INDUSTRY UPDATE
Unified Water Label Association to host pushing boundaries event at ISH Frankfurt (17 to 21 March 2025)
he Unified Water Label Association (UWLA) will be hosting an event that brings together a number of key speakers to discuss how the Unified Water Label is supporting the water resilience agenda. Presentations will cover education, product innovation, market transformation and best practice. The event will take place on Tuesday 18 March in room 4/4.2 Brillanz, from 13.00 to 15.00.
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BiKBBI – The Government needs to go further to support micro-SMEs with apprentices
ignificant reform for apprenticeships was announced recently by the UK Government, following new research which shows that apprentices contribute £25bn over their lifetime to England’s economy, almost double the 2018 findings of £14bn.
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New measures under the reform include the introduction of new apprenticeships, a boost in flexibility for employers around English and Maths qualifications, a cut in the minimum duration of apprenticeships to get ‘boots on the ground’ quicker and the launch of a ‘one stop shop’ app to revolutionise how apprentices access training and support. Whilst I welcome reform, I urge the Government to take measures to encourage the thousands of micro-SME’s currently operating in the UK to take on an apprentice. There remains much to do to overcome the challenges that micro-SMEs face when taking on an apprentice. This is a major barrier, particularly in the home improvement sector, where the majority of the workforce are sole traders and micro-SMEs. The current (and aging) workforce is the key to solving the skills shortage and building a sustainable future workforce for the fitted furniture sector. It’s unrealistic to continue to look to these businesses, often one or two-man bands, to provide employment for apprentices. They are expected to share their skill, knowledge and expertise as well as their time in order to build a future workforce for an industry they will leave in the next five to 10 years, with no additional financial support or resource. Unless the Government can do more to accommodate the needs of the thousands of micro and small businesses, which make up 99.8% of the UK business population, apprenticeships cannot work for our sector. It’s the reason that haven’t worked for the past decade, and unless there is reform in this area, nothing will change going forward.
Damian Walters CEO, BiKBBI
Speakers will include: • Carlos Velazquez, President UWLA- Welcome and introduction
• Timo Kopka, Technical chair UWLA- new performance bands and criteria for taps
• Paul Skinner, Technical consultant UWLA- new sustainability criteria
• Fiona Felix, Leader Public Affairs Hansgrohe – update on UWLA Advocacy activities
• Yvonne Orgill, outgoing MD UWLA- the development of the Unified Water Label Henk Gieskens-Director of client success at Lyrical Communications Limited – the role of exhibitions in a sustainable world
• Tim Robertson and Jacob Tompkins, Get Water Fit- a global consumer education initiative
• Lee Cartwright, incoming MD UWLA
UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “2025 will be a significant year for water. The need for water efficiency is higher on the agenda than ever before across Europe. This is evidenced by the appointment of the first EU Commissioner for water resilience Jessika Roswall, and the recent call from The European Commission to seek input from stakeholders in designing the future European Water Resilience Strategy. “Industry has demonstrated its commitment by offering innovative products that use less water and associated energy. “With support from all parties we can work together to make a self-regulatory label the solution.”
The UWLA presentation is open to all ISH attendees, visit
www.uwla.eu for details or email Vikki Hollins at
Vikki.hollins@uwla.eu
GetWaterSmart Directory launched
The Unified Water Label has partnered with water efficiency experts Save Water Save Money to introduce UWLA’s GetWaterSmart Directory and complementary GetWaterSmart tool. The UWLA GetWaterSmart Directory will be officially launched at ISH on 18th March 2025. We’re offering the first six UWLA members the opportunity for six months’ free listing for an unlimited number of products on the Directory – simply email Jennifer Mainwaring at
uwla.directory@
savewatersavemoney.com
BKU MARCH 2025 45
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