14 minute read
Industry News
from ECN July 2021
SUPPORTING ‘BRIGHT SPARKS’ OF THE FUTURE
Carl Kammerling International remains fully committed to supporting the next generation of professional electricians, and was delighted to receive a Business Recognition 2021 award for its work with Leicester College. The Bright Sparks by CKI college sponsorship scheme began in 2003, and has provided Leicester College with quality hand tools and training resources to help students develop their skills.
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Bright Sparks by CKI has a great future and this year exciting new elements will be added, allowing students to benefit even more during their studies.
Since it began, Carl Kammerling International has supported over 50,000 apprentice electricians and now provides 60 colleges across the UK and Ireland with free professional standard CK tools for use in their workshops. The Bright Sparks by CKI initiative continues to flourish and supports the continued development of students whose aim is to become the best professional electricians within the industry, whilst also providing and promoting the importance of the use of professional standard hand tools.
This year, Bright Sparks by CKI is set to be further enhanced, to enable students to get the most out of the scheme. There will be a strong focus on educational aspects, which will continue to provide CK hand tools for practical lessons, with the addition of knowledge designed to support theory-based lessons. A series of educational posters will be available, as well as full access to Productwise, a great online learning resource packed full of useful information. Carl Kammerling International, carlkammerling.com
HOME IMPROVEMENTS WERE THE BACKBONE OF BRITISH RELATIONSHIPS LAST YEAR
Over the course of the pandemic, home was very much where the heart was forced to stay, and as a result of multiple lockdowns, house renovations have steadily become Britain’s favourite pastime. Using this as an opportunity to improve their surroundings and create more internal differentiation, 43% of Brits found that their home improvement project helped them with their mental health during the pandemic.
In new national research by Powered Now, 25% of Brits agreed that as a result of the pandemic, DIY and home improvements have become their favourite hobbies, with a further 37% of Brits finding that completing a home improvement with their partner made their relationship stronger.
The research also highlights that Brits have spent an average of £2,011 per person on home refurbishments, with the total spent by British consumers on home improvements amounting to £110.3bn, signalling an increase in expenditure by 29.7%.
Further signifying the importance of home improvements to our mental health, Brits have detailed in the research that tradespeople were the only services that they hired in periods of lockdown. With 34% of Brits agreeing to this, the desire for tradespeople was so extreme that 37% of Brits said that the builder they wanted to use was too busy to do the work that they wanted during the pandemic. Powered Now, powerednow.com
ECA CALLS FOR A NETWORK OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINTS
According to recently released survey figures, just over half (51%) of NHS Trusts have now installed EV Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) for their staff, patients and the wider community.
The ECA has welcomed the uptake of EVCI by the Trusts as a positive move towards net zero carbon, but according to ECA’s Energy advisor, Luke Osborne, “We need a coordinated plan for EV charging to help the public sector and the UK to achieve its decarbonisation targets. Hospitals are integral to their communities, so their plans must reach out more widely to include the wider road network.”
The latest data was obtained through a FOI request by power management business Eaton, issued to 173 NHS Foundation Trusts across the UK, with 142 of Trusts responding.
While half (51%) of NHS Trusts already report EVCI on-site, a further 43% plan to install charging facilities on-site within the next five years. Just 6% of NHS trusts had no plans to introduce EVCI.
However, when asked about the impact of EVCI on their existing electrical infrastructure, half (53%) of NHS Trusts flagged that they would need more electrical capacity, while two thirds (41%) said it may incur additional energy costs through greater peak demand. Just a quarter (24%) saw potential to create new revenue streams from new EV charging facilities.
The FOI also revealed that very few NHS trusts (11%) are currently selling energy to the grid through energy storage technologies, including vehicle to grid. One fifth (23%) plan to use energy storage to start selling energy to the grid in the next five years, but two-thirds (65%) have no plans to do so. ECA, eca.co.uk
SEVEN IN 10 WELCOME THE PROSPECT OF HYBRID HEATING
Almost three quarters of people are interested in low carbon hybrid heating – but comfort and reliability are ‘must haves’, new research shows.
The results are from more than 1,000 survey responses gathered by electricity network operator, UK Power Networks, and gas network, Wales & West Utilities, as part of their HyCompact project. The trial, which runs until March 2022, is researching consumers’ attitudes and live testing low carbon hybrid heating systems in UK homes. Hybrid heating systems work by switching between gas and electricity to guarantee lowest cost and carbon emissions.
The research also suggests people will only buy low carbon heating systems if they are cheaper, more reliable, or easier to install than conventional systems. It found 72% of respondents say hybrid heating systems are either moderately or very appealing. However, the most popular reasons for switching are comfort and reliability (both 96%), plus cheaper running costs and ease of use (both 94%).
The vast majority (85%) said they are satisfied with their current gas system, while around four in five would only consider switching if their current boiler stops working. If a breakdown happened, just over 80% would be interested in hybrid heating if it was less disruptive than installing a new gas boiler, underlining the need for low carbon systems to improve on products already on the market.
BCIA INTRODUCTION TO HVAC
The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is encouraging trades personnel and anyone who is regularly involved with building management to improve their basic knowledge of Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) with its introductory BCM00 course.
The Introduction to Building Controls and HVAC is a one-day introductory course aimed at those who do not require the full technical detail of the building controls courses BCM01-BCM06, or who are new to this area of the industry. Designed for facilities managers and estate managers, as well as electricians and other building services trades personnel who wish to become more informed in this sphere of work, the course provides full coverage of day-to-day involvement in building controls and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), but at a level that does not focus on the technical detail.
Anyone who successfully completes the BCM00 exam is eligible to apply for the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) Building Controls Associate card, provided the applicant has also completed an ECS Electrical Safety Unit Assessment and a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Assessment. A Building Controls Associate will typically be active in a support role as part of a team of Building Controls Engineers.
The BCM00 course exam and the ECS HSE Assessment can both now be taken online using the Remote Invigilation service on the ECS website, which allows delegates to take a formal ECS assessment without having to travel to a centre. Building Controls Industry Association, bcia.co.uk
MYENERGI CHARGES UP AT UK’S MOST SUSTAINABLE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
Springfield Meadows, a climate-positive, net zero development of 25 homes in Southmoor, Oxfordshire, is set to benefit from the installation of zappi EV chargers. The units are manufactured by myenergi.
Each of the 25 homes are built to Passive house standards, achieving net zero energy and going beyond net zero carbon to become climate positive. This means that more than the total embodied carbon used to manufacture and build each house has been effectively offset.
Families purchasing a property are encouraged to forego a second car and instead participate in the site’s groundbreaking electric car club. The club will provide residents with access to two fully-electric Nissan Leaf EVs, via a leasing arrangement with Gridserve, which will be charged with 100% renewable energy via the myenergi zappi units.
Jordan Brompton, co-founder and CMO of myenergi, says: “We’re thrilled to be involved with the Springfield Meadows development. The site is truly visionary, forward-thinking and exactly where we, as a society, need to be headed in terms of new housing stock.” myenergi, myenergi.com
The Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) marked its recent AGM with a new team at the top and a ringing affirmation of the vital importance of apprenticeships to the future of the electrical contracting industry in Scotland.
The annual meeting of the proactive training provider elected Scott Foley, Regional Officer at Unite the Union, as its new Chair, with John Noble, Managing Director of John Noble Electrical Contractors elected as Vice-Chair.
Mr Foley says: “I am extremely honoured to take the Chair and will endeavour to devote my best efforts to reinforcing the benefits of modern apprenticeships.
“SECTT has a vital role to play in bringing on the talent we need to ensure the viability of the industry in the future, and it is particularly encouraging that 500 apprentices were taken on in 2020-21, despite the ravages of the pandemic. Great thanks are due to employers for their unwavering support and their continued faith in today’s young people.
“If we want young people to be the professionals we would like them to be, we have to give them the tools to do the job, and SECTT has demonstrated over the years that it is uniquely positioned to deliver on that front.”
BRITISH CABLES COMPANY GAINS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WITH NETWORK RAIL
British Cables Company (BCC) has gained a five-year framework agreement to supply a range of specialist cables to Network Rail. The agreement met Network Rail’s key objective to create an industry-leading supply chain, focused on infrastructure reliability, safety and financial efficiency.
Nick Bowman, BCC’s Sales Director comments, “We are exceptionally pleased about becoming just one of three suppliers appointed to the framework, with our products supplied directly to Network Rail’s nine regional distribution centres across the UK.
“The framework requires us to supply telecoms, power, signalling and fibre cables and these will be delivered to support either quick reaction maintenance jobs or longer-term projects.” British Cables Company, britishcablescompany.com
NEXANS WILL ELECTRIFY SHETLAND’S FUTURE WITH POWER CABLE CONTRACT
Nexans has been awarded a multi-million Euro contract by SSE Renewables to supply 800km of underground cables that will make the vital power connections for the Viking Wind Farm.
The wind farm on Shetland in the North Atlantic, 170km from the coast of Scotland, is scheduled to go online in 2024. With a peak output of 443MW, it will provide enough renewable energy for almost half a million homes and play a crucial role in helping Scotland achieve its net zero targets.
The Viking Wind Farm will comprise 103 wind turbines set around the central mainland of Shetland. The 33kV underground cables supplied by Nexans will link the wind turbine arrays together and then export the power to the main substation for feeding into the interconnector that will transfer it to the UK grid.
The 650km of underground cables to be supplied by Nexans are a single core design with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation. The conductors for the inter-array cables will be aluminium. Copper will be used to carry the higher current for the export cables. Nexans is also supplying 150km of bare copper earth cable.
The cables for the Viking Wind Farm will be manufactured at the Nexans Hellas plant in Lamia, Greece and will be supplied via Nexans UK. First deliveries are scheduled for September 2021.
Nexans, nexans.com
The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) is urging adults without a Level 3 qualification to take advantage of the current funding available for industry-recognised qualifications while it remains available.
Under the government’s ‘Lifetime Skills Guarantee’ any adult aged 19 or over in England, who does not already have a Level 3 qualification, can receive free training from hundreds of colleges and training providers across the country.
The Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures and the Environment), is included in the list of funded qualifications. This qualification assesses work-based performance and leads to recognition as a qualified electrician, as an alternative route to the apprenticeship or experienced worker assessment.
Funding is also available for the Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Electrical Installation. This is a key stepping-stone on the industry approved training routes, for those who wish to continue to develop their technical knowledge before gaining work experience.
Those who complete the technical diploma must then gain work-based experience and complete the NVQ and the AM2 assessment to be recognised as a qualified electrician.
Alternatively, there are many career routes in related sectors that welcome a level of electrical knowledge, including wider building services and data cabling.
With both courses normally costing thousands of pounds to complete, the funding available will provide essential support to those looking to train or upskill to become a qualified electrician in line with the TESP approved training routes. The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership, the-esp.org.uk
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INSTRUCTORS PROGRAMME DELIVERS £5.5M OF VALUE
Building Mental Health, the CITB and the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity have published a report detailing the social value of their Mental Health First Aid Instructors Programme – an initiative to train 288 construction industry dedicated mental health first aid instructors.
The Social Value Report shows that for every £1 invested there has been £5.50 of social value to society. This amazing result is despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant that the programme had to be extended by a year. The programme achieved 99% of its target for training instructors and 166% of its target for training Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) to operate in the industry on a daily basis.
Building Mental Health was launched by a working group of construction industry leaders and experts in 2018 in response to findings published the previous year in the ‘Thriving at Work’, Stevenson/Farmer review of mental health and employers. Commissioned by the Government, the report looked into how employers could provide better support to employees, including those with poor mental health or wellbeing, to remain in and thrive at work.
The Thriving at Work review identified not only the immediate human cost of poor mental health at work, but also the knock-on impacts for society and the economy. It cited that employers are losing billions of pounds because employees are less productive, less effective, or off sick. In construction alone, stress, anxiety and depression accounts for a fifth of all work-related illness. Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, lighthouseclub.org
MOVERS & SHAKERS…
The new President of the ECA has been announced as business owner and electrical engineer, David Lewis. David joined his father’s electrical contracting business in 1981 as an apprentice, while studying at Walsall College. In 1992, after several years as a fully qualified electrician on the tools, David and his father Brian Lewis set up Chancery Contracts. In the last 29 years, the family-run business has grown considerably and now employs more than 30 electricians, improvers and apprentices.
Steve Slyne has been appointed as Customer Experience Manager for Europe for TREND Networks. In the newly created role, Steve will lead the customer service and technical support departments, ensuring distributors and end users have access to the dependable equipment, data, and support they need. His key area of focus will be on providing a frictionless point of contact and consistent high level of service for existing and potential customers, regardless of their particular needs.
A procurement specialist with more than 40 years’ experience has joined Niglon. The team’s new Purchasing Manager is Garry Cottrell, who started his career with the Post Office Factories Division – which eventually became Fujitsu Telecomms. In 1995, Garry became a buyer at security equipment firm Ademco, which was purchased by Honeywell International five years later. During his 25 years at the company, Garry worked with providers across the globe in various roles. The Purchasing Manager role will see Garry managing operations from order placement to fulfilment.
