ECA recharges electrical skills at the House of Commons R


echarging Electrical Skills, the ECA’s Parliamentary event, took place at the end of November in the House of Commons in Westminster.


A landmark meeting with ECA members, skills providers and MPs, the event aimed to increase awareness about the signifi cance of the electrical contracting sector and electrical skills in achieving the UK’s net zero goals.


The reception opened with remarks from Alan Whitehead MP, Shadow Energy Minister, followed by comments from Andrew Eldred, ECA director of workforce and public aff airs.


Alan Whitehead said: “Labour’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower will create and sustain good jobs across the country. Electricians will be absolutely crucial for delivering many of the low-carbon technologies that will form the backbone of our future green economy. “We need to make sure that our skills system is set


up to train the electricians of the future and meet the growing needs of households and businesses in the transition to cheaper, cleaner energy.” As part of the event, ECA also launched the ‘Future Electrical Skills’ Framework, setting out the ECA’s recommendations to bridge the electrician skills gap, accelerate the adoption of low carbon technologies, and ensure high-quality and safe installation and integration of electrical systems.


Heat pumps steering Scotland to net zero, says MCS


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ccording to MCS (Microgeneration Certifi cation Scheme), the standards organisation for small-scale domestic renewable energy and technology, Scotland has offi cially surpassed 200,000 small-scale renewable technology installations since records began in 2008. The latest installation fi gures show that over 35,000 of these installations are heat pumps. Heat pumps are an effi cient and sustainable heating solution for homes and are a vital part of Scotland’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2045. MCS data reveals that just over 5,000 heat pumps have been installed in Scotland this year already, making 2023 Scotland’s best year ever for heat


Also in the news:


● A new report from SJIB has revealed that 40% of current accredited electrotechnical professionals are aged under 30.


● BEAMA has launched a campaign to foster collaboration across the supply chain and Government with regards to achieving net zero.


● Scolmore Group has appointed Surej Solanki as new product development and research manager, with the aim of investing resources in the area of sustainable manufacturing. Read more in our interview on page 20.


● Made Smarter, a programme helping SME manufacturers access technology and digital skills, is to be rolled out nationally.


● Vent-Axia has scooped the ‘HVAC Product of the Year’ award at the inaugural ECN Awards 2023 with its Vent-Axia Sentinel Apex, the next generation of commercial heat recovery ventilation.


● Develop, a leading UK accredited provider of compliance, technical and safety training, is celebrating the success of its Quality


Assurance and Audit Team (QAA) as it marks its two-year anniversary.


● Ramco, a circular economy specialist that helps organisations fi nd new homes for the equipment they no longer need, has expanded its team and appointed Sam Gillespie as senior business development executive.


● V-Go Energy has joined EV charging platform Monta’s ‘Powered by’ programme with the aim of delivering a “seamless” charging experience for UK EV owners.


pump uptake.


Since its launch in 2015, the Home Energy Scotland Grant (HES) and Loan has played a big part in Scotland’s transition away from fossil fuel boilers to heat pumps.


Lee Brown, operations director at IMS Heat Pumps added: “Heat pumps are an obvious option for rural homes, particularly those off the gas grid. The incentive scheme off ered by the Scottish Government is a huge help for homeowners in Scotland looking to decarbonising their home heating, and we’re pleased to see incentive schemes in England and Wales have recently been brought closer to the level of off ering provided north of the border.”


IndustryNews NAPIT


launches new podcast


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APIT, the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, has recently launched its new podcast, titled “Watt’s Current”. The organisation will be releasing a new episode every other Wednesday, with each episode a bite-sized 20-30 minutes. Hosted by NAPIT technical commercial manager Steve Humphreys, Watt’s Current will feature a variety of topics and themes, including technical insight, industry updates, new technologies, regulation changes and the latest developments in NAPIT’s services. The podcast will also invite perspectives from a number of industry experts and other professionals in the fi eld to provide a dynamic and engaging listening experience for the audience.


NAPIT encourages listeners to write in with suggestions of topics they’d like to see them cover. You can email suggestions to besocial@napit.org.uk.


ewnews.co.uk


January 2024 electrical wholesaler | 7


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