PHAM NEWS | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 4 News Review


Glasgow installer narrowly avoids jail


Consultation on off-grid heating alternatives


The launch of a new DESNZ consultation on the potential role of alternative heating solutions for decarbonising heating in off- gas grid homes and non-domestic buildings has been welcomed by OFTEC. The oil heating body says that the consultation titled ‘Exploring the Role of Alternative Clean Heating Solutions’ marks a pivotal turning point in the government’s off grid policy plans. The consultation seeks to explore


a range of technologies, including renewable liquid fuels, that could play a role in heat decarbonisation, their benefits to consumers, and the circumstances in which they could provide the biggest impact. Paul Rose, CEO of OFTEC, comments: “The announcement is an important milestone and a result of the continued efforts of our industry and consumers to urge the government to explore more practical and affordable low carbon heating solutions for harder-to-treat buildings. “The consultation correctly identifies that the quality of building stock and infrastructure limitations mean that heat pumps and heat networks may not be suitable for all buildings. We share the government’s view that, alongside technologies like heat pumps, it’s increasingly evident other solutions will be needed to


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achieve the UK’s net zero goals. We welcome the opportunity to engage in this important conversation. “Specifically, the consultation


will explore the use of renewable liquid fuels for oil heated buildings and recognises that consumers could reduce emissions from their heating whilst keeping their existing boilers. This avoids the disruption and high upfront cost of transitioning to an alternative heating system which survey data shows is supported by consumers.”


Industry trials Working alongside UKIFDA (the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association), OFTEC says that the industry has already demonstrated the viability of renewable liquid fuels following an industry project over three heating seasons which saw Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) successfully used in 150 oil heated buildings across the UK. “Our industry is ready today


to deploy at speed and make immediate and significant reductions in emissions,” says Rose. “This would also provide clarity and certainty for investment decisions being made by both industry and consumers. OFTEC and UKIFDA are ready to work constructively with DESNZ to shape an off-grid policy that is both achievable and affordable.”


A gas fitter who continued to work illegally for years after being struck off the Gas Safe Register has been sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court, according to reporting by The Glasgow Times. Syed Hussain, 43, was removed from the register in April 2019 after failing to prove competency, but continued to carry out gas work across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Lanarkshire until early 2024. Despite repeated warnings from the Health and Safety Executive that he was prohibited from undertaking such work, Hussain pressed on, at one point even using another man’s Gas Safe identification to keep trading. The court heard a series of


examples illustrating the dangers posed by Hussain’s work. In Edinburgh, where he operated under aliases including ‘Tony’ and ‘Mr Plumber’ on Gumtree, a homeowner reported leaks and hired another engineer, who found seven defects in the gas supply and eight in the boiler. In Glasgow’s Battlefield area,


another inspector deemed a boiler installation “dangerous”,


identifying six defects to the gas supply and 14 issues with the boiler after the homeowner was unable to reach Hussain following payment by bank transfer. Five further incidents of unsafe


or defective installations were detailed in court, with inspectors in several cases ruling Hussain’s work “immediately dangerous”. Hussain pleaded guilty


to


multiple offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act, including culpably and recklessly installing unsafe boilers and pipework. Sheriff Iain Fleming described


his behaviour as “disgraceful” and said custody had been narrowly avoided only because Hussain had no previous convictions and was the main carer for his four children. He was sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work and handed a 12-month electronic curfew. Hussain’s defence said he accepted the seriousness of his actions and had faced personal and financial pressures after moving to Scotland, though he acknowledged these did not excuse the risks he created for the public.


Army leavers could help close skills shortage


The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is urging military engineers transitioning to civilian life to consider becoming trainers, assessors and building safety auditors. The Association believes that army leavers could help to address the critical shortage of apprenticeship trainers and assessors that continues to undermine the delivery of building services courses. “68% of UK employers struggled


to find skilled workers in the past year, with the shortfall costing businesses a collective £4.4 billion,” says BESA’s head of competence Stuart Rattray. “Yet there is an often-overlooked solution hiding in plain sight in the shape of highly trained people leaving our armed forces. “They represent a rich and


largely untapped pool of skilled, dedicated professionals who bring


with them a wealth of transferable skills, discipline and a proven ability to thrive in high-pressure environments,” he adds. “However, as well as being


ideal direct recruits into the built environment workforce, they can also be rapidly re-trained to help our colleges deliver more of the specialist courses we so desperately need.” Helping to prove the point, two


members of the Royal Corps of Engineers reached the final of this year’s WorldSkills UK refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump section, which is organised by BESA, with one of those, 18-year- old Isaac Jervis, going on to take the gold medal. Issac, pictured third right, scored well over 90% in all the combined elements of the competition, held at Cardiff and Vale College.


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