PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2024 4 News Review Trades need to be promoted in schools


Many trade professionals (92%) believe more needs to be done within schools to encourage young people into the trades. That was one of the key findings of a new ‘Voice of The Trade’ report by Screwfix which outlines some of the key challenges of those currently working in the industry, including difficulties in attracting new talent. The survey of over 1,000 UK


tradespeople reveals that while 75% have work booked for the


Another milestone for UK heat pump installations


A quarter-of-a-million certified heat pumps have now been fitted in the UK, according to new figures from MCS (the Microgeneration Certification Scheme). From January to July 2024, more


than 30,000 certified heat pumps were installed in homes and small businesses across the UK, which is a 45% increase compared to the same period in 2023 and puts 2024 on track to be a record-breaking year for the technology. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme


(BUS) remains a vital part of making heat pumps more affordable and accessible. Recent government figures show that Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications are up 73% from January to June 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with a total of 14,554 BUS applications submitted in the first six months of 2024. This reflects the growing number of consumers across England and Wales who are taking advantage of the incentive, which provides £7,500 towards the installation of a heat pump and requires it to be MCS certified. For those in Scotland, the Home


Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan offers a similar incentive, with grants up to £7,500 for heat pump installations, and up to £9,000 for some rural households.


Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, comments:


“The latest MCS data shows that heat pumps continue to be installed in record numbers. July was the fifth month in a row to have more than 4,500 certified heat pump installations, maintaining progress towards 2024 being a record year for the technology – by a sizeable margin. In total, there have now been over 250,000 certified heat pumps installed in the UK, which is a significant milestone.” Vishavjeet Sodhi, head of air


solutions at LG Business Solutions, adds: “Homeowners are clearly recognising the long-term economic and environmental benefits of the technology. As the heat pump adoption journey gathers pace, maintaining this momentum might still prove challenging. The industry needs to be willing to play its part in upskilling existing engineers to install the technology and meet growing demand for maintenance.” Gav Murray, Hive heating director at Centrica New Business Net Zero, says: “As more incentives to invest in a heat pump become available, including dynamic tariffs, more homeowners are beginning to recognise the long-term benefits – not only for the planet’s future but also for their energy bills.”


next six months, fewer than one in five SMEs could hire an apprentice in the past year. Meanwhile, tradespeople


are struggling to keep up with demand. Most will spend four months of the year working more than five days a week, and 69% feel they have no one to hand their business over to after retirement. 42% of those over 65 say they will never retire or do not know when they’ll be able to. Almost two thirds (60%) stated


that the pressures of increased tax and business regulations were their primary concern and key barrier to achieving their business objectives.


Cheapest way to cut emissions


New research from Drayton has found that a fully-zoned smart heating control system is the most cost-efficient way to reduce carbon emissions from heating systems. By developing a marginal abatement cost curve (MACC), the research from Drayton compares the cost-efficiency of heating controls against other energy efficiency measures, like loft and cavity wall insulation. Research shows that for the


average UK household, a heating system with a full multi-zone heating control solution can save


£187 per tonne of CO2e (emitted CO2) reduced. This means that the system not only lessens CO2e emissions, but also creates significant cost savings on energy bills over its lifetime thanks to its short payback period. To achieve these results, a full


smart-zoned heating control system should include a timer, smart


thermostat and individual room control via radiator thermostats, such as the Wiser system. This is compared to solid


wall insulation and other fabric measures, which were found to produce a positive MACC, meaning that it costs more money to reduce carbon emissions using these technologies.


Apprentice gas engineer Katie Jones was the Screwfix Trade Apprentice champion in 2023


A further 58% highlighted the lack of skilled labour available in construction as a key challenge and necessary policy area for the new government. Considering the views captured


from across the industry, the report sets out the key areas of suggested focus for the new government, from making business tax and regulation small business-friendly to encouraging


flexibility in apprentice hiring to reflect the work tradespeople have planned via T-level placements and flexi-apprenticeships. John Mewett, CEO at Screwfix,


comments: “As a supplier to the trade, we wanted to understand and be a voice for what tradespeople are seeking from the new government to support their businesses, and to help more people enter the construction industry. “The construction sector and the tradespeople within it are crucial for the upkeep of our homes, workplaces, infrastructure and, ultimately, our economy, and we need to make sure it remains strong. With the UK on course to face a shortfall of 250,000 tradespeople by 2030 and the new government’s emphasis on driving economic growth, now is the time to support our current trade workforce as well as educate and inspire the younger generation on the significant career opportunities available.” To download a copy


of


Screwfix’s Voice of the Trade report, use the online link below: ◼ phamnews.co.uk/924/03


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