December 2019 Newsletter

TrustMark Offers Protection To Households And Tradespeople

Following on from the recent inclusion in the ECO3 regulations, TrustMark is offering an additional level of consumer protection and trade accreditation to both householders and tradespeople looking to do any repair, maintenance or improvement work in or around the home.

In partnership with Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards, the two government organisations are delivering the ‘Trading Standards Approval’ scheme to help consumers gain confidence when looking to employ a trader. The scheme is an accreditation that reassures and protects homeowners that the firm they employ to work in their home complies with TrustMark Government-endorsed quality for workmanship, understands fair trading practices and has consumer protection as an integral part of their business.

The scheme, which is being delivered by local authorities across the UK, gives firms local reassurance with national recognition. It also provides firms with further credibility that they are reputable and have a solid trading history as customers will know they have been thoroughly checked and approved by both Trading Standards and TrustMark to use this accreditation.

Simon Ayers, CEO of TrustMark, comments: “With rising consumer expectations, homeowners are seeking higher levels of service and quality workmanship, resulting in tradespeople having to meet and deliver better standards of work and customer service for every job they do. The Trading Standards Approved scheme isn’t just another ‘badge’ to add to a firm’s website, van and marketing materials, it’s an investment offering great benefits – consumers like the added confidence when seeing businesses that have been ‘approved’ directly by Trading Standards and businesses want to provide a clear message that they can be trusted and relied on.”

Steve Ruddy, Head of Service Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards, adds: “We are keen to help residents find reputable traders to work in their homes. We are proud to work with TrustMark to provide this reassurance to residents and to support local businesses. I think it’s a great example of how organisations can work in partnership to deliver more.”

To join the scheme, firms will need to be TrustMark registered and then they will be able to apply to TrustMark to complete the necessary checks in order to gain the approved accreditation. Trading Standards will carry out a background check, and subject to passing[MME1] [g2] [g3] these safeguards, the firm will then be accredited with trading standards approved status.

The cost of becoming Trading Standards Approved through TrustMark is £90 + VAT per year and is in addition to any Scheme Provider fee.

TrustMark Offers Protection To Households And Tradespeople

BMF backs more stringent water use regulations
More stringent regulations governing personal water use are necessary if rising residential demand is to be met and managed in coming years.

That was the message from the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) to ministers in a consultation that closed just before the general election was called.

Demand for water is increasing due to societal factors, including a rising population. Supply is threatened for several reasons, including increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall, the BMF said in its response to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

DEFRA sought views on whether the current minimum standard of 125 litres per person per day for new homes in England should be changed. The BMF agreed and said the optional standard of 110 litres allowed in the Building Regulations in water-stressed areas ought to apply to all new homes.

Brett Amphlett, BMF policy and public affairs manager, said: “Consumers do not give water a second thought unless there is too much – namely floods – or too little – notably hosepipe bans. Information and advice only go so far. I suspect an unspoken belief held by many is that water is a basic right and residents do not care enough yet to change habits. Until there are financial consequences to water use, rising demand will not be halted by urging people to change behaviour. More stringent Building Regulations on new homes are necessary.”

BMF backs more stringent water use regulations

Source: HPM Magazine

Aico’s Electrical Contractors Handybook Gets New Look

Aico, an expert in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarms, has updated and given its Electrical Contractors Handybook a brand new look. The Fourth Edition has been designed with the customer in mind. Following comprehensive feedback from customers, the new edition has all the essential information needed to help contractors choose, install and maintain domestic Fire and Carbon Monoxide protection.

The Handybook features the latest standards and legislation and the different types of sensors available across Aico’s extensive range of Fire and Carbon Monoxide products. It has been designed to help customers site alarms correctly and provide assistance with installation.

The Handybook also provides information on the importance of the initial testing of a system following installation and then regular testing on an ongoing basis, as well as maintenance and fault finding.

To make installation and product identification easier the Handybook also details the wide range of accessories available, and how to improve the protection the system provides. Looking for a wiring diagram? The technical details are all included.

Alongside Aico’s new Product Selector and handy pocket-sized guides, customers now have a comprehensive information tool kit to help them with all aspects of alarm installation and testing.

In addition, Aico’s team are always on hand to answer any questions on 01691 664100 or technical.Aico@aico.co.uk.

Visit www.aico.co.uk/technical-support/guides-publications/#navigation to request copies of the new Electrical Contractors Handybook and other publications.

Aico’s Electrical Contractors Handybook Gets New Look

Plans lodged for £30m Teesside indoor ski centre

Plans have been submitted for a £30m indoor snow and leisure centre attraction in Teesside.

Developer Cool Runnings confirmed plans to build the three-storey complex on a seven-acre site at Middlesbrough Dock in Middlehaven.

The Sub Zero centre will feature a main slope spanning 165m x 30m and a 52 x 50m nursery slope for beginners.

Designed by acclaimed architects, FaulknerBrowns the 220,000 sq ft centre will also include indoor skydiving, a climbing wall, soft play area, trampoline park and bowling alley will complete the exhilarating, family-friendly experience.

The adjacent listed dock Clock Tower is being incorporated into the design of the project.

If constructed, Sub Zero would be the seventh snow centre in the UK and the first in the North East.

Plans lodged for £30m Teesside indoor ski centre

London Resort reveals next generation theme park designs

The London Resort has revealed the first glimpse of designs for its planned 500-acre theme park on the Swanscombe peninsular in Kent.

The visuals are the first to be revealed since The London Resort announced its partnerships with the BBC, ITV Studios and, most recently, Paramount Pictures.

It has been designed around six lands offering “next-generation” rides and unique experiences for visitors when it opens in 2024.

Construction is targeted to begin in 2021, subject to planning, and will see an overall investment of £1bn.

The ambitious project, which would cover the area of 136 Wembley stadiums, is being delivered by London Resort Company Holdings, which is owned by the Kuwaiti European Holding Company Group.

“We are creating a first-class theme park. A destination that maximises all the new, immersive and interactive technologies and experiences in the world,” said PY Gerbeau, Chief Executive of London Resort Company Holdings .

He said it would also be one of the most sustainable theme parks on the planet.

Billed as one of the most ambitious theme park projects ever in Europe, the London Resort will be the first European development of its kind to be built from scratch since the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992.

It will eventually be a two-park resort – the first ‘gate’ will open in 2024 and the second within five years (2029) and it is expected that around 70% of attractions will be undercover.

London Resort reveals next generation theme park designs

Green light for Birmingham’s tallest resi tower

Developer Court Collaboration has received planning approval for its 51-storey One Eastside residential tower

Birmingham City Council’s planning committee has approved the scheme paving the way for construction of the tallest residential tower in the Midlands.

Original plans drew objections from Birmingham Airport chiefs but were amended “to allow for further construction details”.

The £160m scheme includes 667 one and two-bedroom apartments delivered across the main 525ft tower and another 15-storey building.

Features include a gym, yoga room and cinema room, as well as a rooftop dining and bar area in the form of a Sky Lounge.

Anthony McCourt, CEO and founder of Court Collaboration, said: “We’re delighted with the council’s decision to grant planning permission for One Eastside and we hope to be able to confirm a start on site date in the near future.

“Birmingham is going through some incredibly exciting changes and this ambitious scheme will keep Court Collaboration at the very forefront of modern city living, sustainable design and innovative construction.”

Green light for Birmingham’s tallest resi tower

The full SNIPEF & APHC election manifesto can be accessed here.

Brexit overshadowing construction issues

Plumbing and heating professionals across the UK have called on politicians to make room amid the Brexit tumult to focus on critical changes needed to create a resilient and sustainable construction sector.

A joint election manifesto issued by the leading trade bodies for plumbing and heating professionals in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales highlighted four key areas where change is required.

These included payment abuse, pensions, green economy targets and skills. The changes were aimed at creating a fairer competitive landscape where firms can develop and thrive.

The call to the incoming government has been issued by SNIPEF– the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation – and APHC, the equivalent trade body for the industry in England and Wales.

Together they represent 1,770 businesses and 25,155 plumbing and heating operatives.

SNIPEF and APHC say the bane of payment abuse is causing insolvencies across the sector, while encouraging poor standards of work and a reduction in investment. In addition, it was affecting the mental health of business owners worried about when or even if they will ever be paid for their work.

The trade organisations are urging legislation to impose penalties on serial late payers, while establishing the use of project bank accounts in the public sector. They also want new laws to protect cash retentions.

They are additionally pushing for amendments to current pensions legislation which is having devastating consequences for hundreds of UK plumbing and heating businesses.

“Owners of firms that have provided pensions to their employees through a multi-employer industry scheme are being hit with staggering bills under what is known as Section 75 employer debt,” a joint manifesto stated. “Calculated on a buy-out basis which is expensive, these payments – which are not necessarily required by the pension fund – are burying otherwise financially strong businesses under a mountain of unaffordable liabilities.”

SNIPEF chief executive Fiona Hodgson added: “In the most extreme cases, we are seeing firms fold as a result of these liabilities. But with no incentive for businesses to grow, there is a further economic drag as many more are downsizing, cutting back on investment and declining to take on new apprentices.

“For those now in retirement, these Section 75 payments are putting them under threat of personal bankruptcy. The 2019-20 Pension Schemes Bill does not address any of these unintended consequences, which is why amendments are required to take account of multi-employer industry schemes.”

Meanwhile, to address the on-going skills shortage in the sector, the trade bodies also called for government support for apprenticeships. This includes backing for older entrants, where the costs for employers are higher.

“Plumbing and heating apprentice levels have not recovered from those pre-recession, during which they dropped by half,” APHC chief executive officer John Thompson added. “We are now faced with a skills shortage, and in the light of Brexit the position is only likely to get worse.

“Skills are at the core of our industry, so there are serious long-term consequences for our industry if we don’t address this issue now.”

Brexit overshadowing construction issues

Source: HPM Magazine

IronmongeryDirect survey sheds new light on wellbeing of tradespeople

Too much work, time pressures and unprepared customers – these are the top three causes of stress at work, according to a new survey of almost 600 tradespeople by IronmongeryDirect.

Work-related stress and mental illness now account for over half of all lost work days in the UK*. However, despite this, the survey found that only 11% of tradespeople have taken any time off work in the last year because of mental ill-health. With over a third (34%) reporting regularly feeling stressed, this research paints a worrying picture.

Almost half of the 587 respondents (43%) also believe there is still a stigma in the trades surrounding mental health, with respondents citing a ‘macho culture’, embarrassment, weakness and pressure to ‘get the job done’ as some of the contributing factors.

The survey also revealed some generational differences, with tradespeople aged 18 to 30 being 20% more likely to talk about their mental health at work than their peers in the 50 plus age group.

Despite the pressures of the day job, over half (56%) still feel that they have a good work/life balance, which is significantly higher than the national average of 33%** for all working people. The most commonly reported ways to relax when off the job include watching TV, walking the dog, and spending time with friends and family.

Commenting on the survey findings, Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director of IronmongeryDirect, said: “This survey has revealed an interesting insight into the physical and mental wellbeing of people working in the trades. Although great progress has been made across the sector when it comes to talking about workplace mental illness, it is clear that there is still a way to go and it’s vital that employers spot the signs of mental ill-health and create the right environment where staff feel they can speak up.

It is very positive, however, to see that despite working in a demanding industry, many tradespeople still have a high level of job satisfaction and feel that their employer cares about their general wellbeing.”

IronmongeryDirect has over 18,000 products available and in stock. Orders can be placed as late as 8pm for next day delivery from Sunday through to Friday and by 4pm on Saturdays. Free, no quibble returns are available on all products.

For more information, visit IronmongeryDirect.com or call their team of specialist advisors on 0800 168 28 28.

IronmongeryDirect survey sheds new light on the wellbeing of tradespeople

Source: Electrical Times

PLUMBEX 2020 dates announced!

Come meet the faces behind the emails – PLUMBEX offers exhibitors a social and Electrical Plumbing Expo (or BEP EX for short) held this year at the amazing Eikon Exhibition Centre, home of the the products and services they were promoting. Commenting on Facebook during the show, Charles O’Neill from professional space to meet your customers and other industry leaders to develop those vital relationships that enable your business successes.

PLUMBEX Belfast and Dublin create the perfect environment to remain in touch with the latest developments and products in the industry and to join the community of professionals who all share the same passion for their trade. PLUMBEX attracts a varied mix of visitors including plumbing and heating contractors, installers, heating engineers, M&E consultants, M&E contractors, specifiers, project engineers, merchants, distributors and builders. It also attracts representatives and decision-makers from councils, government departments, public sector bodies and anyone else associated with this sector. After working so hard for the year to perfect your brand, new products and campaigns, come show them off in style at the two PLUMBEX shows!

PLUMBEX BELFAST
The 2020 event promises to be bigger and better than ever. Hundreds of top brands, new products, smart technology, apprentice interaction plus much more is all on the cards for 2020. The event is an integral part of the Build Balmoral show, on 9/10 September, 2020. Offering three major trade events under one roof, BEP EX 2020 is the must-attend event for anyone involved in the construction, electrical, plumbing and mechanical sectors in Northern Ireland.

PLUMBEX DUBLIN
As the largest trade show in Ireland, it attracts major suppliers and contractors from all sectors of the Irish plumbing industry who are massive supporters of this successful event. Last year, PLUMBEX enjoyed support from some world-class exhibitors who have this event firmly marked in their diaries each year. Exhibitors reported busy stands with lots of interest in Heating Engineer Supplies said: “Day one done at PLUMBEX 2019 and it was very successful. The stand was very busy all day with lots of interest in our new lines.” Plans are in place to build on the success of 2019 as we return to the Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Dublin, on May 20/ 21 2020. The two trade shows will showcase a range of products from both residential and commercial sectors, including; pipes, pumps and valves; bathrooms and showers; heating controls; energy efficient products and renewables; underfloor heating and much more. The events will also include seminars focusing on important industry legislation to offer visitors the latest in industry solutions and regulations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BOOK YOUR STAND AT PLUMBEX DUBLIN AND/OR PLUMBEX BELFAST contact Jacqui Fairley on (NI) 028 9261 2990 or (RoI) 01 696 8319, e-mail jacqui@kmpltd.co.uk or visit www.plumbingmag.com/events/plumbex

PLUMBEX 2020 dates announced!

Source: Plumbing Magazine

2019 ‘a turning point’ for the lighting industry

A strong rebooking rate of over 50% at the LuxLive 2019 exhibition has defied the general economic narrative and demonstrated a confidence in the widely-anticipated recovery of the lighting market, organisers of the show said today.

LuxLive and lightspace featured a newly launched VIP meeting programme which was widely received with commendation by the targeted buyers who took part.

“The coming years will see the biggest investment in public-sector lighting in a generation”, says Lux Portfolio Director, James Samuel. “And LuxLive will be a key part of that transformation.

“With economic uncertainty, the continuing squeeze on public sector budgets and pressure on margins, 2019 has been a challenging year for the lighting industry in the UK. That mood has pervaded for an extended period, and no event in the sector has been immune from an understandable sense of caution.

“However, despite that wariness, exhibitors who put their best foot forward had an exceptional show, with firm orders taken and great relationships established. Our exceptional rebooking rate shows that brands which market themselves positively have made significant gains and will do again in the future.”

Major sponsor Bluetooth described LuxLive as ‘a valuable platform’ to promote its advanced wireless mesh technology to the industry.

“LuxLive’s focus on relevant and actionable content sessions and presentations from industry leaders is a big reason why it’s a standout lighting event in the UK and indeed across Europe,” the tech giant said.

“LuxLive provides us a great opportunity to connect with influencers in lighting and continue to promote the value proposition of Bluetooth smart lighting and its associated benefits.”

Daniel Carel of Ubisys said the show was “quite a home run” for the firm.

The newly launched VIP meeting programme was widely received with commendation by the targeted buyers who took part. The programme was tested in a small scale this year to see how the industry would react to this type of initiative.

Buyers from across industry took part in a series of targeted meetings that allowed them to increase their return on time at the event, as well as the exhibitors’ return on investment.

“Perfect meeting matches,” said the estate electrical officer from Kettering NHS Trust. “I already have a follow-up meeting booked with one of the exhibitors.”

A building surveyor from Savills said the programme was ‘very useful’, while Steve Davies, CEO of the Lighting Industry Association, said LuxLive was the organisation’s ‘cornerstone promotional event’.

He notes, “This year, it gave us another amazing opportunity to meet new and existing members, deliver educational content to specifiers, designers and buyers as well as update the wholesaler community through the EDA Regional Forum.

“It has been a tough year for the lighting industry as a whole with economic uncertainty, coupled with increased international competition. However, if we are to take the opportunities the sector has on the horizon then we all must continue to educate the supply chain about compliance and the dangers and commercial risk of specifying poor products.

“The LED revolution is all but over, but the so called ‘Internet of Things’ or enhanced lighting controls will keep driving our industry beyond the current political turmoil. So it is events such as LuxLive that keep our message alive and gives lighting a platform to broadcast its positive message.”

James Samuel adds that 2019 will be seen by the lighting industry as a major turning point: “I strongly believe that 2019 will be seen as a turning point. There are real grounds for renewed optimism and confidence for the coming year.

“Political uncertainty will be partially ended with the general election, and whoever wins will end austerity with unprecedented investment in eduction, healthcare, social housing and infrastructural projects. This can only be good news for the industry.”

His plans for the 2020 event include a range of initiatives, such as the extension of VIP Buyer Programme and a special public-sector advisory board.

He comments, “This board will comprise specifiers and budget-keepers and they will help us precisely address the educational needs in the public sector. It will target end users with responsibility for lighting in schools, universities, FE colleges, hospitals, healthcare centres, social housing, care homes and sheltered housing.

“The private sector, too, has many bright spots, including warehouse, office and leisure, and we’ll be tailoring our programme to these areas too. Specifically, we’ll explore the opportunities for upgrading from traditional lighting technology to LED, the implementation of smart controls and the transformation of emergency lighting installations to current best practice.”

He concludes, ‘We will build on our key strength in cutting-edge lighting technologies such as IoT and smart lighting controls to deliver a future-facing event. The icing on the cake will be the expected arrival of the Elizabeth Line railway (formerly Crossrail) in the coming 24 months, which will make ExCeL one of the best connected venues in the UK.”

2019 ‘a turning point’ for the lighting industry

Oxford Science Park expansion approved

Architect Perkins and Will has got the green light for two new buildings in The Oxford Science Park on the southern edge of the city.

The new buildings on plot 16 will provide 168,000 sq ft of flexible office and laboratory space to the 500,000 sq ft expansion planned for Littlemore site by 2025.

Beyond Plot 16, Magdalen College plans to further expand The Oxford Science Park with an additional 325,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space on the remaining 10 acres of land, over the next 3-5 years.

Plot 16 is a linear site at the north-east corner of the park between railway tracks and Littlemore Brook.

The complex has been designed to facilitate access to the planned new railway station due to be built as part of the reopening of the Cowley branch line in 2022.

The client team includes Core Five as the cost consultants with Hoare Lea providing M&E design and Campbell Reith the structural design.

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, Chief Executive at Oxford Science Park, said: “Oxford is at the forefront of the UK’s fast-growing STEM sector and The Oxford Science Park is witnessing unprecedented growth.

“Perkins and Will has taken a challenging site and turned it into an exciting prospect for a thriving gateway into The Oxford Science Park.”

Science park managers hope to start construction in the autumn of next year. Building work is set to be completed in early 2022.

Oxford Science Park expansion approved

Go-ahead for £500m Thames riverside fire station scheme

Developer U+I has been granted planning permission for a £500m mixed use scheme at 8 Albert Embankment on the Thames riverside.

The green light from Lambeth Planning Committee means work is now scheduled to start on site in 2021.

The scheme is a joint venture with the London Fire Commissioner and will deliver 145,000 sq ft of office, hotel and retail space alongside 443 new homes and a new fire station and museum.

Richard Upton, Chief Development Officer at U+I, said: “This publicly owned asset is one of too many that have sat redundant for too long.

“Our unique partnership with London Fire Brigade will breathe life and productivity to this heritage site on the River Thames.

“With more than 1,000 new jobs, a reprovisioned fire station, a fire museum and 40% affordable housing our proposals will deliver huge social and economic growth for London.

“We have designed a world class regeneration project at 8 Albert Embankment and now we can deliver it.”

Go-ahead for £500m Thames riverside fire station scheme

Mace takes jump factory system to next level

Mace is rolling out its next-generation construction method to transform the building of high rise flats.

The new building system developed with an Australian firm will be used on its twin-tower East Village residential project in Stratford.

The system, which is an evolution of the thinking behind Mace’s award-winning ‘Jump Factory’ used at the Olympic Park, combines the latest advances in digital technology with a new offsite manufacturing approach to construct buildings faster, safer and to a consistently higher quality.

The launch of the new High Rise Solutions system comes as Mace officially unveiled its new business unit, Mace Tec, to manage the deployment and delivery of advanced offsite sub-assembly construction methods.

Shaun Tate, business unit director of Mace Tech, said: “HRS is more than just a new offsite construction method – it is a new digital approach to how we assemble and construct buildings.

“We interrogated the entire production to delivery cycle, taking inspiration from the auto industry with its integrated production and assembly line, looking at how we can develop smarter and more efficient offsite assembly methods to drive better outcomes.”

Mace hopes its assembly system will reduce design and construction programmes by 25%, vehicle movements by 40% and waste by 70%.

Using parametric modelling tools and artificial intelligence, HRS draws from a catalogue of components to design and manufacture the structure and façade sub-assemblies offsite.

Mace aims to convert site activities to an assembly process by installing modules concurrently with bathroom pods, utility cupboards and MEP service modules, to slash programme times and improve productivity up to six times.

The HRS system is now being used to construct N06, a 524-home build to rent scheme in East Village, which involves two towers of 26 and 31 stories.

Mace hopes to shorten the construction programme by 18 weeks with 20% less workers onsite compared to a traditional building approach.

Mace takes jump factory system to next level

November Newsletter 2019

November 20, 2019/9,734 Comments/in Newsletter /by Dean Kennedy

November 2019 Newsletter

‘Fluke offers a kit solution for testing EV charging stations, Why it’s never too early to prepare for the winter freeze, Rydon secures £100m London council estate rebuild, Kayak on standby to rescue Stepnell workers at canal site’.

Quick Links

Plumbers gained 3.6% rise in earnings for October, just behind electricians

Scottish electricians raise over £5,000 for electrical industry charity

Nominations open for Gas Industry Awards 2020

Rydon secures £100m London council estate rebuild

Weston and Tesco submit plan to turn store site into 1,280 homes

Caddick to build £50m Wakefield industrial park

Industrial digital multimeter for extreme conditions

Elta Fans launches ventilation compliance campaign

How to stay healthy on the go as an electrician

Why it’s never too early to prepare for the winter freeze

Green light for £125m Birmingham St Paul’s quarter scheme

Derwent starts design work on next big London project

Kayak on standby to rescue Stepnell workers at canal site

Fluke offers a kit solution for testing EV charging stations

Fluke and Beha-Amprobe have introduced a kit offering comprehensive testing of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Saving money versus buying the units separately, the installation tester/adapter kit provides access to the socket-outlets of vehicle charging stations to perform safety and functional tests, while simulating the presence of an electrical vehicle as required to be able to measure outputs. More information can be found at authorised Fluke distributors.

The market for EV charging stations is growing rapidly. By introducing installation tester/adapter kits, Fluke offers a solution for testing EV charging stations. They are ideal for electricians, electrical utilities and EV maintenance companies for safety testing, functional testing and troubleshooting/repair of charging stations.

The new 1664 UK-EV kit includes a Fluke 1664 FC multifunction installation tester and a Beha-Amprobe EV-520-UK EV charging station test adapter. The EV-520-UK is designed to give access to the socket-outlets of vehicle charging stations to perform safety and functional tests while simulating the presence of an electrical vehicle. The unit is designed to test function and safety of charging stations mode 3 for AC charging in combination with a Fluke 1664 FC.

Main features and functions of the test adapter:

Suitable for vehicle charging stations with charging mode 3
EV-connectors for type 2 and type 1
PE Pre-Test – to test the PE conductor for possible presence of dangerous voltage against earth
Proximity Pilot (PP) state ‘Cable Simulation’ – enables simulation of various current capabilities of the charging cables
Control Pilot (CP) state ‘Vehicle Simulation’ – enables various charging states to be simulated
Separate phase indication – to check voltage is present
Installation tester safety and functional tests using L1, L2, L3, N and PE measuring terminals enable connection of the installation tester
Electric power meter check – a mains socket allows an external load to be connected to check the power meter works and counts correctly
Simulations of CP and PE errors
Terminals for CP signal output to check communication between adapter and charging stations

The kit also includes an EVC-20 test cable with connector for the more common charging stations type 2 (while a Type 1-EVC-13 is also available separately). This easy-to-use connector combines both ‘socket outlet’ as well as ‘fixed cable with vehicle connector’ options in one. The test adapter is also available as a standalone unit.

Fluke offers a kit solution for testing EV charging stations

Plumbers gained 3.6% rise in earnings for October, just behind electricians

Earnings for self-employed plumbers rose by 3.6% last month, according to the latest figures released by Hudson Contract.

Analysis of October payroll data for more than 2,200 construction companies in England and Wales reveals a weekly average of £1,119 for plumbing contractors.

They generated the third-highest earnings of all 17 construction trades covered by Hudson Contract, beaten only by specialists in shop fitting and electrical work.

Plumbers in Yorkshire and the Humber saw the strongest growth in weekly earnings in October, rising 24.2% to £802. They were followed by the West Midlands, up 12.4% to £1,110, and London, up 11% to £1,099.

Ian Anfield, Managing Director of Hudson Contract, said: “Plumbers are in strong demand, which is driving up the earning power of highly skilled freelancers. Our analysis shows they are able to command a substantial premium for their valuable services.”

Hudson Contract provides an indication of sub-contractor pay trends across the construction industry, using payroll data to publish the average pay for a spectrum of 17 different trades split across 10 regions in England and Wales.

Plumbers gained 3.6% rise in earnings for October, just behind electricians

Source: HVP Magazine

Scottish electricians raise over £5,000 for electrical industry charity

More than £5,000 has been raised by Scottish electricians SELECT, the trade body for electrical professionals in Scotland, for the UK’s leading charity devoted to those working within the industry – Electrical Industries Charity. A charity which provides practical support services and financial relief to the 1.3 million people who work throughout the UK in the sectors relating to energy and electrical.

Over the last year, the Electrical Industries Charity gave out more than £400,500 in direct financial assistance, as well as providing more than 7,400 people with non-financial support.

The majority of the money that is raised for SELECT came through the annual SELECT Awards which were held earlier this month (October) in Glasgow. Over 350 people got together at the Raddison Blu hotel in order to help pay tribute to the leading talent within the Scottish sector. The awards this year, were hosted by the radio and tv personality Shereen Nanjiani and was though to be the biggest ceremony to date, raising more than £3,000 in their charity raffle and saw three lucky winners walking away with some wonderful prizes.

SELECT President Kevin Griffin states that, “The support from Scotland for the EIC’s great work has been amazing, and reflects the valued place this charity holds within our sector.”

At the beginning of June, SELECT held a Predidents walk which took place at Chatelherault Park in Hamilton and saw more than 50 walker taking on the 5-mile Green Bridge Trail. This event was dedicated to Jim McArthur, a past SELECT president and the former chairmen of the Lanarkshire Branch, who sadly passed away last year.

A Teddy Bear’s picnic was held later in June, and brought together the organisation’s staff members and their families for a fun filled day, including face painting, games and entertainment. At this event the charity managed to raise a further £500 for the EIC.

“Set up at a time when charities were in their infancy and safety nets such as unemployment benefits, state pensions and a national health service had yet to be thought of, the EIC has been providing assistance for more than 100 years to industry colleagues who have fallen upon hard times. The wide variety of services on offer from the EIC have been a major component in creating and maintaining the thriving industry which we work in today.” explained Kevin Griffin.

As well as financial assistance, the Electrical Industries Charity also provides counselling over the phone, advice for those in debt along with support for carers, scholarships and bursary schemes, as well as legal and career transition advice. All of which are free and confidential and open to those who currently work or have previously worked in the electrical industry.

Tess Ogle, managing director and CEO of the EIC, said: “We are extremely grateful to SELECT for their continued support. Thanks to their many ongoing events, and the generosity of their staff and members, we are able to continue our vital work, helping electrical workers and their families throughout the industry.”

For more information please visit https://www.select.org.uk

Scottish electricians raise over £5,000 for electrical industry charity

Source: Electrical Trade Magazine

Nominations open for Gas Industry Awards 2020

Nominations for the Gas Industry Awards have now opened.

The Gas Industry Awards, organised by the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) and the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), recognises the contribution of the gas industry’s most innovative, dedicated and outstanding members.

This year’s awards feature 10 categories, including a Customer Service Award and Engineer of the Year prize.

The closing date for nominations has been set for 2 March. Enter by visiting https://gasindustryawards.awardsplatform.com/

Nominations open for Gas Industry Awards 2020

Source: HPM Magazine

Rydon secures £100m London council estate rebuild

A west London council has signed up Rydon to deliver a £100m estate rebuild to create over 460 homes.

Ealing Borough Council has announced that it has formally appointed Rydon as its development partner to rebuild the High Lane estate in Hanwell after run-up talks of over two years.

The 264-home estate was constructed in the 1970s using a Bison large panel system.

Under the deal, Rydon will secure scheme financing, produce development proposals, submit planning and then demolish and build the new homes over three phases.

A full planning application is due to be submitted in March 2020. Of the planned new homes around 242 will be private sale, with 137 for social rent and 71 London affordable rent. The will also be 10 shared equity homes for existing leaseholders.

The project will take around eight years to complete.

Rydon has previously partnered with the council and A2Dominion on the £155m redevelopment of Green Man Lane social housing estate.

Rydon secures £100m London council estate rebuild

Weston and Tesco submit plan to turn store site into 1,280 homes

Weston Homes and Tesco have submitted ambitious plans to redevelop a supermarket and car park in east London with a major mixed-use development.

The redevelopment of the 10.4 acre Tesco store site in Goodmayes near Romford will consist of 1,280 new homes, a new Tesco store, village hall, 3-form primary school, commercial space and 7.9 acres of landscaped grounds.

The new Tesco will be equivalent in size to the current store and will be built in the current car park whilst the existing store remains open with a temporary car parking arrangement.

Once the new store is complete and open, the old store will be closed and demolished.

Weston Homes has slightly scaled-down its original plan to build 1,400 homes, lowered heights of several buildings and revised the design of the main landmark tower to make it more slender, thereby reducing the visual impact.

The new development proposals submitted to Redbridge Borough Council will also allow for highway improvement works in the High Road including a new bus lane, widening the highway, enhanced pedestrian and cycle access, and a new pedestrian crossing to Barley Lane Recreation Ground.

Weston and Tesco submit plan to turn store site into 1,280 homes

Caddick to build £50m Wakefield industrial park

Yorkshire-based Caddick Construction will build a £50m distribution centre near Wakefield, Yorkshire for global real estate investment manager AEW.

AEW will buy the site from Caddick Group and fund the development for its recently launched €290m develop-to-core UK logistics venture with Allianz.

Caddick Construction will start the speculative 512,000 sq. ft. facility – now named Wakefield 515 – in the first quarter of 2020.

Wakefield 515, previously known as Crosspoint 33 phase two, will sit next to the already completed Cross Point 33 phase one, a £100m 1.2m sq. ft. distribution centre for TK Maxx.

Caddick Construction built Crosspoint 33 phase one and is currently working on a host of other industrial and logistics schemes, such as the £10.7m Novus Business Park in Knutsford, for Chancerygate.

Located at Junction 33 on the M62 motorway, work will start on Wakefield 515 early next year.

The building is due to be delivered by the last quarter of next year.

Caddick to build £50m Wakefield industrial park

Industrial digital multimeter for extreme conditions

The Fluke 87V Max true-rms Digital Multimeter (DMM) defines a new standard for operating in extreme conditions, with the features and accuracy to troubleshoot most electrical problems.

A development of the Fluke 87V, the 87V Max is ideal for use in harsh environments with an IP 67 (waterproof and dustproof) rating, an extended operating temperature range of -15°C to +55°C (-40°C for up to 20 minutes) and up to 95% humidity, and has been designed and tested to withstand a 4 metre drop in its removable holster. It offers Cat III 1000V, Cat IV 600V safety ratings.

The Fluke 87V Max will measure up to 1000V AC/DC and up to 10A AC/DC (20A for 30 seconds), with true-rms AC voltage and current readings for accurate measurements on non-linear signals. It also offers a capacitance range of 10,000μF, measures frequency to 200kHz, and can capture min/max/average recordings, plus 150μs peak min-max to capture variations automatically. It also features a built-in thermometer, which conveniently allows temperature readings without having to carry a separate instrument. This offers an easy check whether overheating is involved in a system breakdown.

The 87V Max true-rms digital multimeter provides the resolution and accuracy to efficiently troubleshoot motor drives, plant automation, power distribution, and electromechanical equipment even in loud, high energy, and high altitude locations. It takes the guesswork out of drive system troubleshooting. It includes a unique function for accurately measuring noisy signals at the variable frequency drive and at the motor terminals: special shielding blocks high frequency, high-energy noise generated by large drive systems. It correctly measures pulse-width modulated motor drive signals.

Other product highlights:

Resistance, continuity and diode test
Relative mode to remove test lead resistance from low ohms measurements
Large display digits, two-level bright white backlight and backlit keypad buttons for increased visibility
High resolution 20,000 count display mode
Battery life doubled (up to 800 hours)
Reversible holster for added protection when not in use

The Fluke 87V Max comes with a Fluke 80BK-A DMM temperature probe and is also available as part of a money-saving kit – the 87V Max/E2 combo kit – which includes a ToolPak magnetic meter hanging kit, TL224 SureGrip insulated test leads, AC220 SureGrip alligator clips, TL238 SureGrip test probes and a soft carry case.

For more information about all Fluke products, visit www.fluke.co.uk.

Industrial digital multimeter for extreme conditions

Elta Fans launches ventilation compliance campaign

Ventilation manufacturer Elta Fans has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of ErP compliance responsibilities relating to certain ventilation products.

The manufacturer is asking contractors and distributors who sell or install roof-mounted ventilation solutions to answer a short series of online questions, with the aim of revealing the differing levels of awareness around compliance across the UK.

The issue has originated from Elta Fans’ own customer insights which highlights that many professionals are unknowingly operating as ‘manufacturers’, and are therefore making themselves responsible for ensuring ErP compliance.

While compliance is mandatory, the company is also advocating that in being compliant, a building is also delivering a higher quality of air – a topic which could not be more pertinent given recent governmental initiatives.

David Millward, Product Manager at Elta Group, said: “Legislation affects us all and we know it can be hard to keep up with all of the technicalities, but we find that not everyone is aware of their responsibilities. We hope this survey will offer some clarity for those who are unsure or, more importantly, those completely unaware.”

To answer the survey, visit: www.eltafans.com/erp-warning/.

Elta Fans launches ventilation compliance campaign

Source: HVP Magazine

How to stay healthy on the go as an electrician

Many people struggle to find enough time to stay healthy while juggling the demands of modern life. It is particularly difficult for someone who is often on the road, going from appointment to appointment.

With 66% of men and 57% of women being classed as overweight or obese and 74% of people having felt ‘overwhelmed or unable to cope’ at some point during the year, it is increasingly important that we look after both our physical and mental health.

Here, electrical wholesaler TradeSparky offers its top tips for managing your diet and stress levels on the go.

Lunch to go

One of the best ways to make improvements to your diet is to stop grabbing processed foods on the go, and preparing lunches and snacks at home from scratch instead. The two main barriers to achieving this are:

the time it takes to prep food on a daily basis
finding nice, healthy meals that don’t require a hob or microwave

Try preparing meals in bulk – things that will last a couple of days or can be frozen. It can be difficult to think of lunches that don’t require heating (sandwich, salad…yawn!) but with a little bit of research online, you can gather enough recipes for lunches that you will happily eat on a weekly basis.

One other factor to consider is portion control. This is probably the main reason why most diets fail. Even if ‘good’ foods are being consumed, if too much is being eaten, you will still put on weight.

By making your own meals, it is possible to measure exactly how much food is going in and how much each meal is contributing to your daily intake. Free smartphone apps such as ‘My Fitness Pal’ can really help with this. On the odd day when lunch is grabbed on the fly, the barcode can be scanned and all the relevant nutritional information will be added.

At a stretch

Exercise is good for both our physical and mental health and the secret to incorporating it into a busy schedule is (drum roll)… getting it out of the way early. Yes, it is horrendous dragging yourself out of bed that bit earlier, but once it’s done, the endorphins are flowing and you are ready for the day ahead.

It doesn’t even have to take a long time, either. There are plenty of 20-minute high-intensity training (HIT) routines online that can be done at home while Piers Morgan rants away on the telly. There are even free phone apps such as ‘Seconds’ that will help time your intervals.

If you really aren’t a morning person and the only thing you want to do after a long days’ work is flop on the coach, then try and incorporate something into your daily routine. If you have an appointment where little equipment is required, allow enough time to park the van 10 minutes away from the location and walk. It may not seem like very much, but it all adds up over time.

And sleep

Having enough ‘quality’ sleep will help improve performance and decrease stress levels while on the job. Of course both diet and exercise contribute to the quality of your sleep, but allowing the time for enough ZZZs is also important.

The average adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep a night to function properly. The benefits of doing so include improvement in mood, maintaining a healthy weight and a sharpening of concentration.

However, allocating enough time during the night for bed isn’t enough, especially if you are going to spend most of the time tossing and turning. Best practices to maximise the chances of a good night’s sleep include going to bed and waking up at a set time, establishing a relaxing routine leading up to bed and ideally avoiding eating after 7pm. The latter will help with both weight loss and your ability to sleep.

Keep lubricated

And we’re not talking about alcohol! The average adult should drink about two litres of water a day. Keeping hydrated will not only help you stay alert during appointments, but it will also help with weight loss as water can boost metabolism by up to 30% and stop food cravings.

But drinking the required amount is harder than you might think. To help, water intake can be tracked in the My Fitness Pal app, but there are also apps specifically designed to monitor water consumption, such as Daily Water, and will alert you when you need to take a drink. Just keep a water bottle with you throughout the day. No customer will resent you topping up at their home or office.

How to stay healthy on the go as an electrician

Source: Sparks Magazine

Why it’s never too early to prepare for the winter freeze
With the clocks changing and the winter weather settling in, many people are starting to plan for the colder months and keeping themselves, and their homes, warm. Karen Sloan, Liberty’s Managing Director – Gas Maintenance, reveals why for the property services sector, it’s never too early to prepare for the winter freeze.

Winter is the busiest time of the year for the property services industry.

But as the cold weather sets in, it is a good opportunity to reflect on the months of planning and preparation our teams put in place to make sure we are ready to provide people focused services that are smart and straightforward.

During the summer months, when many of us were enjoying the sunshine Liberty was well underway with its winter planning programme – training staff, mapping workflows with clients and carrying out work that will prevent problems before they happen.

We’ve learned though years of experience that taking time to prepare when the weather is warm is the smartest way to ensure clients and customers receive the best possible service during the busy winter freeze.

Managing our time

Typically, demand for all property services is lower during the summer. Liberty receive an average of 40% reduction in repairs per day during summer compared to the winter period. During April 2019 – September 2019, this equated to 45,000 fewer repairs, freeing up capacity in teams across the business.

This gives us the time to plan ahead, agreeing processes for prioritising work during winter and ensuring that clients have everything they need to support their tenants at a time when many vulnerable people need their help the most.

We also use the summer months to assess properties with a history of weather-related issues and carry out proactive work to reduce the risk of issues during the peak winter season. This can include re-routing or insulating condensate pipes to protect them form freezing, to completing more annual gas services to make sure customers’ boilers are in the best shape ready for when they’re needed most.

With this forward-thinking approach, we can help prevent unnecessary problems so that customers stay warm and our engineers can priorities workload and focus more time on breakdowns and emergency calls.

Training and upskilling

Summer is also crucial for training and upskilling teams to make sure we’re ready for a cold snap. We do this through the Liberate Academy, our in-house training centre, with over 110 Liberty staff completing training with them in the summer of 2019. It’s the perfect time to undertake cyclical training such as ACS assessment and e-learning, whilst the service demand is lower.

The Liberate Academy ensures our team is always thinking ahead and is at the forefront of the latest developments in our sector.

It ensures that operatives understand the latest legislation, are meeting legal requirements, and are confident in their skills and abilities. This training is continuing to drive standards up, keeping people safe not just during winter, but throughout the year.

By focussing on people, we’re delivering the best possible outcomes for customers and clients.

As well as ensuring we’re ready for winter, the academy provides training which helps to improve the skills base of gas engineers across the country, including apprenticeships for those entering the profession and essential qualifications for more experienced operatives.

Addressing the gender imbalance

We’re committed to increasing diversity in the property services industry. And we’ve also been using the warmer months to increase the work we do to promote balance in the industry.

It’s widely acknowledged that this sector faces challenges in attracting female staff and, like many other organisations in this field of work, we have a much greater number of males than females across our business. Redressing this balance is key to the sector’s sustainability and ensuring we are fit for the future.

We have been doing this in a wide range of ways, including focussing on inclusive and diverse recruitment campaigns which help us recruit from the widest possible talent pool.

Some of the initiatives we have in place include flexible working practices and a robust support system, a Learning and Development team committed to supporting the development of all staff, and developing initiatives which seek to increase the number of women in the industry at all levels.

By working in these ways and planning ahead we’re well prepared to assist clients in providing the most efficient service to their customers, keeping their homes warm no matter the weather this winter brings.

Why it’s never too early to prepare for the winter freeze

Source: Installer Online

Green light for £125m Birmingham St Paul’s quarter scheme

Joint venture partners Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital have got the planning go-ahead to create a new neighbourhood in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

The £125m mixed-use scheme to be known as the St Paul’s Quarter will transform the four-acre AE Harris industrial site with 305 flats and 100,000 sq ft of commercial space across 20 buildings.

Designed by Glenn Howells Architects, the site bounded by Newhall Street, Graham Street and Northwood Street will include a new public square at its centre.

Two grade II listed buildings will be restored to their former glory – 109 Northwood Street, built in 1882 for military ornament makers Brent and Parker and described by Historic England as “internationally significant”, and 199 Newhall Street, a neo-Georgian factory built in the early 20^th century.

A further two derelict buildings – 123 and 128 Northwood Street – will also be salvaged and transformed into new homes.

Stephen Conway, executive chairman of Galliard Homes, said: “Galliard has a track record of restoring listed buildings across London and we are looking forward to bringing this experience to Birmingham.

“123 and 128 Northwood Street have a familiar typology to the Jewellery Quarter, with street frontages concealing rear factory wings.These two buildings reinforce the grain of the area, running north-south.

“It’s therefore right that we respect their heritage and preserve them, despite their lack of listed status.”

Work will start early next year with the development anticipated to take four years to complete.

Green light for £125m Birmingham St Paul’s quarter scheme

Derwent starts design work on next big London project

London developer Derwent has started design and pre-construction work on its next major West End scheme of nearly 300,000 st ft.

It is aiming to start work on a major mixed-use at Baker Street in 2021 after this morning reporting strong pre-letting activity on schemes under construction in its property pipeline.

Paul Williams, chief executive of Derwent London, said: “Our strong pre-letting activity continues, demonstrating the consistent demand for our product and for London office space.

“In addition we have extended our main revolving credit facility, which includes an innovative green tranche linking the financing of our developments to their environmental impact.”

He added that the delayed former Saatchi building revamp by Multiplex at 80 Charlotte Street W1 was now due to be delivered in the first half of 2020.

Construction work was progressing well at Soho Place W1 and The Featherstone Building EC1 with completion expected in 2022.

The next project at 19-35 Baker Street project will involve 206,000 sq ft offices, 52,000 sq ft residential and 35,000 sq ft retail. Designed by architect Hopkins, it will rise to 10-floors.

“We have started design, pre-construction and procurement work on our 19-35 Baker Street project which is likely to start in 2021”, he confirmed

Derwent starts design work on next big London project

Kayak on standby to rescue Stepnell workers at canal site

A kayak is on standby at a student accommodation site in Nottingham where Stepnell is facing challenging construction conditions.

The canalside site at Boulevard Wharf is only 11 metres wide.

The contractor’s emergency procedures include a kayak to catch anyone who falls in the water.

And the tight boundaries have made careful site planning vital to build 76 apartments.

Shaun Moses, site manager for Stepnell, said: “It is certainly one of the more unusual sites we’ve worked on.

“Along with the obvious issues that come with building so close to the canal edge brings, the overall site is just 11 metres wide, meaning that day-to-day operations must be very carefully managed.

“With incredibly tight boundaries and the buildings themselves designed to fill the entirety of its footprint, the site is a real challenge, but the team has worked closely with the developers from an early stage to create a solution that is workable and allows the whole operation to run smoothly.”

Tom Sewell, East Midlands’ regional director at Stepnell, said: “The story of this site is really one of collaboration.

“Our team worked extensively with the client through the design development process in order to design and manage a project that met a high standard in terms of appearance and finishes – all while working to the budget and the challenges the site provides.”

The project sees the studios spread across three buildings designed by MAS Architecture.

Kayak on standby to rescue Stepnell workers at canal site

January 2019 Newsletter

January 8, 2019/10,344 Comments/in Newsletter /by Dean Kennedy

January 2019 Newsletter

‘The benefits for carbon reduction, Wind win for Wales, Colleges gearing up for sparks 2019 competition, Modular village to be built in Corby for London commuters, Funding deal for landmark Birmingham resi tower‘.

Quick Links

Updated technical guidance by Ofgem released

Call to action for investment in training

Modular village to be built in Corby for London commuters

Nottingham council injects £50m to kickstart Broadmarsh scheme

How your organisation can benefit from ECA membership

Colleges gearing up for sparks 2019 competition

Energy theft would be ignored by one in four people, research discovers

Funding deal for landmark Birmingham resi tower

Britain heads for worst house building decade since 1940s

Firms wanted for £30m Coventry Uni arts building

Start with the plug

BEAMA is to support the launch of ReDESIGNING REGULATION – Powering from the future.

Launched in Parliament on the 11 December this report helps to untangle the ‘spaghetti of regulation’ that currently exists for the energy sector and return the UK to the forefront of regulatory innovation.

A decarbonised, decentralised and digitalised energy system does not fit into the current regulatory framework. The authors propose as a nation we need to ‘re-engineer the system’ and to do this requires a ‘fundamental rethink of the market design, starting at the plug’.BEAMA agrees doing nothing is not an option to avoid missing out on opportunities for innovation and the UK will be ill-equipped to regulate and manage an increasingly complex system to ensure consumers are protected.

Start with the plug

Source: Electrical Review

Updated technical guidance by Ofgem released

Updated technical guidance by Ofgem has clarified the treatment of existing payments for homes that currently export solar power to the grid and that want to install battery storage and smart meters.

The clarification is good news for people with existing solar homes looking to invest in battery storage alongside a smart meter, because it means they will continue to be eligible to keep their ‘deemed’ payments for their solar exports. The market had previously been hindered by conflicting guidance.

Nick Wood, chair of the Solar Trade Association’s (STA) Residential Energy Storage Working Group, said: “The government has been telling the industry that it wants to see battery storage market take off in the UK, but the confusion around installing battery storage with existing Feed-In Tariff-accredited solar has been a key barrier.

“It’s very good news that Ofgem has listened and that it has made the right decision to help unlock the retrofit market. This now means that the domestic battery storage industry in the UK can install batteries and smart meters in existing solar homes with confidence that deemed export payments, which are valued by solar home owners, are safe.”

The news helps to unlock the tremendous potential for storage in the UK’s 900,000 solar homes, which represent low hanging fruit for the smart energy transition.

While the explanation published is complex and would benefit from greater clarity, from conversations with Ofgem the STA is confident the updated configurations published means that, in practice, where a domestic customer already has FIT-accredited solar and wishes to install battery storage behind a smart meter, they can now retain their deemed export payments provided that the usual requirements to quality for deemed export are met.

Recent analysis by Imperial College for Ovo Energy estimates that the full flexibility potential from ‘smart homes’ could save the power system up to £6.9 billion per annum.

STA members are already able to provide smart home functionality, but regulatory barriers for export metering need to be addressed and markets for local flexibility created.

Updated technical guidance by Ofgem released

Source: HPM Magazine

Call to action for investment in training

The UK is on the verge of what is probably the most momentous change to its business climate since it entered the Common Market 40 years ago, and yet the construction sector is struggling to meet historical challenges, let alone those which it will inevitably face post-Brexit.

We are in an age where we are facing the retirement of the baby boomers! 22% of workers in the sector are aged between 50 and 60, compared with only nine per cent being 24 or younger. The challenge is how to transfer all that knowledge to new entrants before it is lost. Surveys repeatedly show that the construction industry is not attracting enough talent to meet growing demand. A recent BSRIA survey (November 2018) found that 78% of its member companies were having trouble finding suitably qualified workers.Government’s approach to this has resulted in a situation where in 2018 fewer students are considering university courses for fear of the debt they will incur.

Its apprenticeship scheme, for many seen as the utopian answer to encourage vocational training, is stalling, with only 114,400 overall starts between August and October 2017 compared with 155,700 in the same period in 2016.Recent announcements allowing levy payments to more easily flow down through the supply chain are welcome attempts to reverse this trend. In the BSRIA survey, 64% of firms in the sector are planning to recruit apprentices over the next three years to help plug the skills gap.

Stagnant productivity is also a major problem, with a recent World Economic Forum study found that the construction industry’s productivity advancements have been “meagre” compared to those in the rest of the world’s industries during the last 50 years. The study reported that the construction industry has actually lost productivity over the last 40 years.Government has set industry a target to lower greenhouse emissions by 50 per cent by 2025. While admiring ambition, some would say this may be unrealistic. According to the UK Green Building Council, the construction and maintenance of buildings and other structures is responsible for around half of CO2 emissions in the UK.Bsria has said the UK will not be able to address these issues without focusing on the provision of vocational training in our industry.

Short courses, in particular, offer the opportunity for exposure to the latest ideas, technologies, processes and techniques leading to an increase in our capacity to adopt new methods and technologies. From these foundations will spring improvements to productivity.The development of training modules aimed at recent entrants to the sector will make them more productive more quickly, improve worker motivation and reduce staff turnover and absenteeism. Training in the latest project management and construction methods will ultimately improve work quality, leading to better customer satisfaction and improvement in the well being of building occupants.

Call to action for investment in training

Source: Electrical Review

The benefits for carbon reduction

Former international development minister, Mike Foster, who now runs the influential trade body the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has called for the UK’s climate change policy to seek international development gains too.

In a submission to the government’s advisory body, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), ‘Building a zero-carbon economy’, call for evidence, Mike highlighted the co-benefits that could accrue from adopting a sensible policy framework.

These co-benefits reduce carbon emissions, but also lead to major development gains such as improved health, economic development and greater educational opportunities – all key aspects of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Mike, chief executive, EUA, said: “The UK is at the forefront of climate change policy with its Climate Change Act. It is also, and I speak from experience, a world-leader on international development matters. In response to the CCC’s consultation, I’ve suggested greater use of joint work.

“As an example, supporting some of the poorest people on the planet to give up burning wood for cooking, and using a cleaner fuel such as portable LPG, reduces carbon emissions from cooking. It also stops trees being felled, allowing them to absorb carbon dioxide.

“Indoor wood burning creates enormous health problems, through inhalation of smoke. This impacts economic development. Using LPG cookers allows family members more time to take up paid employment too.

“If the UK, as part of its ambition, took action, we could reduce carbon emissions from the poorest countries, who probably can’t afford to do so themselves, and the UK could reduce global carbon levels cheaper than if it restricted its actions to just UK carbon production.”

The benefits for carbon reduction

Source: HPM Magazine

Wind win for Wales

Scaling up offshore wind generation could help Wales meet its renewable energy and decarbonisation targets, as well as deliver local economic stimulus, says a new report out now. The report, Future Potential for Offshore Wind in Wales, produced by the Carbon Trust for the Welsh Government, delivers a series of recommendations to policymakers to capitalise on the clean growth potential of offshore wind farms.

Currently, 48% of Welsh energy consumption is supplied from renewable technologies. The report estimates that an additional 2 GW of offshore wind power could be delivered by just 2-3 projects in Wales, contributing over two-thirds of Wales’ 70% renewable energy target by 2030 and putting Wales on course to achieve its carbon reduction goal of at least 80% by 2050.Despite limited offshore wind activity in recent years, new seabed leasing and site extensions administered by The Crown Estate are set to open new opportunities for offshore wind development in Wales. Relatively shallow waters off North Wales, in particular, are expected to be attractive for near-term development, while deeper waters off Pembrokeshire hold considerable long-term potential for floating offshore wind technology.

Wind win for Wales

Source: Electrical Review

Modular village to be built in Corby for London commuters

Groundworks will start this month on a new modular village in Corby, Northants targeted at London commuters.

The 47 homes will be built at Priors Hall Park by modular specialist Project Etopia who took over the site when a previous eco-homes scheme stalled.

Etopia Corby will contain 31 houses and 16 apartments with a 4-bed expected to sell for between £320,000 and £350,000.

Factory construction of exterior shells of the new homes will start in February and the first four homes are due to be completed by the end of March with each unit taking no more than six to eight weeks to build.

Joseph Daniels, CEO of Project Etopia, said: “Old building techniques are exacerbating the housing crisis and it’s totally unnecessary.

“Corby is leading the way in showing how villages of the future should be built. Modular building is now so advanced, it is senseless to cling to bricks and mortar, which takes longer to build and is far more expensive.

“With a desperate need for more housing stock around the country, it is vital developers and investors finally let go of preconceptions of modular building.

“These are homes people really want to live in and they present huge environmental benefits from being energy neutral to requiring less on-site traffic during the build.

“Commuter villages like this offer younger would-be homeowners the wage benefits of working in the capital but without the high property costs, and Etopia Corby will be a model other councils can follow.”

Modular village to be built in Corby for London commuters

Nottingham council injects £50m to kickstart Broadmarsh scheme

Nottingham City Council has agreed on a £50m cash injection to allow the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh shopping centre finally to start.

The funding green light allowed shopping centre developer intu’s board to agree to go ahead, which now means contracts can be finalised.

Sir Robert McAlpine is preferred bidder for the £150m main shopping centre revamp with several contractors in the bidding to redevelop the adjacent car park site with a new central library and bus station.

The line-up of remaining bidders for the £50m project includes Bowmer & Kirkland and G F Tomlinson.

Approval to proceed with the shopping centre and car park redevelopments are essential parts of the Broadmarsh regeneration programme of the southern city centre, which will see £250m invested in the area and see works begin early next year.

Broadmarsh Regeneration plan

Redevelop intu Broadmarsh into a modern retail and leisure destination
Create a pedestrianised and pedestrian friendly area between intu Broadmarsh and Nottingham Station
Provide a brand new bus station and car park
Create a state of the art Central Library
Transform Nottingham Castle into a world-class tourist destination
Develop a new Nottingham College building.

The intu Broadmarsh and Car Park developments have been funded by significant private sector investment, grants and future income from these developments.

Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of the City Council, said: “This is the latest step in turning our proposals for the Broadmarsh area into reality, and approval means that subject to contracts being signed, works in the area can start very quickly and hopefully very soon.

“The City Council and our partners are investing heavily in this redevelopment, which is inspiring private sector investment around the area, at Unity Square, City Buildings and the Island Site to name a few, meaning there will be better opportunities for those who live and work here and more prosperity for local people.

“The money the council is investing in this is not council tax – we have secured external funding and loans, supported by increasing car parking, advertising and rental income so council services aren’t affected.”

Nottingham council injects £50m to kickstart Broadmarsh scheme

How your organisation can benefit from ECA membership

ECA is the UK’s largest trade association representing electrotechnical and engineering services organisations, at regional, national and European level. ECA member-companies are rigorously assessed before membership is approved.
Member firms have a combined turnover in excess of £6 billion annually. Member firms carry out design, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance and monitoring activity across the domestic, commercial, industrial and public sectors. This ranges from power and lighting to data communications, to energy efficiency and renewables, as well as the design and installation of cutting-edge building control technologies.

ECA is renowned for ‘going the extra mile’ to help members find the solutions they need and offer a range of key benefits and services, including the following:

Free Expert Technical Helpline: Across the full range of electrotechnical disciplines, including electrical, fire, security, high voltage, energy solutions, data communications, building controls, and smart buildings.
eRAMS is ECA’s highly regarded online risk assessment and method statement service (free to members) – and it includes eCPP (Construction Phase Plans).
Free Expert Business Helpline:Including commercial and legal, health and safety, prequalification, employment and HR, and skills.
Discounted BSI Online Library:Extensive access to 80 key industry standards, for just £100 (plus VAT) – an annual saving of up to £18K for your organisation.
Free access to industry-leading, authoritative information: Including policy and contract templates, comprehensive technical and business guidance and information, and other exclusive ‘member-only’ website content.
Representation and Lobbying: Ensuring that the voice of members is heard by politicians, civil servants, and other key decision-makers.
CPD Events & Networking: At national, regional and local level (across our 12 regions), ECA offers a range of networking opportunities, conferences, industry forums and social events – helping you to maximise your business network.

In addition to this, as an ECA member, your organisation can display the prestigious ECA logo, and benefit from ECA’s active promotion of its members’ capabilities to clients, specifiers and main contractors, and in the press.

Your organisation will also be able to offer ECA’s insurance-backed warranty and bond (at no charge) to clients, to provide assurance that your work will be completed to required technical industry standards.

Plus, if your company has already achieved ECA-recognised technical certification, you may be eligible immediately to apply for ECA membership, and receive a 25 per cent discount in your first year.*

To find out more about the extensive member services and exclusive benefits and discounts available, please visit www.eca.co.uk/membership.

How your organisation can benefit from ECA membership

Source: Electrical Trade Magazine

The FPS urges people over 75 to sign up to cold weather priority initiative

The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) is urging the elderly aged 75+ using heating oil to sign up to its Cold Weather Priority initiative before the cold weather hits the UK, as it responds to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics which show an estimated 50,100 excess winter deaths in England and Wales during winter 2017/18.

Launched by trade association FPS andits members across the UK and Ireland, the Cold Weather Priority scheme identifies heating oil customers, aged 75+, who are most vulnerable to cold conditions. The scheme ensures FPS member heating oil suppliers prioritise everyone on the scheme and undertake best endeavours for heating oil deliveries, especially in times of fuel shortage or extreme cold weather.

“The latest figures emphasise that it is the elderly who are most vulnerable in the winter months and that a warm home is vital in the fight against excess winter deaths,” says Guy Pulham, FPS Chief Executive.

“The Cold Weather Priority is an industry initiative we launched last year, designed to identify those most at risk so we can ensure heating oil deliveries are prioritised for them and they can continue to heat their homes during the winter months.

“While supply shortages and extreme weather are thankfully rare, they do happen, as the Beast from the East in late February 2018 demonstrated. The Cold Weather Priority helped enormously during this extreme cold snap and meant our members were able to deliver heating oil to those most in need despite the logistical challenges caused by the weather.

“Cold homes can be devastating for individuals, and can cause health problems such as increased blood pressure or lowered immune system making that person more vulnerable to respiratory infections. It is absolutely vital we do all we can to ensure no one suffers the awful consequences of a poorly heated home.

“Our FPS members supply up to 1.5 million rural homes in the UK with heating oil. To date, near to 10,000 people have signed up to the Cold Weather Priority but we want more people to sign up before the weather turns much colder and the forecasted Beast From The East 2019 hits.

“If you want to sign up to the Cold Weather Priority, simply get in touch with your local FPS member who supplies your heating oil and they’ll help you. Similarly, if you know any neighbours, friends or loved ones who are aged 75 and over and who heat their homes using heating oil, encourage them to sign up to the initiative to ensure they stay warm this winter.”

To find out more about the scheme, visit the Cold Weather Priority website.

The FPS urges people over 75 to sign up to cold weather priority initiative

Source: HVP Magazine

Colleges gearing up for sparks 2019 competition

This year we’re celebrating the 10th birthday of the SPARKS UK Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition. An incredible showcase of young electrical talent, this competition is a great opportunity for student electricians to connect with each other and with industry experts.

Spanning across 7 UK regions with entrants from over 70 colleges and campuses, heats take place throughout January and February. The winner of each regional heat and the highest scoring runner-up will go on to the grand final, which will take place at the 3M Customer Innovation Centre in Bracknell, Berkshire in March.

Level 2 and 3 students will compete in practical tasks, and be judged by industry experts. Last year’s finalists completed the most comprehensive test to date and this year’s competition is set to be even more exciting!

The stakes are high, with an incredible list of prizes worth up to £10,000 up for grabs, not to mention the prestige for both the winning student and their college. The prizes have been donated by well-known industry names including Schneider Electric, Electric Center, WAGO, 3M, HiKOKI, the IET and Rated People.

Last year’s winner, Matt Taylor, from Farnborough College of Technology, said: “I’m ecstatic – I just didn’t see myself winning. I entered to give myself a challenge and I’ve definitely achieved that. The other competitors were great and what I’ll take away from this is the knowledge that I can do something that I thought I couldn’t.”

Running alongside the competition is the Meet the Lecturer/Manufacturer series, a chance for the industry’s most prominent manufacturers to showcase their products and opportunities. This will give lecturers insight into the ever-changing market trade scene to pass on to the next generation of electricians.

“This is now the 10th year of our competition, and it has provided many life changing opportunities for our competing apprentices,” said Celia Matthews, owner of SPARKS Magazine. “Many competitors have gone on to very successful employment or to own their own businesses, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2019’s participants.”

Taking part in the competition can do amazing things for an electrician’s career, and we now have 9 years’ worth of contestants out in the world proving just that.

Colleges gearing up for sparks 2019 competition

Source: Electrical Times

Energy theft would be ignored by one in four people, research discovers

A research report has found that one in four UK residents wouldn’t report an instance of energy meter tampering, despite 92% agreeing that the practice is morally wrong.

The study was commissioned by Echo Managed Services and Grosvenor Services Group, and endorsed by Crimestoppers UK.

It surveyed 2,000 UK residents and found that only 54% of the public would report a suspected instance of energy theft “without question”, with a further 21% saying they would alert authorities to the crime, but only if it took place in their local vicinity.

A number of justifications arose among those who would not report an energy thief. These included answers such as it “wasn’t their business” (8%), that they would not want to betray a friend or family member involved (10%), or they thought the person in question was doing it for a valid reason (4%).

Turning a blind eye to this crime is a more common stance among younger people, with 33% of 18-24 year olds and 38% of 25-34 year olds preferring not to act on their knowledge in varying circumstances.

When asked why they wouldn’t report meter tampering, 44% of people said they would be worried about the potential personal repercussions, with a further 13% saying that it’s nothing to do with them. More than one in 10 said that they believe energy companies already make enough money and therefore energy theft causes no harm.

19% said that they wouldn’t know who to report it to, with 11% saying that there would be no point as it’s unlikely that anything would be done about it.

Lloyd Birkhead, Managing Director of Grosvenor Services Group, said: “Demonstrating the impact of investigations is also key – rather than keeping the great work being done to tackle energy theft covert, more could be done to let the public know about meter changeovers, arrests and convictions, underlining how this has prevented injuries and will help tackle inflated bills.

“These figures show that the energy sector mustn’t assume that the general public will be working with them to reduce energy theft; as it stands at least one quarter won’t.”

Energy theft would be ignored by one in four people, research discovers

Source: HVP Magazine

Funding deal for landmark Birmingham resi tower

Funding has been secured for one of Birmingham’s tallest residential blocks in the second phase of the City’s Exchange Square scheme.

This morning build to rent specialist Grainger said that it had agreed to forward fund and acquire the planned 373-home project for £77m.

The deal still requires developer Nikal to secure planning consent but should allow construction to start in mid-2019,

Already planning is in place for 223 flats. But Nikal will now submit fresh proposals in early 2019 for a landmark building that has been mooted at 46-storeys.

This would make it the tallest residential tower in Birmingham.

The tower, will form part of a new urban village at Exchange Square, and will be a gateway landmark for those arriving at the Birmingham HS2 Curzon Street Station, which is directly opposite the site.

Presently, Sir Robert McAlpine is working on the first phase of developer Nikal’s Exchange Square in Birmingham City Centre, which consists of three buildings, including a 27 storey tower.

Helen Gordon, Chief Executive of Grainger, said: “We are delighted to announce today’s acquisition at Exchange Square in Birmingham for £77m, which will deliver 373 homes for rent in a great central location in one of our top target cities.”

Once Exchange Square is complete, Grainger will have 529 purpose-built PRS homes in Birmingham worth .£105m, including our other PRS development scheme, Gilders Yard in the Jewellery Quarter.”

Waheed Nazir, Corporate Director, Birmingham City Council said: “The skyline in Birmingham City Centre is changing rapidly and investment and confidence is at an all-time high.”

Funding deal for landmark Birmingham resi tower

Britain heads for worst house building decade since 1940s

Britain is heading for the worst house building decade since World War Two.

Despite Government efforts to boost house building, completions in England between 2010 and 2019 are set to average out at around 130,000 per year.

This is well short of the 147,000 achieved in the 2000s or the 150,000 of the 1990s, and half of the level in the 1960s and 1970s.

The picture becomes even worse when population size is factored in.

In the 1960s, the new-build construction rate in England was roughly the equivalent of one home for every 14 people over the decade. In the 2010s, that ratio was one to 43, more than three times higher.

The figures are improved somewhat when you factor in conversions of existing properties, which push the total up – but even then, the total of net additional dwellings – the yardstick for overall housing supply – is likely to be lower this decade than last.

Across the United Kingdom as a whole, the pattern is broadly similar, with house building falling from a peak of 3.6m new units in the 1960s to 1.9m in the 1990s and 2000s, with the 2010s set to come in lower still.

Robert Colvile, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, said: “The housing crisis is blighting the lives of a generation, and robbing them of the dream of home ownership.

“But as this analysis shows, this is not just the consequence of the financial crisis – it is part of a pattern stretching back half a century, in which we have steadily built fewer and fewer new homes.

“The Government has rightly promised to focus on this issue, and there are encouraging signs that house building is picking up.

“But ministers need to take bold action in 2019 to ensure that the 2020s become the decade in which we break this hugely damaging cycle.”

Britain heads for worst house building decade since 1940s

Firms wanted for £30m Coventry Uni arts building

Coventry University has opened prequalification for firms to build a new faculty of arts and humanities and overhaul several existing buildings

It aims to spend around £30m delivering the redevelopment scheme, which is expected to get underway at the start of next year and run for nearly three years.

The project will be broken down into three key elements. This includes construction of a new 40,000 sq ft three storey, building adjacent to the existing school of art and design accommodation and full overhauls of an 80,000 sq ft, six storey tower and 45,000 sq ft four-storey block.

The site of the proposed new build element is currently green open space between the buildings being redeveloped around the Graham Sutherland building at Cox Street in the city centre.

A planning application will be submitted by the University design team this April with the aim of signing off stage III design at the start of May to award the design and build contract in June.

Firms can express an interest in bidding on the in-tend website by 19 January.

Firms wanted for £30m Coventry Uni arts building