INDUSTRY NEWS Inbrief Sponsored by


R egistr ation has opened for Futurebuild 2020 with a call to industry to act now if we are to successful l y tackle the challenges facing us all. By


ar


joining the event fr om March 3-5 2020 at ExCeL London, visitors will be able to unite with industry innov ator s to tackle climate change.


www.futur ebuild.co.uk TheWorldSkil


orldSkills UK (WSUK)


finals took place on November 21-23 at the NEC Birmingham. The competition finals included the Skil lFRIDGE competition for RACHP apprentices, which saw seven appr entices compete for the Gold.


www.worldskillsuk.or g


Polypipe is one of the founding member s of the C3 Alliance, a group of manufacturers,


contractors and developers that aims to boost productivity and value on construction pr ojects through early collaboration. www.polypipe.com


y col


Building Engineering Services Association (BES A) Scotland celebrated the success of refriger ation appr entice Josh Col lins at the national finals of orldSkil ls SkillFRIDGE


the 2019WorldSkil competition.


www.thebesa.com A specialist commercial


refrigeration and CO2 awareness training da y was held at


Panasonic UK HQ in Br acknel l with distributor Hawco and some of its customer s. www.hawco.co.uk


Ingersoll -Rand has intr oduced its pure-play climate company , along with the new company name, strategy and executiv e leadership team.


www.ingersollrandproducts.com Two XL Series boilers from A AG


AT


Commercial hav e been installed at the Menphys Hub – the new headquarter s of Leicester -based charity Menphys.


www.atagheating.co.uk


P olypipe has been acknowledged as a Gr een Champion for its intelligent r oof w ater management system. www.polypipe.com


6 NEW T MOVE QUICKL


he new gov ernment has been congratulated on its gener election victory by leading


atulated on its general


engineering services trade bodies, the Building Engineering Services Association (BES A) and the Electric al Contractors’ Association (ECA). ECA and BESA are now urging the government to use its new parliamentary majority to deliver much-needed reform and investment for the engineering and construction industries. The two associations are calling for a new a five-point plan, notably to:


ef


• Active and prompt action in 2020 towards a low to no carbon United Kingdom, on the way to a net zero carbon economy.


• Bring forward legislation to hold cash retentions in trust, as well as clamping down overall on late


W GO VERNMENT URGED T O E QUICKLY


LY ON REFORMS


payment, thereb y supporting SME businesses across the country. • Provide certainty to industry by committing to investment in key long-term construction projects and substantially investing in


• Legislate promptl y to ensure the full recommendations of the Hackitt Review and related consultations are enacted, to ensure public fire safety.


general infrastructure, including the railways and building 300,000 new homes every year. Legislate pr


• Help the engineering industry find and access the skilled people it desperately needs by strongly supporting apprentice and mature candidate training, as well as ensuring any proposed ‘ ‘Australian points-based system’ rec ognises the UK’s skills shortages.


BESA chief executive, David Frise, and ECA chief executive Steve Bratt, said: “SMEs and the skilled engineering workforce are vital to the delivery of a dynamic, low carbon UK economy. So, we particularly welcome the government’s pledge to ‘clamp down on late payment’. Ending poor payment practices remains one of the biggest concerns and it is an essential part of changing the industry’s cul


changing the industry’s culture. “Our recent industry-wide survey


has shown these practices have serious economic and financial downsides, along with putting mental health


burdens on SME owners and their staff. “Furthermore, if done correctly and in close consultation with the industry, the proposed new building regulation regime could cement a better culture of competence and compliance within the industry, and crucially, save lives.”


BPMA SIGNS SWAP WITH HHIC B


uilding on the success that the British Pump Manufacturer’s Association (BPMA) has enjoyed over recent months in securing new members, it has recently agreed a reciprocal membership agreement with the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC).


The HHIC is the industry voice for the UK domestic heating and hot water industry.


HHIC is a key part of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), a not-for-profit trade association that provides a leading industry voice to help shape the future policy direction within the energy sector.


Having held discussions regarding the important issue of non-compliant circulator pumps entering the UK market and being sold via various on-line retailers, a matter of keen interest to both parties, it became apparent they enjoyed several shared synergies through their respective product profiles.


Equipment such as heat pumps, heat interface units, expansion vessels and circulator pumps, both as standalone products and as integral parts of UK manufactured boilers are common to both memberships. It was therefore felt that further co- operation and engagement could be of mutual benefit going forwards and so the membership swap was agreed, with each organisation becoming an associate member of the other.


Stewart Clements, director at the HHIC, said of the arrangement: “Although we each have our quite specific roles to play and memberships to serve, it is clear that


January 2020 www.heatingandventilating.net


in certain areas there are commonalities of interest and so I very much welcome this agreement and look forward to developing some shared initiatives.” Gary Wilde, technical services officer at the BPMA added: “With our total number of members at a record high, and an ever-expanding suite of activities being presented, I am delighted to have entered into this special arrangement with the HHIC.


“There are a number of common interests between our two organisations, and I’ve no doubt we can each benefit from the others knowledge and expertise in those areas.”


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