Tips to make your trades business more sustainable

New research from BigChange has revealed that one in five Brits (20%) will only hire tradespeople who have clear environmental initiatives, highlighting the importance of businesses being green. An additional one in three respondents (31%) said that they prefer to hire trades businesses which are supporting the country’s green policies, but it’s not essential. To help small-medium trades businesses get started on the path to sustainability, or take existing green initiatives further, Dan Briggs, Sustainability Board Member at BigChange, shares six tips for making the change and finding funding to help you do it. Look for local sustainability support from your council  “Most local councils have their own growth hub, providing local businesses with useful resources, including any available grants or funding for green initiatives in their area. This is particularly useful when UK-wide funding applications are closed,” Dan advises. “An example of this is in the Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford, Shropshire and Wrekin areas. Businesses could be eligible for the Business Energy Efficiency Programme, which supports them in reducing their carbon emissions. This includes funding for energy efficient support, such as heating and insulation, LED lights as well as recycling and waste reduction services. “Head to your local growth hub website to find out if help like this is available in your area. They will also have lots of resources to help you go green.” Consider banks as a source of funding for eco investment   “If having a clear green initiative is important to you and your business, you may be prepared to invest in becoming greener. “If that’s the case, many banks such as Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds Bank offer finance loans for businesses for this exact reason, and usually at a discounted rate. “When it comes to eligibility and help provided, these loans can be used to help improve water efficiency, provide low carbon transport and reduce business waste.” Take advantage of tax breaks such as capital allowances  “It’s in the government’s best interest to encourage greener business practices, meaning there are tax breaks available to businesses. “For example, if you opt for energy-efficient technologies such as machinery for your business, you can claim capital allowances, reducing the amount of tax you pay throughout the year.” Look for suppliers who share your green focus “Sustainable or green procurement is the act of sourcing goods or services for your business which reduces the impact on the environment. For example, if you switch to machinery that is more energy efficient, that is, electric fleets over standard vehicles, this would fall under this initiative. “That’s not to say you should instantly swap though, as that isn’t environmentally friendly in itself, and of course it can be expensive. But, phasing them out as new vehicles are required would contribute to the initiative. As the UK continues on its pledge of zero emissions by 2050, access to electric vehicles will hopefully become more accessible and affordable for businesses too.” Utilise technology to make your business more efficient “With many trades businesses starting out as a solo venture, it can be easy to forget about the tech solutions available. Not only can these solutions help you manage your business as it grows, they can help increase efficiencies and boost green initiatives. For example, job management software will allow you to optimise travel routes and encourage good driving practices, ultimately reducing both your fuel costs and emissions. Job management tools can also mean your business sees more first time fixes through job tracking and automation, meaning less repeat travel to jobs and therefore less emissions and fuel costs.” Arrange an energy audit to identify where your business could be more eco friendly  “If you want to make your business more energy efficient, but you’re unsure how to approach it, organise an energy audit to identify potential changes you can make. “Energy audits are best suited to those businesses with a base or warehouse and include an auditor who comes to spend a day or so with your business in order to observe any potential energy cuts that can be made. They’ll then provide a full report and advice on how to proceed with the suggestions.” Dan concludes, “Regardless of which green initiatives or pledges your business makes, it’s vital that your customers know about your environmental efforts. As our research shows, it could be the deciding factor for securing your next job. “Environmentally conscious businesses can obtain the Green Mark, which is a recognised accreditation and provides the marketing tools needed to showcase your business’s commitment to a more sustainable UK.”

How battery management system innovation can lead to better batteries

Dr Alex Holland, Principal Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, has shared that the company forecasts the Li-ion battery market for electric vehicles to reach US$380bn by 2034. With this huge increase in value, the safe and reliable operation of these (sometimes combustible) assets, while maximising the performance extracted from them becomes critical. The battery management system (BMS) plays a central role in the safe and reliable operation of Li-ion batteries, but is somewhat overlooked with regard to its potential for also moving battery performance forward. Developments in battery technology often centre on material and chemistry innovations, whether in the form of silicon anodes, solid-state batteries, or new Na-ion chemistries, or on other hardware developments, such as the use of cell-to-pack battery designs or 800V platforms. However, new materials, chemistries, and hardware often come with lengthy development and testing phases and trade-offs in performance or cost. For example, high-silicon anodes increase energy density and can improve fast charging, but come at the expense of cycle life, and in the short-term, high-silicon anode solutions are likely to come at a price premium too. In contrast, innovations to the BMS can offer feasible routes to improving multiple performance metrics simultaneously, a feat that is notoriously difficult to achieve in Li-ion battery development. Namely, improvements to energy density, fast charge capability, safety, and cycle life can be achieved with the right BMS. Ultimately, many of these improvements will be enabled through better and more accurate state estimation (state-of-charge, state-of-power, state-of-health) and a better understanding of the internal state of the Li-ion cells, in turn allowing for more optimised use of the Li-ion battery. For example, reducing charging times can be achieved by tracking the internal state of Li-ion cells by analysing data generated by the battery during use to look for signs of lithium plating. During periods of the charge cycle where the onset of lithium plating is determined to occur, the charging current can be reduced before being increased once the risk of lithium plating has reduced, with the aim of increasing average charging power without increasing degradation. A number of companies, such as Eatron Technologies, WAE (via their Elysia platform), and Qnovo, amongst numerous others, are developing and deploying more advanced BMS software platforms to help enhance state estimation and optimise battery operation. Indeed, there has been a hive of activity in Europe and North America from early stage companies developing more advanced BMS technologies. Some of the advancements are starting to make their way onto the market. For example, Qnovo are looking to deploy their software in Vanderhall EVs to help improve range and charging times, while Eatron Technologies have also started to deploy their BMS software. There are a multitude of developments happening within Li-ion battery technology. While headlines can focus on novel and next-generation battery materials, chemistries and technologies, advancements to the BMS offers a way to maximise the performance of both today's and tomorrow's Li-ion technology, and could therefore, play a key role in accelerating the adoption of EVs and stationary battery storage systems.

Turning Norwich buses green

Work has been underway to turn Norwich buses green and transform a city site into one of the first bus depots outside London to be fully electric. UK Power Networks is installing new underground cables and equipment at a local substation so that the Roundtree Way depot can be fully upgraded to power electric buses, cut carbon emissions and improve air quality in the city. The project is part of its Green Recovery programme, which is investing £66 million across 85 sites, to fast-track low carbon energy projects that will help the UK achieve net zero by 2050. The work will enable First Bus to run 70 new electric buses in Norwich by the end of March next year. First Bus has already started transforming its depot. Piers Marlow, Managing Director of First East of England, says, “The electrification of Roundtree Way is a critical part of the project that will see 70 new electric buses serving Norwich. “The electric buses will not only improve the journey experience for our customers, they will significantly reduce carbon emissions, each saving up to 60 tonnes per year, and will improve air quality for the city, creating a cleaner, greener environment for people to live, work and enjoy.” The green power upgrade will involve some roadworks in nearby roads from 18 October until the project is completed around 8 December, so that the work can be completed safely. Residents have been informed of the temporary measures. Councillor Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, says, “UK Power Networks’ essential upgrade work will support the rollout needed for 70 new electric buses between now and next March. Working with First Bus and UK Power Networks, this paves the way for us to become home to one of only three all-electric fleet depots in the UK outside London and is an amazing boost to our ambitions to run a net zero transport system in Norfolk. “We understand how frustrating disruption caused by roadworks can be, especially for those living or working in the immediate area. Keeping this in mind, we will continue to work hard with our contractors and partners to minimise any additional impact alongside the important safety improvements to the Heartsease roundabout area and to complete all work as soon as possible.”

Legrand expands range with new integrated coupling system

Legrand UK & Ireland has further expanded its Cablofil steel wire cable tray range with the introduction of the Fasclic+, a new integrated coupling system for its wire mesh cable trays, available in several material finishes and available in all depths. Fasclic+ was developed in line with Legrand’s ‘Faster by Design’ ethos, with lengths designed for toolless installation so contractors can quickly and easily install the system without nuts and bolts. Its welded side and base couplers mean the range retains optimal mechanical strength and has been fully load tested in accordance with IEC 61537:2023. Fasclic+ can also be installed in even the tightest of spaces due to the intelligent design and positioning of the welded couplers. The range is also compatible with standard Cablofil lengths. The new design ensures electrical continuity, minimises dust or debris retention, and is available in 30mm, 54mm, 105mm and 150mm depth options. It also comes in different material finishes to meet the different challenges of varying industrial and commercial environments, meaning all customers can benefit from the fast fit solution. These materials include 304L and 316L stainless steels, zinc-aluminium and electrogalvanised steel, making the range suitable for several applications, such as data centres, food processing and infrastructure. All lengths are produced at the company's manufacturing facility in France, which has recently received significant investment that has been key to the range’s expansion.

New jobs created at brand new Tavis Perkins branch

Travis Perkins, which is the UK’s largest distributor of materials to the construction sector, has opened the doors to its latest branch in Epsom, with a little help from the Mayor, Robert Geleit. The Mayor was the guest of honour as Travis Perkins opened its new branch on Roy Richmond Way. The new Epsom branch is 2.06 acres in size and as part of Travis Perkins' new ambitions to minimise carbon emissions by 90%, the site will include electric forklift trucks and electric charging points. These innovations will help to deliver on its ambition of decarbonising its fleet and becoming a net zero carbon producer. The site also boasts Travis Perkins Hire facility that allow customers to hire tools, plant and specialist equipment. Furthermore, its brand new, Benchmarx, kitchen display showroom will offer a wide range of high-quality kitchen ranges, and a hard landscaping range which showcases its offering to customers. There is also an extensive timber, bricks and blocks range. Customers will have great choice when it comes to trading, be it in branch or online, by using the Travis Perkins app, which has been collaboratively developed with customers to help them not only work smarter, but also to save time by allowing them to check stock on the go from their local branch and order instantly with their personal trade prices. Alternatively, customers can also use the fast and convenient one hour click and collect service, or next day delivery, as well as a Branch Delivery Tracking Service, which gives customers the best possible delivery notifications in real-time without having to make a telephone call, saving customers time. These innovative ways to trading are designed to save customers time, something which is reported as their biggest pain-point. Combined, these provide a one-stop personalised experience, whether on the move, on site, in-branch, whenever and wherever they need it. Branch Manager, Malcom Beech, says about the launch, “We’re really excited to be opening our doors to the tradespeople and builders of Epsom. We will have a great team in place and will be doing what matters for the trade in Surrey. This branch will have everything they need, when and where they need it, and will deliver them value, convenience and consistency. “The fact that 16 new jobs have been created because of the branch opening is a huge bonus too. We’re looking forward to welcoming and supporting all of our customers with choice, quality, convenience and brilliant service day-in, day-out and offer a fantastic delivery and collection service that doesn’t compromise them on time.” Epsom’s Mayor, Robert Geleit, says, “I was absolutely delighted to be invited to open the new Travis Perkins branch on Roy Richmond Way. My appreciation goes to Maclom Beech for the tour and meeting so many enthusiastic staff.” Travis Perkins Epsom is located at 3 Roy Richmond Way, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 9AF.

New gloss black for Ovia downlights

Ovia has added a new gloss black finish to its range of Inceptor Pico non-fire-rated LED downlights. Part of Ovia’s domestic range, Inceptor Pico provides contractors with a high-quality, cost-saving LED solution for those lighting projects where there isn’t the requirement for a fire-rated fitting, and therefore, no need to incur the additional expense that a fire-rated model commands. With contractors keen to keep overall costs of a project as cost-effective as possible, but without compromising on quality and performance, Inceptor Pico ticks all the right boxes, producing an excellent light output for the power utilised. The Inceptor Pico combines a number of key features which sets it apart from competitor products. With its 47mm profile, the fitting is ideal for installations where the void depth is limited and it has an adaptable cut-out to fit apertures of between 65mm and 76mm in diameter. A 90° beam angle produces a larger spread of light to provide more light coverage. The fitting is also IP65 rated, which makes it dust tight and protected against low pressure water jets. This means it is an ideal solution for kitchens, bathrooms and wet rooms. Available in a dimmable option as standard, the Pico can be easily switched or dimmed utilising a variety of methods. It is suitable for use with Scolmore’s range of ClickSmart+ smart home products. The new gloss black finish for Pico joins the existing three finishes: White, Satin Chrome and Chrome.

HIES and GivEnergy work together to protect consumers

HIES and GivEnergy have joined forces to support consumers who find themselves in a challenging situation due to their solar and battery installer’s inability to complete the installation, due to the installer ceasing to trade. For those consumers who have paid a deposit, their installer ceasing to trade means they could face the prospect of not recovering their funds. HIES is offering these consumers help by completing their installation for the outstanding contract value, as well as GivEnergy providing their battery and inverter products at cost. Faisal Hussain, HIES Chief Executive, comments, “It is always unfortunate when a member ceases trading as it could create uncertainty for consumers and also harm the reputation of our industry. Therefore, we have been working behind the scenes to find solutions that will ensure consumers who have used a member and are unable to recover their monies, receive a completed solar or battery installation. GivEnergy should be commended for stepping forward and helping consumers with their solar and battery installation by supplying the products at cost.” Jason Howlett, Chief Executive Officer of GivEnergy, adds, “It’s our mission to empower energy freedom for all. When we learned that innocent homeowners had paid deposits for future work that was unlikely to ever be undertaken, we instantly wanted to help. We’re proud to collaborate with HIES to ensure that those affected by their installer's cessation of trading receive the assistance they deserve. Ultimately, we’re dedicated to the industry's integrity and to the wellbeing of consumers.” HIES and GivEnergy have already helped many consumers who have found themselves in the position of potentially losing their deposit without a solar or battery system. Faisal Hussain, closes, “We strongly encourage other manufacturers to get in touch with us and provide their support in giving their products at cost. The boom of solar is going to continue and we want to ensure that consumers have a positive experience and our industry’s reputation is protected.”

Acrospire solar street lighting chosen for Luton parks

Acrospire has been chosen for two prominent public locations in Luton, England. The installation is part of a street lighting maintenance contract with Luton Council and is expected to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the area significantly. "We are excited to partner with VolkerHighways and Luton Council on this project," says Acrospire's Area Sales Manager, James Brooker. "Our Defender solar street lighting is the perfect solution for these public spaces, as it provides clean, efficient, and sustainable lighting that will benefit the community for years to come." The Defender solar street light is designed specifically for the UK market and features several innovative technologies that make it ideal for public spaces. The passive lanterns automatically come on at night and remain at 20% brightness until someone is within 15m on either side of the streetlight, where it then switches to full power. Each streetlight is evenly spaced 30m apart, and the units require no maintenance other than cleaning every few years. Defender can be provided with the SAM (Solar Asset Monitoring) system, which allows the maintenance team to remotely monitor the light's performance, identify potential faults, and adjust the brightness settings. This installation isn't just about saving energy and reducing carbon emissions, it's also focused on creating safer and more inviting public spaces. David Easton, Operations Director for VolkerHighways, says, "Solar Street lighting provides continuous light while saving optimal energy and light pollution. It's great to see Luton Council making use of these eco-friendly innovations. The parks are now well-lit, making the areas safer for park users and residents."

Develop and National Grid to deliver bespoke training programme

Develop Training has partnered with National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) to deliver a highly successful, bespoke training programme centred around modern managerial skills. Following the results of a recent internal survey, NGED saw the need to equip their managers with the necessary skills to be leaders of the future. In recognising the need to work alongside an expert training provider, NGED appointed Develop. Develop’s initial remit was to provide a one-day mental resilience and cognitive agility course for NGED’s mid-level managers to help them better understand how their thoughts, emotions and behaviours may impact other team members. However, due to the overwhelming positive response surrounding the training programme, the senior leadership team at NGED were keen to roll the training out to all levels within the organisation. In view of the success of the project, NGED also challenged Develop to create a more advanced, two-year long curated training programme designed to meet National Grid’s needs. The bespoke programme, Building High Performing Teams, is specifically designed to support managers’ personal wellbeing, equip them with the communication skills required and foster more emotionally intelligent leadership within the business. These intrinsic skills greatly help to elevate the managers’ proficiency, increasing their capability to navigate difficult day-to-day challenges and improving their ability to build relationships with their co-workers. To achieve such a suitable training programme, Develop needed to gain a deep understanding of NGED’s culture, key processes and pressure points. Therefore, Develop arranged for organisational specialists to conduct comprehensive site visits and engage with senior leaders and operational managers to understand their unique pressures, challenges and aspirations. The programme is delivered on National Grid premises over six days for cohorts of up to 10 managers, involving practical and interactive activities across a range of topics such as identifying the impact of communication styles, promoting high performing team traits, and creating a culture of collective intelligence. Since beginning in September 2022, the programme remains in high demand and has received a 100% positive feedback rating between January and April 2023. Currently, the training has been delivered to almost 2,000 employers and is due to continue into 2024 and beyond.

CPS and Powerstar to generate a brighter net zero future

Critical Power Supplies (CPS) has entered a collaborative partnership with Powerstar to help guide businesses on their net zero journey.  CPS is a provider of power protection solutions with a rich legacy spanning more than 30 years. Positioned as the premier, independent, multi-brand supplier in the UK, CPS works with a diverse range of customers across healthcare, information technology, maritime, retail, telecommunications, and other industries. Powerstar designs and manufactures energy technologies, making power as affordable, sustainable, and reliable as possible.  The UK’s energy landscape is changing, including the rise in wholesale prices and the transition to a renewable-based energy mix, creating fresh challenges for businesses committed to decarbonising their estates and operations. CPS and Powerstar share the belief that through cutting-edge technology, education, and guidance, businesses can transform their power into sustainable and efficient solutions.  Solon Mardapittas, CEO of Powerstar, says, “Energy efficient power solutions are a commercial necessity, but many businesses benefit from guidance as to how energy management can best fit their specific needs and enhance their operations. This partnership with CPS brings together shared knowledge and expertise across both companies, to help transform power technology for businesses into more sustainable and environmentally sound commercial solutions.”