PHAM NEWS | APRIL 2025 10 News Review


Opportunity for Scottish apprentices


The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) has signed a partnership agreement with the British Plumbing Employers Council (BPEC) to rebrand the Scottish Plumbing Apprentice of the Year (SPAY) copper category as Scotland’s qualifying heat for the UK-wide SkillPLUMB competition. Apprentices who do well in the SkillPLUMB category will have a clear pathway to national and international recognition through the WorldSkills UK framework. “This new partnership will


help further elevate the SPAY competition to new heights, providing Scotland’s apprentices with the opportunity to compete on a bigger stage and develop the advanced skills our industry demands,” says SNIPEF chief executive Fiona Hodgson. Marking its 50th anniversary in June this year, SPAY has provided


a launchpad for more than 1,200 apprentices, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers in the plumbing and heating profession. This year’s competition will take


place at South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride, where apprentices will compete in three specialist categories: copper, leadwork and renewable technologies. Participants from across Scotland’s colleges and training centres will demonstrate their technical expertise, problem-solving abilities and precision under competition conditions, ensuring they are well-


prepared for the demands of the profession. “Competitions like this are


more than just a test of ability, they set a benchmark for excellence, reinforce the importance of high- quality training and inspire the next generation to strive for success,” adds Hodgson. SNIPEF is calling on the Scottish government to introduce greater incentives and fi nancial support for employers, ensuring they can continue to take on apprentices and equip the next generation with the skills needed to sustain the industry.


SHC opens in Nottingham


A new Sustainable Home Centre has opened in Nottingham. A joint initiative between heat pump manufacturer Daikin and local plumbing supplier Michael Pavis, the centre is designed to help educate homeowners about low carbon home heating, supporting anyone considering the transition. The facility will also be used to provide installers with free heat pump training and commissioning support. “We believe this collaboration will play a key role in advancing the


adoption of green technologies in the region,” says James Bruce, operations support at Michael Pavis. “The Sustainable Home Centre will serve as a hub for training, innovation, and education, off ering hands-on workshops and demonstrations. By equipping installers with the latest knowledge and tools, we aim to empower them to deliver high-quality, energy-effi cient solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future for homeowners and businesses alike.”


Tundish marks 10th anniversary


This year, RA Tech UK Ltd celebrates the 10th anniversary of the launch of its Hotun dry trap tundish. It was back in 2015 that Russell Armstrong and his wife Ally brought the innovative solution to market. The product helped to create a


whole new method of boiler installation and is now widely recognised as the best-known dry trap in the UK. “Of course, with success


A showcase for sustainable heating


As part of its mission to drive the adoption of low-carbon heating in the UK, NIBE Energy Systems has opened a new show apartment in Bracknell which features the company’s latest exhaust air heat pump in operation. The show apartment at Royal Winchester House,


a development that also features 315 other NIBE heat pumps, was offi cially opened by Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association (HPA), who performed the ribbon cutting ceremony with NIBE UK MD Paul Smith. Speaking at the opening, Charlotte said: “The show


apartment is a powerful example of how innovation in heat pump technology can directly support the UK’s low- carbon ambitions. It is vital that the industry provides clear, real-world demonstrations like this to help inspire confi dence and accelerate uptake.” The apartment will enable visitors to experience


the benefi ts of the NIBE S735C heat pump fi rst-hand. The all-in-one system provides heating, hot water, ventilation, heat recovery, and active cooling and forms part of the company’s broader 2025 strategy, which includes a strategic partnership with British Gas to strengthen service capabilities, sharpened focus on expanding distribution channels across the UK, and a commitment to supporting new homes and developers in tackling the challenge of decarbonising multi-family housing. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/425/08


comes imitation and we see this as fl attery, because big companies would never copy a bad idea!” says Russell. With its advanced design,


Russell explains that the hotun still retains its place in the market as being the only fully diagnostic-friendly dry trap tundish (for PRV discharge). This open sided construction allows the diagnosing engineer to easily see any residual water left in the tundish after the PRV has stopped dripping, which is an essential need for properly diagnosing PRV water


loss due to over pressure (or temperature). You can also feel inside the bowl of the tundish if you need to confi rm this. RA Tech has also developed the fi rst,


in-tundish fully automatic and audible, (active), diagnostic fault indication for PRV discharges, with its thermistor sensing tip able to detect and alert the homeowner of any PRV discharge in up to four different ways, depending on the temperature of the discharging water. So customers now have the option of a passive fault indication (dry trap) device or an active and audible indication of faults, which will help to prevent unwanted boiler lockouts due to low pressure or


the loss of heated water literally going down the drain. For further information, please use the


online readerlink below: ◼ phamnews.co.uk/425/09


Offi cial opening for ESBE offi ces


Senior staff from ESBE recently joined the hydronics specialist’s UK retailers and installers to mark the offi cial opening of the company’s new UK headquarters, in Rossendale, Lancashire. Newly appointed MD Darren Myers and technical manager Nigel Raper welcomed ESBE AB’s CEO Peter Cerny along with Jorgen Thelin, the manufacturer’s sales director. Refl ecting on the time and eff ort which has


been invested in helping establish ESBE in the UK, Peter Cerny says: “It’s been a long journey, but the result is fantastic. I am so proud of all


that has been accomplished by Darren and the team around him.” Key product areas ESBE will be targeting


during the coming year are VRGs to support the heat pump market, linear and control valves for commercial applications, circulation units, and support for OEMs. Specifi ers and heating engineers seeking further information on ESBE’s product range and services can call on the support of ESBE’s technical advisory service – or go online to view the manufacturer’s instructional videos. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/425/10


Funding for clean heat solutions


Social housing providers are being encouraged by Baxi to ensure they have robust clean heat strategies in place for both new build and refurbishment projects following funding announcements in the recent Spring Statement. The call follows the allocation of £2 billion to support the development of 18,000 new aff ordable homes, half of which is allocated for social housing. Rob Pearse, residential business director at Baxi, says: “Delivering clean heat in the social housing sector can be challenging, and we intend to support providers from the earliest steps of their net zero journey. It is important to identify the system that delivers the best effi ciency, cost and environmental results for the building and occupants. Working closely with experts and the wider supply chain can provide the expertise and solutions to do this successfully for both new build and retrofi t.” Baxi has developed a broad portfolio of heat pump solutions, along with commissioning services and customer support. This includes new prefabricated pod options for new build and retrofi t by Baxi Packaged Solutions (BPS). For larger developments and multiple occupancy buildings, the company operates a full-service heat network team offering support with design and implementation of end-to-end solutions. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/425/11


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