BSEE JANUARY 2012 TM


Now is the time for building services engineering employers to prepare for the business opportunities Green Deal will create, says SummitSkills after the Energy Act laying the foundation for the Government’s environmental initiative became law. The passing of the Act marks a major step towards the Government’s aim of increasing the energy efficiency of homes and businesses and changing the way the UK uses and generates energy.


Consultation to inform the secondary legislation deciding the details of the scheme began in late 2011, with the Government on schedule to launch its Green Deal in October 2012.


Business opportunity


Announcing the year-long countdown to the launch, Climate Change Minister Greg Barker described Green Deal as: “A massive business opportunity” which was expected to attract capital investment of £15 billion in the


BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER The authoritative voice of the industry


Take action now, says SummitSkills


residential sector alone by 2020 and support 250,000 jobs.


Chief Executive of SummitSkills, Keith Marshall OBE, said: “The message from Government is clear. Green Deal is now on a countdown to becoming reality and skilled operatives in the BSE sector will play a leading role in ensuring this ambitious scheme’s success.


Forward looking


employers need to be preparing now, looking at the skills in their workforce and identifying how to plug any skills gaps with accredited training.”


The right training


Keith continued: “As BSE operatives increasingly develop their skills into these new low carbon and microgeneration technologies, SummitSkills wants to make sure that installers don’t waste time and money on sub-standard training. Businesses which spend resources on the right training will more quickly get MCS-certified, giving


Enterprise Centre will drive low carbon jobs


A new Enterprise Centre to be built on the Norwich Research Park at the University of East Anglia (UEA) with innovative use of natural materials and the most advanced approaches to low carbon is set to be a major stimulus to the region’s economy and to the UK low carbon sector.


Setting new standards


The Enterprise Centre will be housed in a new building of up to 4000 square metres, scheduled to be built in 2013 and opened the following year. A design competition will take place with the aim of producing a building that is architecturally distinguished as well as demonstrating the highest levels of energy performance and lowest carbon footprint of any facility yet built. Project Director Dr John French, Chief Executive of the Low Carbon Innovation


Centre and of InCrops Enterprise Hub, both based at UEA and part of the new centre, said the project was aiming high. “This will be a first in the UK University and business sectors, further advancing UEA’s low carbon credentials and setting new standards in building concept and design through the innovative use of natural materials and bio- based products. It will provide leadership and inspiration to businesses and entrepreneurs,” he said.


Other collaborators in the project, which aims to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and Passivhaus Certification, are BRE and the Fraunhofer Institute and Kingston University, which bring unique contributions in the field of sustainable materials, new technologies and design.


The building will host a new Centre for the Built Environment with an area dedicated to


showcasing, monitoring and testing new sustainable products and bio-based materials from local companies. It will be used as the main demonstration project for the regional low carbon strategy to exemplify best practice in low carbon materials and design to the small business sector.


Enhance opportunities


In addition, it will house an early stage incubator for new start-up businesses to further enhance opportunities for UEA graduates and encourage staff across the NRP to start their own businesses. The NRP Enterprise Centre will create an important focal point for engagement with industry and commerce with every stage of the project being monitored and its low carbon performance reported and disseminated.


Page 24 As the


demand for sustainable building continues to grow at a


considerable rate, Vicky Kenrick from Allen & York explores career opportunities within building services.


them the edge over their competitors.” Free, half-day Green Deal Connections roadshows are running until March 2012 to provide employers with the information they will need about the scheme. The events have been organised by a partnership between SummitSkills and the other sector skills councils for the built environment, Asset Skills and CITB-ConstructionSkills


INSIDE THIS MONTH:


Are we ticking boxes or saving serious cash?


Page 14 With the first CRC footprint reports revealing that big


users have huge potential for energy savings, Brian Rickerby, of energyTEAM says it is time for all firms to invest in bespoke energy auditing.


Every business needs to be a people business Page 18


Paul Courson of Cablofil UK


addresses the issue of customer service and explains why we need to respond to the changing needs of our customers.


The opportunities are out there


● FOR THE LATEST IN RECRUITMENT SEE PAGES 33-35 ●


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