UK Power Networks launches flexible electricity opportunity

UK Power Networks has put its largest ever flexible electricity offering on the market today. The tender round, launched simultaneously on the Piclo platform and at a launch webinar, makes up to 850MW of opportunities available for bidders in London, the East and Southeast of England. It covers demand turn-up and demand reduction across 452 different zones – enough to power nearly half a million homes. UK Power Networks has led the way for flexibility at distribution level in the UK, since its first flexibility tender for 95MW in 2019. Since 2018, the company has awarded contracts to 38 companies for nearly 2GW of flexibility up to 2028. The market offering gives flexible providers – from energy storage operators to renewable energy plants and generators – opportunities to create new revenue streams by ensuring that the region’s power distribution infrastructure is not over-loaded and renewable energy is prioritised. The demand on the electricity network continues to rise as people opt to use more low carbon, electric technologies meaning that greater capacity will be needed at peak times. Flexibility regulates the outputs between renewable energy generators such as batteries and wind turbines, and energy users who can sign up to reduce their demand at peak times to benefit financially. This offers a lower cost way to meet extra energy demand without the need for long term infrastructure upgrades, while ensuring that enough electricity is available to meet growing demand from millions of electric vehicles and heat pumps.

SELECT recognises Alick Smith with Lifetime Achievement Award

An 'unsung hero' of the electrical industry has been recognised for his remarkable contribution to the sector with the Lifetime Achievement Award by SELECT. Alick Smith was honoured by the campaigning body at the recent SELECT President’s Lunch, sponsored by Electrium, at the voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow. After starting out as an electrical apprentice in the 1960s, Alick has enjoyed a long and distinguished career and in recent years has played a key role at SELECT as lead negotiator in its wage discussions with Unite. Announcing the award, Fiona Harper, Director of Employment and Skills at SELECT, says, “Alick is the true definition of what I would call an unsung hero. Over the years, he has done a great deal of work on behalf of our industry, quietly and efficiently, never seeking the limelight and rarely receiving the recognition he deserves. “I have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Alick, travelling thousands of miles and consuming vast amounts of black coffee. He is a fantastic ambassador for our industry who is always on hand to offer support and guidance with a quiet, discreet, yet totally significant word. “He is also immensely proud to be an electrician and being part of what he describes as a vibrant and exciting trade, and especially enjoys spending time with the apprentices and future electricians who, in his opinion, society cannot live without.” Fiona adds, "Working with Alick has been a delight. I admire his tenacity and dedication, instinctive understanding of employee relations and pure love for our industry and the people in it. But most of all, he makes me smile.” Alick accepted his award from Fiona Harper and SELECT President, Alistair Grant, at the event, which was attended by around 100 senior industry figures, was co-sponsored by MacRoberts LLP and included Monica Lennon MSP as a special guest. Alick, who lives in Inverbervie, Aberdeenshire, thanks the assembled guests, “I am extremely humbled to be the recipient of this distinguished award. “When I look back, the role of an electrician has changed greatly over the years, but with all the new technology, we still have a long road to travel, with plenty of things we need to stay abreast of, so it’s more important than ever that we are competent in everything we do. I would also like to thank everyone at SELECT for their support and guidance over the years and I still feel that it is great to be a member of the association.” Alick began work as an apprentice in the mid-1960s and developed his skills through a wide range of roles over the years, including estimating and surveying. In 1996 he moved to a new company, initially as operations manager, before becoming managing director in 2003, overseeing a significant increase in the turnover and staffing of the business. He has been a committed supporter of SELECT since attending his first meeting in the 1970s, serving on many of committees and boards and becoming president in 2009. The Lifetime Achievement is SELECT’s most prestigious award and is intended to reflect extraordinary contributions to the industry. Past recipients of the award include Chair of the SJIB, Jock Simpson, SELECT past President, David Smith, and industry campaigners, Len Bunton and Professor Rudi Klein.

Schneider Electric announces expansion in Leeds

Schneider Electric has been set to expand operations at its site in Leeds. It will invest £7.2 million in a facility upgrade, as well as creating 110 new jobs over the next five years. This significant investment underscores the company's growth trajectory due to rising demand from the energy transition and the electric vehicle (EV) market. It reinforces Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to supporting the UK's move to decarbonisation and represents a boost to the local green economy. Schneider Electric employs 550 people at its Leeds smart factory and innovation hub. The site specialises in designing and manufacturing medium and low voltage switchgear solutions, which protect and distribute electricity in public, commercial and industrial installations. The new investment will aim to enhance the Leeds facility's efficiency to support growing demand for these solutions. A key feature of Schneider's expanding solutions is its portfolio of green and digital switchgear, which replaces the greenhouse gas that is traditionally used in electrical equipment for insulation, with pure air to reduce environmental impact and optimise maintenance and operations. The upgrade will feature a 3,380m² extension to an existing assembly and test hall, and a centralised Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) area. Work is projected to begin in early 2024 and be completed by August 2024. The project is being carried out with cooperation and support from Leeds City Council. Kelly Becker, Zone President UK&I at Schneider Electric, says, “This multimillion pound investment in Leeds reflects our commitment to investing in the UK's burgeoning green economy. I’m proud that through this project, we plan to create local jobs in Yorkshire, which has been part of our operational presence in the UK for years. “Our continued growth and investment are set in the context of a huge opportunity to drive decarbonisation, boost infrastructure to meet the demands of EV charging, and design, build, operate and maintain our buildings in the face of the energy efficiency challenge.”

Make yourself seen with Snickers Workwear

Instant recognition is a life-saver in hazardous conditions. When worksite visibility decreases, accident risks increase. That is why you need properly certified, hard-working high-vis clothing to make you easier to spot on-site. Especially in dim, dark and variable light conditions in winter. Snickers Workwear’s extensive range of high-vis working clothes suits a wide range of work environments from construction and engineering to handling and logistics, from professional trades to lighter manual work. There’s jackets, trousers, shorts, tool vests, shirts and fleeces in the LITEWork, FLEXIWork AllroundWork and ProtecWork families - a host of different garments to satisfy the specific requirements of classes one, two and three protection levels. All these products are integral parts of every man and woman’s PPE package. Combining Snickers Workwear’s unrivalled hallmarks of functionality and comfort, they also meet requirements of the EN20471 standard for high-visibility warning clothes.

Lighthouse Charity supports young NEET community

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has joined forces with the Lofty Heights Skills Academy to encourage young NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) people to choose construction as a career and provide them with access to essential wellbeing training. The charity’s free soft skills training covers a variety of wellbeing issues covering topics such as 'banter vs bullying’, managing stress, and understanding anxiety, to name but a few. Each of the e-learning modules are delivered at two levels with a foundation level providing learners with an introduction to each subject, the key topic areas and an understanding of the language used. The next level presents scenarios where learners then need to demonstrate their understanding of the subject by applying their new skills and using logical reasoning to engage and master a variety of problems much like in real life. The e-learning modules offer complete flexibility, with on-demand training at a pace that suits individual needs. Sarah Bolton, COO of the charity, says, “A career in the construction sector can offer a wide variety of rewarding opportunities, but there is a huge skills gap. One of the ways that we can address this is by working in partnership with organisations such as the Lofty Heights Skills Academy to bridge that gap, and a key aspect of this is to provide easy access to soft skills wellbeing training. "This is a crucial time for our young NEET community and helping them to develop effective social and emotional wellbeing skills will support them in their new environments. This collaboration will also ensue that the next generation are well equipped to navigate the daily challenges of life, and in turn, they too can help drive change to support a positive wellbeing culture in the industry.” She adds, “We are in the unique position of being able to help with every aspect of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing, so this also gives us an opportunity to share our many pathways to additional support for our young NEET community, offering 24/7 free and confidential advice and guidance on a huge variety of issues.”

LED Studio launches revolutionary flexible LED display

LED Studio has launched the CURVUS Series, the first flexible fine pitch LED display featuring common cathode, flip-chip and GOB technology. This new pixel enhancement sets a new industry standard for quality, efficiency and sustainability, when delivering creative display formations, elevating the pre-existing standard of LED displays used in retail settings, museums, immersive and broadcast. The GOB manufacturing method ensures durability, robustness and improved heat dissipation, ideal for creating eye-catching digital signage. The common cathode driver delivers unparalleled energy efficiency and colour performance. Together, these technologies extend the product lifetime and contribute to ESG framework requirements. Available in pixel pitches ranging from 1.25mm to 4mm for close up and far away viewing, and with flexible modules that support convex and concave curve formations, these malleable displays enable a unique platform for creatives. A bespoke, lightweight framework enables increased precision to simplify the installation of concave and convex displays and ensure easy servicing. Featuring simple snap magnet modules, CURVUS has been crafted with efficiency in mind to reduce downtime and avoid time-consuming setups. Whilst simplifying the process, these modules also increase reliability and simplify servicing. With a 3840Hz refresh rate, CURVUS can also be used in virtual production and broadcast environments. By curving the walls, the display can be created into a CYC wall, removing the need for traditional green screens to create infinitely large interactive visuals.

Results of home battery pilot in the National Grid DFS

SolarEdge Technologies has revealed the successful results of its UK home battery scheme, the first-of-its-kind in last winter’s National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Service (DFS). During DFS events, the National Grid offered financial incentives to participants nationwide who reduced their electricity usage at peak times to decrease demand on the grid. Unlike ‘manual turn-down’ participants, SolarEdge home battery owners earned financial rewards for their stored battery power during peak hours, without having to reduce their electricity usage. Smart Metering Systems used SolarEdge’s smart technology to autonomously charge participants’ batteries remotely ahead of each DFS event and then maximise power export to the grid during the event itself, eradicating the need for any manual participation from the homeowner. Participating battery owners earned up to 10 times more financial rewards than participants paid by the DFS for manually reducing their energy consumption. The highest financial reward received by a battery owner during a single DFS event reached £25.60, with the average reward received £6.52. In comparison, UK manual turn-down DFS participants received approximately 90p per DFS event on average. In the six DFS events which SolarEdge batter owners participated in, the highest total reward achieved by a battery participant was £100.61. Projections by SMS suggest that if the DFS service becomes an enduring year-round service, domestic battery owners could earn over £300 per year. For the National Grid, participating batteries reduced demand on the grid up to six times more than UK homeowners manually reducing their home energy consumption. On average, battery participants exported 2.7kWh to the grid per DFS event, compared to less than 0.5kWh reduction in grid demand on average per manual turn-down participant.

Find your perfect fit with Carhartt’s range for women

When it comes to workwear, one size doesn't fit all. Recognising the unique proportions of women, Carhartt has unveiled some news additions to its women’s range, providing comfort, style, unhindered movement and warmth ready for the Autumn/Winter season. When Autumn breeze chills the air, the women’s short-sleeve Multi Colour Logo Graphic T-Shirt (105764) steps in as the perfect base layer. Its lightweight jersey material and relaxed fit ensure comfort without compromise, whether you're on the job or at home. And for those brisk early mornings, wrap up in Carhartt's Knit Pom Pom Cuffed Beanie (106003) – a soft, itch-free saviour. Pair it with the Hooded Promo Graphic Sweatshirt (105996), a cosy blend of cotton and polyester featuring Rain Defender technology to keep you dry on damp days. For active days that demand flexibility, try the Rugged Flex loose fit Midweight Flannel Long-Sleeve Plaid Shirt (105989). Bend, stretch and work without limits in this loose fit shirt. It is ideal for easy layering and comes with handy chest pockets that add a touch of everyday utility. If you need to stay a bit warmer, the loose fit Heavyweight Twill Shirt Jac (105991) is the go-to for staying warm in style. Made from 100% cotton, it blends toughness and comfort in a shirt that looks heavy weight but is soft to the touch. For women who want comfort, durability and clothing protection, the Rugged Flex Relaxed Fit Canvas Bib Overall (106001) is ideal. Made from stretch-canvas and complete with adjustable shoulder straps, it has spacious pockets for all your tools, reinforced knees for extra durability and a place to pop your knee pads. Carhartt's women's range is wide, spanning from overalls and jackets to beanies and boots, ensuring every woman can conquer the workday in style and comfort.

FSE UK boosts growth with BigChange

FSE UK has reported a six-fold expansion since implementing a cloud-based job management system and mobile app from BigChange. The system, which has transformed the management of the company’s mobile operation, improving efficiency and boosting customer service, provides digital workflows, integration with the Xero accounting package and an online customer booking portal. The company offers a range of domestic and commercial solutions. For commercial clients, it offers a comprehensive range of fit-out services, including office and retail space design, refurbishment and installation of audio-visual and security systems. In addition to fit-out services, it also provides commercial maintenance solutions that cover reactive repairs, planned preventative maintenance and emergency call-outs. Traditionally, it has worked within the catering and hospitality sector, but has diversified into education and recently secured nationwide contracts with two of the UK’s largest social housing providers. Using the BigChange job management system, FSE UK has created end-to-end digital workflows. New jobs are recorded on the central management systems before being allocated to an appropriate engineer. Schedules are sent directly to the engineers’ mobile phone complete with job cards and any additional details, and newly introduced ETAs are automatically sent to the customer to advise of forthcoming appointments and any possible delays on the day. Whilst onsite the engineer can access supplementary information about the site, the customer or the job, if required, before completing the job sheet and capturing additional intelligence such as date / time stamped photographs and customer signatures. Integration with the company’s accounting software, XERO, allows for fast, efficient invoicing, improving cashflow and further boosting customer service, and customers can even self-serve, booking routine appointments using the BigChange online booking portal.

New report highlights electrotechnical skills demographics

Key insights from a survey report commissioned jointly by the Joint Industry Board (JIB) and Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), and published by the Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP), has revealed differences in requirements and opportunities for the UK’s electrotechnical sector at a regional level. With a total workforce of around 276,000, best case scenario calculations estimate around 33,000 additional skilled workers are needed by 2027. Of those employers questioned, 54% and 49% respectively expect demand for qualified electricians and apprentices to increase over the next two to three years to meet the positive growth. The Labour Market Intelligence report outlines trends in the sector over the past few years, providing a rich insight into the state of the electrotechnical sector in terms of its workforce size, demography, and skills needs and key opportunities. Some of the key trends reflected in the report include: Greater London: Higher proportion of 25-49 year olds in the workforce (66%) than UK average (50%), and greater emphasis on ageing workforce as barrier to take-up of new technologies (28%, cf. 20%) Southwest England: Greater importance attached to new technologies as a factor driving workforce changes (22%) than UK average (9%) Northwest England: Higher proportion of 16-24 year olds in the workforce (28%) than UK average (20%) Yorkshire and Humberside: Higher proportion of 16-24 year olds in the workforce (23%) than UK average (20%), and higher levels of satisfaction with skills of job applicants (69%, cf. 58%) and availability of suitable training locally (84%, cf. 69%) East of England: Lower proportion of 16-24 year olds in the workforce (14%) than UK average (20%), and higher proportion of 50-64 year olds (37%, cf. 26%). The electrotechnical sector continues to lead the charge of a rapid evolution in how we use technology, with increased demand for digital communication, energy conservation, electric vehicle charging and renewable energy solutions with a particular focus on the electrification of heat, such as heat pumps, in buildings. One of the underlying drivers for most of this development is net zero and the targets for the UK to be carbon-neutral by 2050 mentioned above. The JIB acknowledges that the challenges and concerns in the sector in responding to demand will vary region by region, and is committed to tackling each issue by highlighting its own regional structures and plans to strengthen engagement with skills issues at a regional level. An infographic showing the report highlights can be viewed here.