NEWS Carrier drives next-generation technical talent C


arrier’s event, ‘One Carrier: Together We Grow’, at Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire, brought together early-career talent from Carrier, Toshiba and Viessmann. The


two-day programme highlighted the role of employer-led development in strengthening technical pathways as the UK renews its focus on vocational training. With Government policy centred on revitalising apprenticeships and


addressing skills shortages, industry investment is becoming a critical lever for building capacity. Offi cial data indicates that almost one in six UK roles is in critical demand, while national targets aim for two-thirds of young people to be in higher-level training, academic study or apprenticeships by age 25. Adele Watson, Apprenticeship Programme Lead for Carrier Commercial


HVAC, said the sector’s skills gap requires sustained action. “At Carrier, we believe that investing in technical talent is a strategic necessity, not just an educational one. The UK HVAC sector runs with a skilled workforce defi cit. By bringing our apprentices together from across the business, we’re nurturing the collaboration and safety-fi rst mindsets that are critical to delivering the high-value technical skills the country needs.” The event combined values-based learning, safety culture development, and teamwork exercises with career-planning workshops and a Q&A panel featuring senior engineers and recently qualifi ed apprentices. Neil Woodall of Jajo Talent, who facilitated the programme, said empowering apprentices to recognise their strengths helps them contribute quality and leadership from the outset.


L-r: Adele Watson, Emili de Oliveira, and Pedro Taieti.


Daikin UK backs call to remove levies from electricity bills D


aikin UK and other industry leaders have signed a major open letter to the Chancellor, coordinated by the Electricity


Bills Taskforce, urging the Government to shift electricity levies from household bills to general taxation.


The coalition – spanning energy, manufacturing, retail, housing, consumer and environmental organisations – warns that high electricity prices are undermining household aff ordability, business resilience and UK competitiveness. UK electricity prices currently sit 45% above the G7 median. Tomoji Miki, Managing Director of Daikin UK, said the move would support wider adoption of low-carbon heating: “As one of the UK’s leading heat pump manufacturers, we know how important it is for households and businesses to have aff ordable access to low-carbon heating. We believe such adjustments will be an important part of advancing the government-led transition to renewable energy, helping make cleaner heating accessible to more people across the UK.”


NIBE. He said: “Making electricity more aff ordable is fundamental if the UK is serious about electrifying heat and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. At present, households are being encouraged to move towards technologies such as heat pumps while many of the costs associated with energy and decarbonisation policy continue to sit disproportionately on electricity bills. That imbalance makes the transition harder for consumers and weakens the fi nancial case for electrifi cation.


According to the Taskforce, transferring levies to the Exchequer could cut business electricity prices by up to 20%, reduce average domestic bills by up to £250 a year, and save electrically heated households up to £420 annually. The letter follows the Government’s Autumn Budget 2025, which began to move some levies away from bills – a step the coalition describes as welcome but insuffi cient. Paul Smith, Managing Director of NIBE Energy Systems UK, signed the joint letter on behalf of


“That is why I was pleased to sign this letter on behalf of NIBE. Moving these levies away from electricity bills would help address that imbalance, reduce costs for households and send a much clearer signal that the UK is committed to making clean heating aff ordable and accessible. We cannot encourage households to move away from fossil fuel heating while maintaining an electricity pricing structure that works against electrifi cation, and rebalancing electricity costs is an important part of removing that barrier.”


12 October 2026 • www.acr-news.com


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