealed.

While it is commonly believed that ‘the most important consideration in business is cost’, this theory has been disproved by a survey of electricians carried out by Select (the campaigning trade body for the electrical sector).

Instead of cost, the survey revealed that the overriding factors in the electrical sector are service and quality of work.

Select MD, Newell McGuiness, revealed the survey results at the Electrical Distributors’ Association’s ‘Regional Business Forum’, which is representative of the UK’s electrical wholesale distribution industry.

The forum, which took place last month at the Glynhill Hotel in Renfrew, presented the results of Select’s survey and highlighted the electrical industry’s message that its members have more concern with doing things properly as opposed to doing them cheaply.

Mr McGuiness said that it was a breath of fresh air for under-pressure businesses to continue to insist on quality as their main concern, rather than just cutting costs in all areas, therefore showing that the industry will continue to put customers’ interests first.

When deciding on a specific manufacturer, the survey showed that 65% of electricians made decisions based on quality, in comparison to just 19% who based decisions on cost.

Another consideration that scored highly on the survey was availability, with 51%, which indicates that the respondents are eager to deliver services efficiently and promptly to their customers, while after sales service similarly scored as an important consideration.

In addition, electricians said they are more inclined to purchase a product if it was made in the UK, which indicates their preference for quality goods and support of local manufacturers.

Select’s Head of Membership and Communications, Alan Wilson, said at the EDA Forum that the results of this survey make clearly show that qualified electricians are seeking quality products in order to offer customers the best possible service.