Gas Safe News

FROM THE EDITOR

Comment

Spring is here, the days are longer, and April feels like the start of a return to a more normal world after an unimaginable year. Millions of Brits have now received their vaccine against Covid-19, and the shops (and pubs!) are due to re-open soon.

But what about you? We know that many of you have been working hard throughout the pandemic, keeping people safe and warm in the homes inside which more people have spent more time than ever before, and keeping the hot water flowing so that we can all wash those hands.

We’d like you to tell us how the past year has been for you. What has been the impact? Have you been busier than ever or has it been stop-start? Have you had to shield to protect your own health or that of loved ones? What has been the effect on your business, your colleagues and your customers? What have been your biggest challenges – and how have you overcome them?

Please tell us about how the past year has affected you, and help us to shine a light on the vital work you’ve done to keep Brits safe and warm. You can share your stories with us via email at editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk

Nicki Shearer, editor

The quickest way to reach the magazine team is via email.

Gas Safe Register, PO Box 6804, Basingstoke, RG24 4NB.

Email: enquiries@gassaferegister.co.uk, register@gassaferegister.co.uk or technical@gassaferegister.co.uk Managing editor: Scott Darroch scott.darroch@gassaferegister.co.uk Editor: Nicki Shearer editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk News: Jennie Ward news@registeredgasengineer.co.uk Publisher: Peter McCreary publisher@registeredgasengineer.co.uk Technical consultants: Gary Aymes, Carl Banister, David Smith, Jonathan Stirling Production: Mark Turpin Advertising enquiries only: Ian Carter ian@rgemagazine.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Gas Safe Register. The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to it at its absolute discretion and without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. ABC membership approved 19 March, 2009. Calls to phone numbers starting 084 and 087 cost up to 7p per minute plus your service provider’s charge.

Registered Gas Engineer is written, designed and published by The Team on behalf of Gas Safe Register. 30 Park Street, London, SE1 9EQ

CIRCULATION: Jan-Dec 2020 77,332

What does Gas Safety Week do for you?

It’s never too early to start planning for Gas Safety Week. Here we talk to some of the people and organisations that really throw themselves into supporting our industry’s biggest annual campaign to find out why they do it and what they get out of it.

Ibrahim (second right): ‘We wanted to create a different message’

Ibrahim Tural, gas engineer, Real Boiler Servicing, Enfield

Ibrahim Tural is owner of Real Boiler Servicing, based in Enfield. When he’s not fitting boilers, Ibrahim can often be found handing out flyers and promoting gas safety in his local community. Over the years, he has taken stalls at fêtes, markets and county shows, and has encouraged local DJs and cheerleaders to get involved.

“We used to go all out with balloons, banners, costumes, performers, bouncy castles and even an F1 simulator,” Ibraham says. “Sometimes talking about gas safety can be a little doom and gloom, but we wanted to create a different message – to get people in a relaxed state where they’re having fun, so they’ll be more receptive.”

Many of the competition prizes Ibrahim has given away are donated by manufacturers, but Ibrahim has funded the rest of the work himself. As a sole trader running his own business, this can be challenging, but he believes the message is important.

He says: “The Gas Safety Week message is very broad and important to everyone, not just people who have gas in their own homes. It may be that someone who doesn’t have gas might have kids in rented accommodation who do, or maybe a neighbour or elderly person nearby – gas safety affects us all because we’re all part of the same community.”

Last year, the impact of the pandemic meant that Ibrahim moved his gas safety messages online, sharing information and running competitions on social media.

Ibrahim has seen the benefits to his own business of being a supporter. “Supporting Gas Safety Week has given my business a presence in the community that I would have had to spend £100,000s in advertising to achieve – it’s been phenomenal,” he says.

“I’ve been in the local press talking about gas safety. The better the business does, the more I can do to support Gas Safety Week with bigger events that benefit everyone.”

What does Gas Safety Week do for you?

Worcester Bosch Phoenix Natural Gas

13-19 September 2021

Worcester Bosch has been a long-time supporter of Gas Safety Week. Every September, Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support, takes to the airwaves and spends a day being interviewed for radio stations up and down the country to spread the word about the importance of gas safety.

Martyn says: “In the run-up to and during Gas Safety Week we make sure there are banners on our website and publish a lot of articles promoting gas safety, but the radio day is definitely the pinnacle. During the interviews we talk about the importance of getting your appliances checked and serviced, why it’s so important to use a Gas Safe registered engineer, and where to find one.”

Each year, Martyn carries out around 20 radio interviews, which together reach around 1 million listeners across the country. Ahead of Gas Safety Week, Worcester Bosch also carries out research with around 1,000 people to find out how often they have their boiler serviced, as well as the answers to other simple gas safety questions. These answers form the basis of the regional radio interviews.

Martyn adds: “It’s great to be able to say what percentage of people in the North-west of England, for example, have their boiler serviced each year, compared with other regions – it really helps to get people’s attention.

“We also take the opportunity to remind people that they need an annual service to keep boiler warranties valid – it’s something that many don’t realise.” Phoenix Natural Gas supplies natural gas to around 340,000 properties in Northern Ireland. During previous Gas Safety Weeks, the company has held a series of regional roadshows in shopping centres and other busy areas, all to promote gas safety and make consumers aware of the need to have their gas appliances checked regularly.

Communications manager Gillian Orr says: “Gas Safety Week provides an important platform to raise the profile of gas safety with consumers, and to highlight the additional safety features of natural gas when compared to other fuels.

“As a network operator, connecting thousands of new customers each year, we are committed to ensuring that consumers continue to enjoy all the benefits of natural gas safely. With frauds and scams on the rise, it is also a vital reminder to consumers [to use] the Gas Safe Register.”

The roadshows couldn’t take place last year but Phoenix was still determined to continue to support. “With more people spending time at home, we felt it was really important that we continued to support Gas Safe Week and engaged with consumers through virtual channels,” says Gilliant. “We shared tips on how to stay gas safe every day, with a focus on helping customers stay safe and well at home.

“Consumer engagement is at the heart of our Gas Safety Week activity and, this year, we will be working with a range of consumer organisations and representative bodies to ensure we reach as many consumers as possible.”

Paul Hull, gas engineer, The Commercia Group, London

Gas engineer Paul Hull is owner of The Commercia Group, and one of the founders of the Gas Safety Superheroes – a non-profit social enterprise initiative that aspires to raise awareness of gas safety. For five years the Superheroes initiative has used industry events and social media to spread the word, creating well-known industry campaigns including #RegardtheCard and #SiteforSoreInstalls.

Paul says: “I really believe it’s important to raise awareness of the industry, and of us as registered engineers – that’s why we support Gas Safety Week. I know people say gas safety should be for the whole year, but Gas Safety Week gives us that moment to raise our profile and let consumers know they should use the Register.”

Last year, the pandemic put a stop to the events that the Gas Safety Superheroes usually attend, but they carried on supporting online.

Paul is hoping to be able to be able to meet people again. He says: “I really missed it last year when we couldn’t get out and make the most of Gas Safety Week. Previously we’ve run a different online campaign each day of the week, and we’ve also created online videos and infographics supporting gas safety, which went down really well. We’ll definitely get

Pledge your support now for Gas Safety Week 2021 to stay up to date on how you can be part of the annual national safety campaign.

www.gassafetyweek.co.uk

involved again this year.”

He says it’s important to share industry knowledge, both for the public and for other engineers who are just entering the industry. “So many people are retiring from plumbing and heating. Their knowledge is being lost and when it’s gone, it’s gone – it’s such a drain on the industry,” he says.

“This industry has served me well, and I just want to leave it in better shape than I found it.”