13 minute read
Industry News
ECA URGES GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE EV CHARGER POINT ‘POSTCODE LOTTERY’
The ECA is calling on the government and local authorities in Britain to urgently address the postcode lottery of public charging points, and for urgent investment in a nationwide charge point network to keep pace with the growing number of electric vehicles on our roads.
Annual car sales data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show more electric cars were registered in 2021 than in the previous five years combined.
Meanwhile, data gathered by ECA via a Freedom of Information request in late 2021 revealed over half (52%) of local authorities in the UK said electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs) are prohibitively expensive to install, and almost two thirds (66%) of local authorities do not have any plans to roll out EVCPs at all.
While some local authorities in London and the South East have invested heavily in EVCP infrastructure, many others across the country, including Wales and the North, do not have enough EVCPs to support the booming EV industry.
ECA CEO Steve Bratt says: “Electric vehicles continue to pull ahead as the front runner for the future of UK transport, as we make the journey to net zero carbon. The electrotechnical industry has the people with the skills to make the transition to net zero a reality, but that can’t happen without financial backing from the government.” ECA, eca.co.uk
JTL has recently launched a brand new animation to showcase the importance of Functional Skills – a set of capabilities that are designed to enable learners to develop confidence and fluency in maths and English. JTL’s forward-thinking animation demonstrates what could go wrong when an apprentice does not obtain their Functional Skills qualification.
Functional Skills is an essential part of every apprenticeship program for learners who do not have GCSE Grade 4, as without prior achievement of maths and English qualifications, apprentices are unable to sit their End Point Assessment. The new animation showcases a range of scenarios that could occur when an apprentice fails to gain the relevant knowledge from the course; the consequences could result in anything from incorrect job quotations to serious personal injuries.
In order to complete the Functional Skills qualification, employers need to allow their apprentices time away from work to access the remote learning plan, which focuses on practicality. The animation focuses on the importance of employers supporting learners to complete the qualification. It is recommended that apprentices complete their Functional Skills in year one of a four-year apprenticeship as the skills gained impact positively on future assessments and real-life work situations, which will in turn meet the needs of their employer.
HOUSING SAFETY AND WELLBEING TASKFORCE LAUNCHED BY AICO
Aico has announced the official launch of the Housing Safety & Wellbeing Taskforce, which took place online on 13 January 2022.
The Housing Safety & Wellbeing Taskforce will bring together partners from the public, private, and charitable sector across all nations of the UK to discuss the key issues involved in creating safer homes and making recommendations for action.
The Taskforce framework will enable all involved to work together collaboratively, and the organisation will be strictly non-commercial and non-partisan, committed to promoting a holistic approach to housing safety and resident wellbeing.
There will be six strands to the work of the Taskforce, each with their own Ambassador to lead the discussions and co-ordinate activity: Health & Wellbeing, Net Zero & Decarbonisation, Resident Engagement, Housing Quality, Fire & Carbon Monoxide Safety, and Fuel Poverty.
At the launch event, the Housing Safety & Wellbeing Taskforce unveiled a study from CEBR (Centre for Economics & Business Research) which combines a statistical analysis of fire incidence across the UK, a summary of the relevant legislation, and a holistic examination of the human and economic impact of fire, based on official data and a specially commissioned YouGov survey.
The study demonstrates that the rate of reduction in fire incidents, running in tandem with new regulations, has slowed in recent years. With estimated annual costs of residential fires now exceeding £1billion, the research then goes on to examine in detail the potential impact and cost savings associated with tighter restrictions. Aico, aico.co.uk
JTL Training, jtltraining.com
KNIGHTSBRIDGE SUPPORTS DOTS TO HELP THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY
Dogs on the Street (DOTS) – the charity that supports homeless people with dogs across the UK – has received additional support this New Year thanks to a donation from Knightsbridge.
DOTS is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit charity dedicated to supporting dog owners in the homeless community. Homelessness can be a lonely, alienating experience for those it affects, but the companionship of a dog can help alleviate some of the immense pressures that these individuals face on a daily basis.
DOTS has over 700 clients under its care, and also operates a four-acre sanctuary where it cares for over 50 animals currently separated from their owners owing to illness, temporary accommodation issues or other circumstances.
Knightsbridge is closely aligned with homelessness charities and is donating £10,000 from its December Weatherproof range sales to DOTS. The donation will go to help support, among other things, DOTS’s fully equipped mobile veterinary surgery plus the provision of essential items such as medicines and food. ML Accessories, mlaccessories.co.uk
TOOLSTATION RAISES OVER £500,000 FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT
Bridgwater based Toolstation raised over £500,000 for its designated company charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, in 2021.
Teams from across the Toolstation business, including those at its distribution centre, head office and its 500+ branches, took part in a variety of team fundraising initiatives throughout the year to reach this record figure. Store teams from the Kent and Essex region carried out a virtual trip to the North Pole, walking over 8,480,000 steps, while three directors from its head office ran the London Marathon.
Other examples of fundraising activities carried out last year included leg waxing, team walking events, fancy dress days, ice-bucket challenges, sponsored gaming marathons and supporting Macmillan’s Coffee Morning in September. These were all supported by asking for customer donations in store during the Easter and August bank holidays.
Toolstation’s Managing Director, James Mackenzie says: “The generosity of our customers and colleagues is remarkable. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on Macmillan Cancer Support’s efforts at a time when people living with cancer need our support more than ever. Our fundraising will support the charity in its efforts to be there for everyone living with or affected by cancer.” Toolstation, toolstation.com
NEW GUIDE FOR ELECTRICIANS LOOKING TO GROW INTO THE EV MARKET
UK Power Networks and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) have released a guide to the connections process for installers interested in moving into the growing electric vehicle market.
The network operator estimates that only a small proportion of electricians in its patch are currently trained to install chargers for customers. Latest figures show around 4,500 registered installers operate in the area, with as many as 2.7 million EVs forecasted by 2028. The guide aims to demystify the process for potential new installers so they can begin connecting chargers. The document features quick access to a range of useful information, including installation processes, technical considerations, earthing arrangements, and inspection requirements.
The guide takes installers through the nine different types of electricity supplies that can be used for EV charge points on UK Power Networks’ network, including help on how to install ‘vehicle to grid’ (V2G) chargers which release car battery energy into the local grid. It also features details on regulations, permissions, and safety rules helping installers stay safe and compliant at work. UK Power Networks, ukpowernetworks.co.uk
Help Inside the Hard Hat, the latest awareness campaign from the Lighthouse Construction Charity goes on tour on 7 February for a week, to raise awareness of the charitable support services available to the construction industry, allied trades and their families.
With the mission that “No construction worker or their family should be alone in a crisis” the tour aims to deliver the message directly to frontline workers along with information about the crucial services that the charity provides.
The five-day tour will visit various locations across the Midlands from 7th-11th February. The charity is asking companies and sites to contact them if they would like a visit from the ‘Hard Hat’ tour team to deliver the charity’s messages directly to those that might need support and there will also be a great range of prizes and freebies up for grabs.
In the UK, two construction workers take their own lives every working day and stress, anxiety and depression account for a fifth of all work-related illnesses. The charity’s Help Inside the Hard Hat campaign has already helped to raise vital awareness of poor mental health within the industry. Lighthouse Construction Charity, lighthouseclub.org
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UK GOVERNMENT EXPANDS HEAT NETWORKS TO POWER HOMES WITH GREEN ENERGY
UK homes, university residences and public buildings will benefit from cleaner, more affordable heat and energy, thanks to £19m government funding to further expand Great Britain’s network of low carbon heating.
The £19m investment will go towards setting up five new heat networks, two in Bristol, and three across Liverpool, London and Worthing, providing households and workplaces with more affordable, reliable heating that offers a low carbon, more cost-effective alternative to installing individual, energy-intensive, heating solutions such as gas boilers.
Heat networks supply heat from a central source to consumers, such as large rivers and heat from sewers via a network of underground pipes carrying hot water, like a giant central heating system serving many buildings, and supplies it through pipes to homes and businesses.
The funding comes from the government’s £320m Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP), which supports the development of heat networks across England and Wales. Government-funded heat networks currently being developed include Leeds City County’s 16km district heat network, Cardiff Town Heat Network in South Wales, spreading across the Cardiff Bay area, and Newcastle University’s District Heat Network within its city centre campus. UK Government, gov.uk
NEW NAME, BUT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COLLECTIVE VOICE REMAINS INSPIRING
After nearly two years dedicated to steering the Scottish building sector through the worst crisis in its history, the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has changed its name to reflect its expanded remit and ongoing collaborative vision for the future.
The unique alliance of trade associations and professional bodies has been rebranded as the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV), putting more emphasis on its shared focus and willingness to tackle the many other issues currently facing the construction industry.
The move has been hailed as a ‘natural evolution’ for the body, whose range of work now includes Brexit, net zero, supply chain, employment and skills, project bank accounts and the launch of a dedicated Green Home Festival in 2022.
Alan Wilson, CICV Chair and Managing Director of electrical trade association SELECT, comments: “The New Year is a time for new beginnings and this change of name is a logical step for a body which has exceeded expectations in every department.”
The body has also created a new position of Vice Chair, with the inaugural post being filled by Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF). Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV), cicvforum.co.uk
SELECT WELCOMES ORGANISATIONS AS FOUNDER MEMBERS OF ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP SCHEME
SELECT has launched a new Associate Membership scheme that will give manufacturers and service providers the chance to become part of Scotland’s largest construction trade association.
Eight leading industry organisations have already signed up as founder members of the new scheme, rolled out by the campaigning trade body for the electrical sector in Scotland.
As well as offering Associate Members a wide range of benefits, the initiative will also allow them to build beneficial relationships with SELECT’s 1,260 member businesses, who between them have an annual turnover of around £1bn.
The eight founding members of the new SELECT scheme are: • Aico – European market leader in home life safety • Flexel – manufacturer of innovative electric heating systems and accessories • Linian – innovative UK manufacturer of cable-fixing products • Luceco Group – global manufacturer and distributor of high-quality electrical products • Megger – industry leader in electrical test and measurement • simPRO – leading job management software solution for service, project and maintenance contractors • Tala Training – leading provider of health and safety training and consultancy services • Thorn Lighting – internationally leading supplier of integral lighting solutions
Iain Mason, Director of Membership and Communications at SELECT says: “The response to our new category of membership has been extremely positive, with these leading enterprises enthusiastically signing up well before the official launch.
“We are delighted that so many well-respected industry names have already joined us and we look forward to welcoming many more in the weeks and months to come.”
MOVERS & SHAKERS…
IDEAL Industries has promoted Mike Cullom to the role of UK Sales Manager. Mike has worked as a sales manager for IDEAL Industries for nearly three years, with responsibility for the Northern region. His new remit will build on his knowledge of the company’s wide-ranging product portfolio and the electrical market to include responsibility for the company’s sales across the UK.
CENTIEL UK has welcomed Tim Ng as Sales Engineer for hardware to the company’s expanding team. Louis McGarry Sales and Marketing Director, CENTIEL UK confirms: “Tim has a huge amount of experience specifying, installing, and commissioning a wide range of UPS systems. This knowledge will benefit both our existing and new clients, enabling Tim to provide trusted advice as an engineer in the optimal design and delivery of critical power applications for a variety of facilities.”
ESP has made two new appointments within the sales team to strengthen its support for existing customers and continue to develop new business opportunities. Gary Sealey is the new Area Sales Manager for the South West region, while Adam Chalkley has made the move from Scolmore Group company, Unicrimp, to take up the position of Area Sales Manager for the North West region.
Marshall-Tufflex has welcomed Martin Russell as its new Group Product Manager. Martin will be responsible for driving new product development at Marshall-Tufflex, as the business continues to strengthen its portfolio of high-quality cable management solutions.
