Business News
Energy experts warn of lockdown consequences on the fuel poor
With home energy bills expected to soar as a consequence of the Covid-19 lockdown, academics from Sheffield Hallam University have raised concerns that the impact could be more costly for low-income families. While total energy consumption
has declined with large sections of the economy shutting down, domestic consumption has increased. Uswitch estimates that home
confinement costs families an additional £16 a week due to extra electricity and gas being used for cooking, making hot drinks, televisions, computers and heating. The increase is more profound
for people living in homes with poor energy standards. In normal circumstances, it costs £2,000 more a year to adequately heat an EPC G-rated home compared to an EPC C-rated home. The problem is widespread as the UK has some of the most energy inefficient housing in Europe. While Ofgem and energy
companies have reached agreement to introduce measures for low-income consumers to pause or reduce bill payments, these individuals will still be expected to
Home confinement is costing families extra
found that measures which improve thermal comfort in the home can lead to health improvements, especially for those with chronic respiratory disease. Dr Ambrose added: “While there
is no specific research to date on whether warm homes can contribute to tackling Covid-19, the evidence suggests it can play an important role in tacking respiratory illness in general. This includes warm homes enabling immune systems to better fight off viruses; improving the likelihood of people with viruses only suffering mild symptoms; and improving the recovery process for those returning from hospital after receiving treatment for an illness. “It reinforces the importance of
putting every effort into making sure people can afford their energy bills. Schemes that only defer payment may not reassure people who are struggling to pay their bills to keep the heating on.” The team of academics from the
pay the amounts owed. Dr Aimee Ambrose, Reader in
Energy Policy at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Many are anxious about how they can afford the extra energy costs built up because
of home confinement and are rationing their fuel use to cope. And with recession on the horizon, many wonder how they will ever catch up.” An existing Cochrane review has
Firm lends a hand to hospital
A Derbyshire Dales manufacturing business played its part in the opening of the temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital at London’s ExCeL centre. Buxoplas, of Bradwell, supplied bespoke water pipes
free of charge on next day delivery to support the speedy creation of the first of the Government's emergency field hospitals to treat coronavirus patients. Specialists in developing and working with extruded
plastic products for the past 45 years, Buxoplas continues to operate through the coronavirus outbreak, supplying a wide range of markets with plastic tubing, including food supply chains. Buxoplas director Steve Mycock said: “We
received two separate orders for water pipes, one from the Nightingale at the ExCel and another from the NEC, and we didn't charge for either. As a manufacturing company that continues to operate - albeit at 70% of our usual capacity due to coronavirus self-isolation - we were just happy to do anything to help. We have also signed up to the Government's coronavirus business volunteer scheme in case there is anything else we can do.”
‘We were just happy to do anything to help’
Buxoplas is one of the many local companies that
benefited from free business advice from Derbyshire Dales District Council prior to Covid-19, helping the company access finance to support its growth. A District Council spokesperson said: “We know the Buxoplas team really well and it's great that a
Derbyshire Dales business is rising to the challenge and helping the national fight against coronavirus. “It’s also an opportune moment
to press home to Government the needs of local small and medium sized manufacturing and engineering firms. The District Council is acutely aware that many SMEs in the Derbyshire
Dales, either in sectors not prioritised for support or
above the threshold due to the size of their premises are facing significant cashflow problems and uncertainty in the longer term. We are feeding back these concerns to Government and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership along with suggestions on what else could be done.”
Fuel Poverty Research Network has called on government for a programme which ensures all homes in the UK are warm and affordable is high on its post- coronavirus agenda.
Safety signage guide launched
Spectrum Industrial has launched a guide to help businesses to implement a social distancing safety signage programme onto their premises. Although many businesses
still operating have put a social distancing program in place, a recent study by Spectrum Industrial highlights how over 20% of businesses found it really difficult to put something in place. Paul Kantecki, Managing
Director, said: “Over the last 25 years we have conducted a number of audits with businesses to help guide them on safety signage and products. We hope that our guide offers a basic guideline for businesses to follow and implement into their environment.”
To download a copy of the guide visit www.spectrum-
industrial.co.uk
Spring 2020 CHAMBERconnect 11
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