Contents

OCTOBER 2020 VOLUME 58 ISSUE 8

Editor’s Viewpoint by Chris Jones

Unskilled competition

With no end to the coronavirus crisis in sight, and the unavoidable consequences for the global economy, it’s inevitable that a number of companies have looked to reduce their ƒŋũĴĕŋũóā̍¦Ğāb̪ŭŽłāĿťķŋƘĿāłŶƩ ėŽũāŭÖũāťũāùĢóŶāùŶŋũĢŭā ŭĢėłĢƩ óÖłŶķƘ̇ƒĢŶĞŶĞŋŭāƒĞŋāÖũłÖķĢƑĢłėĢłŶĞāũāŶÖĢķÖłù hospitality industries particularly vulnerable. Part of the government’s response has been to urge people to retrain and learn new skills. Some of those out of work will seek to access the relatively secure world of IT and computer programming, but many others will try to turn their hands to more practical skills – thus anyone who currently earns a living in the heating and plumbing trade may very soon be having to contend with an increase in local competition.

Earlier this year, the CIPHE issued a warning that the āóŋłŋĿĢóóķĢĿÖŶāƒÖŭũĢťāĕŋũÖłĢłƪŽƗŋĕũŋėŽāŶũÖĢłāũŭÖłù rogue training courses, as many of those who have been made redundant will view a building-related trade as an attractive prospect. With no regulations to prevent them from doing ŋŶĞāũƒĢŭā̇ŶĞāũāƒĢķķÖķŭŋðāŶĞŋŭāƒĞŋƒĢķķðāĞÖťťƘŶŋŋƦ āũ their ‘general handyman’ services, without necessarily bothering to sign up for any courses.

This month’s cover story highlights that many householders continue to view professional tradespeople as ‘cowboys’, and an increase in the number of unskilled operators is unlikely to change that perception. Checkatrade, the online directory of vetted and recommended tradespeople, has launched a social media campaign to counteract such damaging misconceptions. ÂāƒĢŭĞŶĞāóÖĿťÖĢėłƒāķķ̇ðŽŶŶĞāƘóŋŽķùðāƩ ėĞŶĢłėÖłŽťĞĢķķ battle.

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Special Features 23

Gas Boilers 35

Electric Heating 41

Tools & Workwear

Point of View Benchmark The importance of using genuine spare parts and how installers can address safety concerns

Annabel Stones

Tools & Workwear

Regulars

05 Contents 06 News Review 13 People on the Move 13 Horror Show 14 Letters 16 Point of View 17 CIPHE Infographic 18 Business Matters 20 Training Update

Why electric heating systems are ideal for high rise developments, and the latest advances in technology Products which could prove to be a useful addition to any professional

48 Competition

Another chance to win Daikin’s prize bundle 34 Products in Action

46 Product Spotlight 47 Product News 48 Competition 49 Information Centre 49 Directory 51 Training & Assessments

Contributors

Rod Hickmott

Can the approval process for products that need to comply with water regulations be improved? Billy Wilgar

23

How the launch of a new Benchmark ÖťťƒĢķķðāłāƩ ŶĢłŭŶÖķķāũŭðƘŭÖƑĢłė time and reducing paperwork. installer’s toolbox

44

Why investment in good workwear ƒĢķķũāƪ āóŶƘŋŽũĞĢėĞŭŶÖłùÖũùŭÖłù help to build customer trust.

PUBLISHING TEAM Managing Editor Chris Jones Assistant Editor Carol Hitchcock Publishers Chris Evans / Russ Jackson Southern Advertisement Manager Nathan Wood 'PEWWMƼIH7EPIW Sharon Nutter Administration and Production Helen Green Circulation Manager Sue Bethell Design Consultant Tim Plummer FREE SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES: Tel: 01889 577222 Email: circulation@phamnews.co.uk

29,033 ABC Audited circulation Jan-Dec 2019

The Essential Magazine for Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement Professionals Incorporating: Plumbing & Heating News Plumbing & Heating Equipment News Published by: Pinede Publishing Ltd 16/18 Hawkesyard Hall, Armitage Park, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1PU Tel: 01889 577222 Email: info@phamnews.co.uk www.phamnews.co.uk )HMXSVMEP 7SYXLIVR7EPIW3ƾGI PHAM News, 1b Station Square, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1DP Tel: 01525 716143 Editorial Email: editor@phamnewsedit.co.uk Sales Email: nathan@phamnews.co.uk 2SVXLIVR3ƾGI PHAM News, Argyle Business Centre, 8 Leicester Street, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0EZ Tel: 01704 501090 Email: russ@phamnews.co.uk ISSN 1368-9061 Printed by: Precision Colour Printing Ltd. Origination by: Design & Media Solutions