NEWS
Engineering services alliance welcomes retentions reporting legislation
A
ctuate UK, an alliance of engineering services, has welcomed new secondary legislation mandating the reporting of cash retentions
by large construction companies. This follows upcoming changes in payment reporting regulations set to take eff ect in 2025, along with the Government’s announcement of measures to enforce payment reporting and introduce a Fair Payment Code. Late payments and retained cash are signifi cant issues for engineering services companies, with the construction sector leading the UK economy in reported insolvencies. A recent study by the Department of Business and Trade revealed that late payments cascade down the supply chain, severely impacting SMEs.
Actuate UK has long advocated for stronger prompt payment measures and an empowered Small Business Commissioner to identify and penalise repeat late
payers. The alliance plans to contribute its views in the forthcoming Government consultation on additional legislative measures to address payment issues. Rob Driscoll, ECA’s director of legal and business, hailed the new legislation as a monumental step towards cash-retentions reform. He emphasised the importance of transparency in changing corporate culture and excluding poor performers from public procurement, particularly in the wake of rising insolvencies and the collapse of ISG. Debbie Petford, BESA’s director of legal and
commercial aff airs, also welcomed the new rule. She stressed that the ramifi cations of late payments and retentions are deeply felt down the supply chains, putting immense pressure on smaller companies. She urged the Government to keep late payments at the top of their agenda to foster necessary cultural changes within the industry.
Lordan signs partnership agreement with Spanish coil company Sereva
Lordan has bought 19.9% of the Spanish coil company Sereva in a strategic move set to signifi cantly expand the group’s presence in Europe and give access to the retail and hospitality sector through Lordan’s existing global sales network. Sereva’s coils are supplied to OEMs specialising in cooling food. They are specialists in the design and manufacture of custom evaporator coils, providing a personalised service to manufacturers and installers of refrigeration and freezer systems. Both companies have established a new company: Lordan Iberian Coils (LIC), in which Lordan holds the majority stake. LIC will focus on Lordan’s existing main markets of public transportation, server farms and other 7mm coil markets.
Samsung Climate Solutions expands training facilities with a new centre in Manchester
S
amsung Climate Solutions is opening of a new training centre in Manchester. Samsung aims to train 400 installers over the next year in the new 4,004 sq ft centre, following growing demand for its training programmes, which saw a 340% increase in trained installers from 2022 to 2023. The courses are designed to equip installers with practical, hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge essential for installing and maintaining Samsung Climate Solutions’ heat pump, air conditioning and smart control technologies.
The Manchester facility, located in Orbit Development’s Cavendish House in Sale, complements Samsung’s existing Climate Solutions training centre in Chertsey, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting installers to upskill in advancing technologies in the heating and cooling industry.
Scott Young, national training manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, said: “I’ve always valued hands-on learning. Practical on-site training allows knowledge to sink in and become intuitive. The new Manchester training centre, along with our established Chertsey facility, is a testament to our commitment to helping installers eff ectively fi t the full range of Samsung Climate Solutions products. Additionally, we provide extensive online resources through our Samsung Business Academy. The online platform provides greater fl exibility so learning can take place around installers’ busy schedules.” “At Samsung Climate Solutions,
we are committed to sharing our expertise in heat and cooling technology and off ering support in design, planning and commissioning, ensuring installers have a reliable safety net. Through the courses we off er, installers will learn how to implement effi cient heating
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and cooling systems to give them the skills they need to advise their customers in technologies that are evolving every day.” The centre has recently been
refurbished and now includes the addition of a cosy garden room with a coff ee and break-out area, along with a new Peloton suite and electric charging stations. Young continued: “We’re also actively engaging with colleges to
inspire the next generation of trade professionals. Joining forces with the social enterprise Your Energy Your Way has led to a successful traineeship scheme for aspiring heating installers. The trainees are amazing and are taking to it well. This initiative shows how a clear pathway to becoming a qualifi ed heating engineer can be established, providing a model for further eff orts and other organisations to replicate.”
www.acr-news.com • November 2024 9
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