Insidethis issue 3 MARCH 2026 VOLUME 64 ISSUE 2 Editor’s
Viewpoint by Chris Jones
Looking for job security?
The unfairness of the current student loan system has been widely acknowledged, as cases mount up of students being unable to fi nd jobs that pay suffi ciently well to enable them to pay back the debt they accumulated while at university. The government has come under pressure to fi nd ways of reducing those debts, while the Conservative opposition has announced its intention to save money by reducing places for ‘low quality degrees’ by 100,000. It seems that anything to do with the creative arts will be deemed as unaff ordable luxuries, with the emphasis fi rmly placed on those degrees that are more likely to directly benefi t UK PLC. However, as we start to navigate the foothills of what looks sure to be an AI-dominated economy, it is not easy to predict what those productive and lucrative careers are going to be that will need degree level students. It has quickly become something of a cliché to say that plumbers
and electricians are one of the few areas where workers will be able to enjoy an element of future job security. Software development, call-centres and other desk-bound jobs all look vulnerable to the superior brain-power of artifi cial intelligence, but it may be some time yet before self-programming machinery is capable of replicating some of the tasks required by more complicated and non-routine manuallabour. One problem, though – just how many plumbers and electricians is this future society going to need? And with everyone else out of work and on benefi ts, who will be able to aff ord to employ them? We of course turn to our politicians to come up with solutions to
such thorny questions and perhaps that’s one career where success could be a protection against early-redundancy. Having established a thriving plumbing and heating business, job security was probably not high on the list of motivations when Hannah Spencer decided to put her plumbing work on hold and seek election to Westminster (see page 4), but having a representative of this sector with a voice in Parliament can only be good for the wider plumbing industry. We hope that her newly chosen career is a long one!
Special Features Heat
15 Pumps
An update on the UK heat pump market and ways to maximise system effi ciency levels
Regulars
04 News Review 09 Merchant News 10 People on the Move 10 Horror Show 11 Gadgets & Tools 12 Business Matters 13 Training Update 15 Industry Viewpoint 15 Special Features
Product News
36 Vans & Racking 37 Product News 39 Directory
Don’t forget to use our online reader enquiry service to quickly fi nd the web page you need
See page 37 for the latest product news 27
Radiators & Towel Warmers
The ongoing success of a UK manufacturer and the importance of sustainable production
31
Ventilation & Heat Recovery
How raising installation standards can help to combat the problem of damp and mould in the home.
Contributors
Ian Trott Heat Pumps
16
What installers need to know about working with R290 refrigerant and why it’s ideal for ASHPs
Phillip Conroy Radiators & Towel Warmers
28
Why manufacturing processes, materials and packaging should not be overlooked
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The Essential Magazine for Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement Professionals
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© Copyright 2026 Plumbing, Heating & Air Movement News All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without written consent from the publisher. Attributed articles represent the views of the Author(s) and are not the necessarily those of the Editor. The publishers accept no responsibility for claims made by manufacturers or advertisers. This magazine includes a number of colour editorial photographs paid for by suppliers.
Managing Editor Chris Jones Assistant Editor Carol Hitchcock Consultant Publisher Chris Evans Southern Advertisement Manager Nathan Wood Production Paul Forster Design Consultant Tim Plummer
Chris Knights Ventilation & Heat Recovery
31
How to ensure that ventilation systems don’t underperform after installation
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