Consumers can now make the most of an online Electrical Safety Register (ESR), which will provide a database of qualified contractors across the UK.

The ESR is designed to make it easier for consumers to search for registered electricians in their area, protecting those who use electricity from unsafe electrical installations.

Set up by the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) in a move to bring the electrical contracting industry together, the ESR includes details of over 33,000 contractors.

Described by Phil Buckle, director general of ESC, as the definitive database of electrical contractors, the search shows which schemes a contractor is registered with including NICEIC, ELECSA, ECA and TrustMark.

Buckle is confident the register will strengthen the industry and give positive support to the electrical safety agenda.

“By joining together with the ECA in this activity, in this partnership, the charity can make the ESR the definitive place to find an electrician,” he said.

“That will certainly help our electrical safety agenda because we can get out there and truly help the public, make sure they get a properly qualified electrician in and not someone who could leave them in an unsafe situation.”

From April 2013, the NICEIC and ELECSA will also be operated by the new partnership organisation, Certsure, owned by ECA and the ESC, giving the industry a stronger voice to government and stakeholders on relevant issues.

Certsure will make commitments to NICEIC and ELECSA customers, including automatic inclusion in the register, use of the ESR banner, provision of customer service, and active promotion of contractors in the marketplace.