Bureau Veritas and the IET invest in the future of electric engineers

Bureau Veritas has partnered with The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to fund training and development for electrical engineers as part of its ongoing commitment to industry recruitment and retention. The partnership will see Bureau Veritas develop its current workforce as well as supporting those looking to join the industry, ensuring electrical engineers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to meet the demands of the rapidly changing sector. The electrical industry is growing and will play a significant role in helping the UK reach its net zero targets. However, the industry is currently facing a skills shortage and requires considerably more highly qualified engineers to meet the demands of new green technologies, such as the installation of heat pumps and EV charging points. Job site Adzuna recorded an 18.3% increase in electrical engineer vacancies since January 2022. The IET partnership will enable engineers at Bureau Veritas to connect with others around the world, participate in seminars and webinars, and learn the skills they need to achieve professional accreditation, such as becoming chartered engineers. They will also be able to stay up to date with current technology and industry developments, grow their CPD portfolio and access training opportunities through the IET Academy. This opportunity will provide engineers the chance to explore different aspects of their profession and to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the field through upskilling and formal accreditation. Michael Kenyon, Electrical Business Unit Director at Bureau Veritas, comments, “The IET is a unique organisation that shares a number of synergies and values with Bureau Veritas, so we’re delighted to be able to become a corporate member. “The partnership provides our engineers with even more access to training, development and support as they develop their careers here at Bureau Veritas. It also means we can attract and retain the best talent, be at the forefront of technological advances and in turn provide an outstanding service and best value to our clients.”

West Midlands installer wins Sustainable Electrician Company of the Year

A west Midlands-based electrical solutions installer has won in the annual Central England Prestige Awards for the second year running, making it one of only a handful of companies to be recognised consistently year on year. Starkey Electrical, a family-run business, was named Sustainable Electrician Company of the Year during an awards ceremony at Moor Hall in Sutton Coldfield on 30 May, earning it the additional accolade of multi-award winner, having won Electrician of the Year in 2022. The company was recognised for its extensive expertise, bespoke customer experience and exceptional customer service. Stuart Starkey, Managing Director at Starkey Electrical, says, “We are delighted to have won this award for the second time. This recognition is a tribute to the collective efforts and unmatched skill of our employees. “A huge thank you to our valued clients and partners for their trust and unwavering support. Rest assured, we will continue to improve, innovate and illuminate at Starkey Electrical.”

NICEIC's UK tour gets underway

‘The Motor Ohm’, NICEIC's latest recruit, pulled into Rexel Maidstone last recently, kicking off the start of the ASK NICEIC on the road UK tour. "We are delighted to get back on the road," says Sarah Hunter, NICEIC’s Marketing and Events Manager. “The feedback so far has also been great, with visitors commenting on the convenience of the locations and the relaxed format, which has allowed them to engage with the team freely." Attending the event in Maidstone, Simon Thomson of Arcus Facilities Management said, “Fantastic to see the team at the NICEIC today, some great conversations, lots of useful information, and a free bacon roll chucked in - what’s not to like." The tour is now reaching the halfway point, but there is still plenty of opportunity to get involved. Check out the upcoming stops below: Event opening hours - 8-11:30 AM 20 June - REXEL Glasgow Devon Place, G41 1RB 21 June - REXEL Stockton, Stockton-On-Tees, TS182QZ 22 June - REXEL Leeds, LS12 6DN 5 July - REXEL Derby, DE24 8JP 6 July - REXEL Norwich Sweet Briar, NR3 2BT 7 July - REXEL Barking, IG11 0AS Breakfast will be provided, and there will be plenty of opportunities to bag exclusive discounts and prizes.

ERA extends its commitment to sustainability with new appointment

ERA has further cemented its commitment to sustainability with the appointment of Lara Coutinho as the company’s new Sustainability Programme Manager. Lara, who has over 10 years’ experience in leading sustainability strategies, will be responsible for the project management of ERA’s sustainability initiatives across the business, from operations through to packaging. She will be applying particular focus to the removal of priority hazardous substances, responsible sourcing and reducing the company’s carbon footprint. This falls in line with the goals set out by ERA’s parent company, Tyman. As part of its 2023 Sustainability Roadmap, the group has outlined its commitments to improving the sustainability of its products and operations to achieve a more sustainable supply chain for the entire industry. Leading on ERA’s existing environmental activities, one of Lara’s first projects will be working on the most pressing deadline set out on the Tyman roadmap, which promises to eliminate single-use plastic, delivering sustainable packaging across the group by 2026. Starting her career as an environment and sustainability consultant, Lara has worked across a diverse range of industries over the last decade including FMCG, facilities management, biotechnology and events, which included the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow. Lara says, “ERA is a company I believe in, and I was instantly impressed by its sustainability agenda. It is clear that the company wants to make a huge difference, not only for themselves but the entire industry. I am also impressed by the level of care ERA and Tyman has for both its employees and the wider community. “There is lots to be done in our industry and I am hoping that our efforts will create a domino effect that inspires and supports others throughout the supply chain to make positive changes that will have a lasting impact. “ERA is keen to invest in its sustainability programme and I know we’ll strive to continuously improve. I feel proud to be here and to be part of this meaningful journey.”

BigChange job management system supports net zero drive at Atlas World

Atlas World is using the BigChange job management system to improve the delivery of smart energy metering and fire and security solutions across the UK and Ireland. Supporting the government’s net zero strategy, Atlas is currently rolling out a project to design, install and maintain automated metering technology across the Northern Ireland Civil Service estate. Engineers with tablets running the BigChange mobile app are live linked to the back-office service team, allowing for automated scheduling, optimised route planning and real-time tracking. The integrated system is also fuelling savings in routine administration and a reduction in the company’s own carbon footprint. “We know from our experience and expertise in delivering smart metering solutions that you can only manage what you measure,” comments Stephen McConnell, Director at Atlas World. “Since implementing BigChange we can now practice what we preach - measuring our performance against defined customer and internal KPIs and managing tangible improvements for our business and our clients. “BigChange has taken us to the next level in terms of professionalism and customer service and we will continue to build on this with better communication.” Prior to implementing BigChange earlier this year, Atlas World used a business management system specifically designed for security installers. “As we have grown as a company, so have our requirements for business and job management,” says Paddy Dickson, Operations Manager at Atlas World. “Before BigChange we were continually devising workarounds for relatively simple workflows and every time we won a new contract, we had to hire another member of staff to manage its delivery.” Atlas selected the BigChange job management system, which incorporates a mobile workforce app,  customer relationship management (CRM), job scheduling, live tracking, resource management, job finance and business intelligence, following a rigorous selection process that involved benchmarking and field testing. Managing all aspects of the customer experience, from initial enquiry through job scheduling and reporting, to final invoice, BigChange is already delivering tangible benefits. Atlas has completely automated the planning of routine maintenance calls and improved its ability to respond to reactive requests, and has reduced the administrative resource required to produce customer reports and invoices by at least 50%. Optimised scheduling and intelligent route planning, complete with integrated real-time tracking, means Atlas can now measure, and therefore manage, its own carbon emissions at the touch of a button and, using BigChange, the company plans to be 100% paper free in the forthcoming months. “Using BigChange we have already taken the first steps to improve our own green credentials. We expect to save approximately 300t of carbon by using the route optimiser, making our driving more efficient and saving on fuel and being environmentally friendly. We are also overhauling our customer experience, with aspirations to provide an almost Amazon style of service, with automated, yet personalised, confirmations, ETAs, completion reports, invoices and follow ups,” Stephen concludes. “However, none of this would be possible without the exemplary support we have received at every step. The BigChange team don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. Their support team have been fantastic and are always helpful and have made the transition from our previous system to BigChange easy.”

New Pfizer plant is 40% more energy efficient with Siemens technology

Pfizer has opened a new high-containment manufacturing facility in Freiburg, Germany, using technology and services from Siemens to make it one of the most modern and sustainable of its kind. Potentially producing up to seven billion tablets a year for more than 180 countries, the plant uses an innovative containment concept - monitored and controlled by building services from Siemens' Xcelerator portfolio - which ensures employee safety and results in a 40% reduction in energy use in its environmental control system, compared to a traditional facility. Desigo CC is the technology backbone of the facility’s smart building infrastructure, acting as a central control centre to integrate multiple systems and devices, and automate processes. This enables systems to communicate and collaborate with each other, collecting and visualising data from both the production process and the building in one place. “All machines and processes are intelligently networked using information and communication technologies, which enables the Pfizer plant in Freiburg to produce more flexibly, faster and with less resource consumption,” says Gunther Bechmann, Senior Manager Operations Manufacturing, Pfizer Freiburg. “The constructive cooperation on this project has once again confirmed and expanded the existing partnership that the Pfizer plant has maintained with Siemens for years.” High containment plants are designed to safely manufacture medications with highly active ingredients, which require handling with the greatest of care. At the Pfizer plant, building services from Siemens monitor and control a special containment concept, bringing together multiple disciplines including power distribution, ventilation, air conditioning and heating. As a result of this concept and its technology, Pfizer can manufacture medications with category Occupational Exposure Bands Four (OEB4), with employees only requiring protective clothing to OEB3 level. This creates optimum production conditions, while ensuring maximum safety for employees and increasing efficiency. “Our work with Pfizer on the new Freiburg plant is an excellent demonstration of how applying an intelligent mix of technology and services can produce exactly the right outcomes, even in a challenging industry like pharmaceuticals, where speed, consistent quality and safety are all non-negotiable,” says Dave Hopping, CEO, Solutions and Services, Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “The result is a faster, more flexible and competitive facility, and a benchmark in ultra-modern, sustainable pharmaceutical production.” Combining Desigo CC with SIMATIC WinCC - a scalable process visualisation system - enables production-related data to be exchanged between the production systems and the visualisation system. Data relevant to production from the building management platform is transferred to the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, while information from other production systems can be fed into Desigo CC and used for predictive control functions in the building automation systems. This connection allows building management data to be used in the central management system, and can be accessed at any time from individual production areas. Networking and visualising data in this way enables the production facility to consume around 40% less energy than traditional plants in its environmental control, by intelligently controlling the air flow and temperature requirements in individual zones.

Students on site as the Enfield Construction Skills Academy officially opens

A new skills academy has given future students a taste of what it would be like to be part of landmark regeneration projects such as Meridian Water. Delivered through a partnership by Enfield Council, Capital City College Group and Countryside Partnerships, the Enfield Construction Skills Academy officially opened on 14 June with workshops to demonstrate the wide range of courses on offer. The academy aims to train around 500 people per year enabling local people to develop skills to access good quality work. There are several positions available for people at the academy to gain employment in the construction of Meridian Water, Enfield Council’s landmark regeneration project in the east of the borough. Enfield Council is committed to empowering young people with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive in Enfield by providing education and training. The academy will offer courses and apprenticeships in core construction skills with a focus on sustainable development based on the needs of the industry. Learners will benefit from a range of facilities including dedicated indoor and outdoor workspaces to give them hands-on skills training using various construction methods and equipment. The Leader of Enfield Council, Nesil Caliskan says, “Meridian Water is about benefiting the local Edmonton community. By investing in Enfield through programmes such as the Enfield Construction Skills Academy the Council can help to deliver positive outcomes that will enable people to gain the qualifications they need for a successful career in the industry. This investment will ensure people have ongoing and sustainable employment which in turn will support the local economy.” “We are thrilled to see the first learners arriving at the academy this summer and hope they continue onto careers across the development of the Meridian Water site.” Kate Ives, Strategic Growth Director for London at Countryside Partnerships, comments, “The need for the construction industry to recruit and retain talent in the sector has never been greater, so we are immensely proud to open the Enfield Construction Skills Academy alongside our partners Enfield Council and Capital City College Group. Providing the workforce of the future with the skills and training opportunities to help deliver the crucial Meridian Water regeneration programme and more, the academy is set to leave a considerable legacy across the borough and beyond.” Kurt Hintz, Executive Principal of Capital City College Group, says, “At CCCG, we are committed to working with employers to reduce the huge shortfall of skilled construction workers in the UK. The academy will provide excellent construction training to industry standards to boost employment in Enfield and support the local and wider economy.” “The academy will further enhance CONEL’s excellent reputation for training people for great construction careers. Our industry-experienced teachers have a huge wealth of skills and knowledge from across the industry from bricklaying and plumbing to carpentry and electrical, to give students and apprentices the best possible training. Many of our programmes will place an emphasis on sustainable development in line with our Mayor’s Academy Green Hub.” “We look forward to building our relationship with Enfield Council and Countryside Partnerships and the new academy becoming a centre of excellence for construction training in London.” Enfield Construction Skills Academy is the latest addition to the ever-growing Meridian Water development which will deliver 10,000 homes and 6,000 jobs. The academy is run by the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) which is part of CCCG.

Sevadis partners with Devitech to offer enhanced engineering support

Devitech’s team of EV charging specialists will now be able to deliver installation, commissioning and troubleshooting services to Sevadis projects all across the UK. EV charger aftercare and troubleshooting is about making sure your EV chargers stay working, or, when they’re not working, giving you an easy, helpful and fast way to get them repaired or replaced. Sevadis says that it has a solid commitment to supporting the understanding of how electric vehicle charging works, supplying customers with the very best products available, and making a big difference in the protection against climate change. Graham Rowlands, Managing Director at Devitech, says, “We’re incredibly proud to have been chosen by Sevadis to become its partner for aftercare and engineering services. “We deeply admire Sevadis’ commitment to providing customers with the very best EV charging products. Their reputation for superb customer service, a swift response, and workmanship matches our values of placing OEM commissioning and aftercare at the forefront of our service, promoting best practices and high levels of client care.” Craig Slater, Managing Director at Sevadis, says, “We truly believe in the power of partnerships with experts in their respective fields and after careful due diligence, Devitech were appointed as our official EV charge point commissioning and maintenance partner. “Devitech provides an unrivalled customer experience, which mirrors our core values in ensuring that customers are left feeling confident in their EV charge point investment. We look forward to working with Devitech for our EV charge point projects and are delighted to be adding to our complete EV charging turnkey solutions with their commissioning and maintenance services.”

SolarEdge introduces energy operating system

SolarEdge Technologies has announced that it will unveil SolarEdge ONE, a new energy operating system, at Intersolar Europe. SolarEdge ONE makes hundreds of optimal energy decisions every day based on smart predictions of solar production, energy consumption patterns and electricity tariffs. It enables homeowners to maximise the use of excess PV, exploit periods of off-peak pricing and optimise the home’s load-control in real-time, saving energy and costs. SolarEdge ONE was developed to overcome homeowner uncertainty around prevailing utility rates such as dynamic and time-of-use tariffs, as well as complicated import/export combinations in Europe. The system’s AI-based algorithms can respond to dynamic pricing every 15 minutes, maximising energy export during peak market pricing periods and automatically adjusting to charge the home’s battery when electricity tariffs are lower. Optimal management of PV backup and storage also ensures more reliable and longer backup duration. The result is expected to offer opportunities for significant savings for homeowners on their annual electricity costs when coupled with a SolarEdge battery. The announcement also introduces the SolarEdge Home Local Controller which enables integration with verified third-party partners, controlling cloud-connected energy loads. The Local Controller, as part of the SolarEdge Home offering, will support local EV charging integration via OCPP and Vaillant Heat pump integration via EEBUS. The control of energy flow between compatible high-load third-party appliances, combined with the inherent higher efficiencies of SolarEdge’s DC-coupled architecture, will optimise usage also during power outages. Homeowners can monitor, schedule and control their energy use through the mySolarEdge app. SolarEdge ONE and the Local Controller will be presented at SolarEdge’s booth (Hall B4, Stand 110) at Intersolar Europe on the 14-16 June. They are expected to be available for both new and existing compatible SolarEdge residential products by the second half of 2023.

Wattif EV and Rolec EV form a strategic partnership

Rolec EV has entered into a strategic partnership with end-to-end EV charging provider, Wattif EV, offering both of their customer bases a sophisticated hardware solution paired with accessible funding options. Earlier this year, Wattif EV secured £50 million from a leading pan-European investment fund to underpin their strategy to become one of Europe’s leading destination charging providers. This new collaboration between Wattif EV and Rolec EV enables greater accessibility for landowners to install EV charging on their property and provides Wattif EV with a more diverse range of charge point hardware to further expand its offering. Wattif EV’s flexible net revenue sharing model provides businesses, local authorities and land-owners a fully scalable and cost-effective solution for the adoption of EV charging infrastructure and aims to make the uptake of zero-emission travel simple and low risk. When partnered with Rolec EV’s comprehensive range of hardware solutions, Wattif EV has the capacity to provide its service to businesses of varied size and structure to widen its offering and further improve the success of the government’s net zero initiatives over the coming years. Wattif EV will be making two funding options available to Rolec EV customers: Turnkey solution - a fully funded complete turnkey solution, including hardware, charge point installation, maintenance and software. Meaning no risk of investment for the business. Joint venture - Wattif EV will share the upfront capital cost. Wattif EV will take responsibility for installation, maintenance and operation but as equal partners, net revenue will be shared equally with the customer. Together, Rolec EV and Wattif EV are championing accessibility within the electric transport sector via Wattif EV’s unique funding solution, driving the sustainable travel movement through a combined philosophy of quality and affordability. Frankie Mellon, Sales Director at Rolec EV, says, “We are delighted to announce that Rolec EV’s hardware has been approved to support the rollout of Wattif EV’s network throughout the UK and Ireland. “As approved charge point supplier for Wattif EV, Rolec EV will provide a comprehensive range of funded charging solutions to be integrated with Wattif’s software, allowing Wattif EV to provide a fully turnkey solution to customers. “Our collaboration with Wattif EV means that Rolec EV will now be able to provide a variety of funding options to our customer base, with a focus on making the adoption of electric vehicle infrastructure more accessible to the wider market.” Steve Rees, Wattif Managing Director for the UK and Ireland, adds, “Rolec's smart EV charging hardware, combined with Wattif's turnkey solution and funding options, is the perfect solution to enable everyone to install and operate EV charging in their car park. “Improvements to charging infrastructure and access to charge points play a key role in EV adoption, the elimination of range anxiety and the achievement of legislative targets for 2030. Wattif EV UK is keen to address the EV charging demands across all sectors. Together as Rolec's approved funding provider, I know we have a very convincing proposition for both new and existing installations to be managed on smart charging networks. “This partnership for Wattif EV provides Rolec clients and installers with turnkey funding models to help them on their route to net zero and transition to electric vehicle adoption.”