News PEOPLE
Ecovision Renewables has appointed its sales manager, Paul Dean, as general manager and sales director. Before joining Ecovision in January 2012, Mr Dean had been responsible for sales within a global wind turbine company. Previously he had suc- cessfully run sales teams with a strong emphasis on business development across the forestry, commercial flooring and paper industries.
Humidity Solutions has recruited Wayne Hayward to strengthen its sales team. He has many years of experience of work- ing in the HVAC sector and in particular serving the industrial and process industries. With a high level of experience, product and site knowledge, he will lead the company’s expansion into the dehumidifier market.
Fernox has recruited John Tate as technical project engineer. An experienced mechanical engineer and designer, he will now have a central role in the company’s comprehensive prod- uct development programme.
Mark Oakes has been appointed to the new post of head of spe- cialist group services and asso- ciation secretary at the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES), following the retirement of Gareth Keller after 18 years of distinguished service.
Bosch Commercial and Industrial Heating has expanded its sales presence with a new appointment for the Scotland and Cumbria area: Michael Thomson has joined as commercial techni- cal manager.
Baxi Commercial has expanded its sales team to boost its pres- ence within the commercial heating market. The company has appointed three new area sales managers, Christine Thorne, Paul Hawkins and Russell Barker.
Delron Services Ltd (DSL) has appointed Martin Burton as operations director. Mr Burton joined DSL in 2010 as senior projects manager and has exten- sive experience in the building services industry. He was also president of the HVCA (B&ES) from 2010/2011.
B&ES state of trade survey highlights continuing market improvement
According to the latest state of trade survey conducted by the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES), business is continuing to improve for its members, with increased order books and enquiries being reported virtually across the board. The research, which covers the period from January to June 2014, also reveals growing confidence in future commercial prospects. 56% of respondents said they felt positive about future prospects, resulting in the ‘net optimism measure’ rising from +35% to +49% compared with six months ago. Improved trading conditions are
reflected by a welcome stabilisation in tender prices, but also by an increase in labour costs as skills shortages begin to emerge again. However, rises in materi- als costs were less evident than at the start of the year. More than half (58%) of respond-
ents reported an increase in their order books – twice as many as last time – and almost half had experienced higher enquiry levels. Geographically, more companies in East Anglia, East Midlands and the South West of England reported
B&ES chief executive Roderick
Pettigrew (pictured left) said this is the third successive survey to have revealed a more positive outlook for building engineering services and, by implica- tion, for the construction industry as a whole.
improvement in business levels than in other regions, with only firms in Northern Ireland recording a decline in enquiries and recruitment, along with static order books and turnover levels. The biggest improvement was seen
by companies that are active in service and facilities and industrial/commercial installation. Business also grew in the domestic sector, where a decline in both order books and enquiries was noted in the previous survey. As many as 38% of respondents
were able to confirm that they were employing more people than six months ago, while 44% expected to recruit dur- ing the second half of 2014. The use of agency labour had also risen significantly – as had the number of firms hiring apprentices or trainees, which showed an increase of more than a fifth.
He said: “With enquiries, order books and turnover all on an upward trend, our members are beginning to credit that a sustained and increasingly robust recovery may genuinely be on its way.
“I am also pleased to note that our members are recruiting again – most significantly at apprentice and trainee level – especially in the light of the skills shortages that are already begin- ning to appear in many areas of the workforce.” He went on to note the growth in the residential market – which had been slower to show than in other sectors – and expressed the hope that prospects in Northern Ireland would soon catch up with those in the rest of the UK. Overall 16% of B&ES member
firms took part in its fifth state of trade survey. The research was undertaken in July this year by independent consultant Lychgate Projects. The full report can be viewed by visiting
www.b-es.org.
ACR Show 2016 is set to connect, inspire and engage
The ACR Show, the UK’s only dedicated event for the air condi- tioning and refrigeration industry returns to the NEC, Birmingham 16-18 February 2016. The event has a brand new, user friendly website which is compatible with all desktop and mobile devices, while a show app - designed to connect exhibi- tors and visitors all year round - will launch in January 2015. Despite extreme weather condi- tions affecting many parts of the country, The ACR Show 2014 attracted 2,492* unique visitors - all buyers, contractors, installers and end-users who braved the journey to see new technologies and hear from the industry’s top experts. 2016 sees the show expanding to include heat pump companies, a natural integration, with the three industry sectors already working closely together in today’s market. Besides a fantastic line up of exhibitors showcasing the latest technologies, will be an informative
6 | October 2014 | HVR
and topical seminar programme in each of the three main seminar thea- tres, with further opportunities for companies to run their own seminar programmes in mini theatres. New for 2016, Toshiba Carrier is delighted to be sponsoring the Training and Careers Theatre. David Dunn, general manager, Toshiba Air Conditioning said: “We believe train- ing is vital to maintain and enhance professional standards across the industry and secure its future. We will be actively supporting and champion- ing the development of the show’s Training and Careers Theatre in the run up to and during the event, to help ensure it fulfils its potential.”
The Institute of Refrigeration, REFCOM, B&ES and FETA have voiced their support for the 2016 event. REFCOM’s Stephen Crocker said: “We think it’s vital that the industry has a focus, so that knowledge and experience can be passed on. It’s much better to meet people and talk directly with them on occasions like this, rather than disseminating information all the time.”
With 18 months to go until doors open, organiser Datateam Business has reported a surge in early bookings. “We took 30% more bookings at the close of the 2014 event than in 2012, a clear indication that we are listening to and meeting the needs of the industry,” said Karena Cooper, exhibition sales manager, adding, “To be sure of the best location, companies are advised book now.” For more information on visit- ing or exhibiting, go to
www.acr-
show.com
Daily news update at
www.heatingandventilating.net
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