New member joins Scolmore Group’s specification team

Scolmore Group has welcomed Pete Wilkinson to the company, Pete joins as new Group Key Account and Specification Manager for the west Midlands region. Pete joins a growing specification team who have responsibility for creating demand for products from the Scolmore Group portfolio across a variety of sectors. His particular focus will be within the residential, social housing and commercial sectors, targeting consultants, architects and contractors. He brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding to his new role having spent nearly 30 years within the electrical industry, including time working with some of the major players operating in the sector. His experience within a variety of sales roles, including area specification manager and national accounts, saw him working with M&E consultants as well as national construction and engineering companies. He will utilise his valuable experience working in social housing specification to develop relationships with local authorities and social housing providers and demonstrate to them the benefits of working with Scolmore Group and the company’s breadth of products and solutions that are particularly suited to their sectors.

Electrotechnical apprenticeship sets gold standard for green skills

The Installation & Maintenance Electrician Apprenticeship has been hailed by the government as a ‘gold standard for green skills’ and is one of just six apprenticeships selected for their sustainability credentials and delivering the skills needed to support the transition to net zero. To mark the announcement, electrical apprentices and representatives from industry employers Clarkson Evans and SJD Electrical met with the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, alongside other representatives from the selected apprenticeship standards. Gillian says, “As we work towards our net zero goals, it has never been more important to prioritise green skills and protect our natural environment. In recognition of the critical role education and skills play in responding to climate change, these green apprenticeships have been selected in honour of His Majesty The King’s Coronation. “These gold-standard, sustainable apprenticeships offer people the chance to embark on exciting new careers in industries from forestry to construction, and contribute to creating a more sustainable economy.” The electrotechnical industry has worked hard in recent years to develop formal green skills training routes, in recognition of that fact that many low and zero carbon technologies use the core competence of an electrician as the basis from which to upskill. Both the revised Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship standard and the new Domestic Electrician apprenticeship standard equip apprentices with the skills to safely install and connect a range of low carbon technologies, with electric vehicle charging skills embedded into the qualification. Existing qualified electricians can readily upskill in technologies such as EV charging point and solar PV installation. Jamie Bryan, Head of Lecturing at Clarkson Evans and Chair of the apprenticeship employer group, says, “We’re delighted and honoured that the role of qualified electricians at the forefront of green skills has been recognised in this way. Apprenticeships play a key role in delivering the workforce to achieve net zero ambition - safely and competently. With developing and emerging technologies there has never been a more exciting time to become a qualified electrician. “It's still vitally important that more employers recruit apprentices to support this green growth – I call on fellow electrical contractors to realise the benefits of apprenticeships and the return on investment they bring.” An official King’s Coronation emblem is being issued for use by employers to promote the electrotechnical apprenticeship, reflecting His Majesty’s longstanding commitment to renewable energy sources and applying sustainability into every aspect of the economy. Ruth Devine, Managing Director of SJD Electrical and Chair of TESP, adds, “This regal symbol of approval highlights how important electrotechnical careers are to powering up our greener, energy-efficient future. This fantastic endorsement is testament to the hard work of the employers who recently revised the occupational standard with IfATE, and all those who support and champion apprentices. Let’s celebrate the longstanding success of this apprenticeship and inspire more people into our great industry.”

ElectricalDirect’s new catalogue is big on range

ElectricalDirect has launched its latest catalogue featuring best-sellers from its range of over 12,000 products, plus a number of new additions. The free catalogue is ideal for browsing project essentials while on the move, so customers can easily find what they need, when they need it. The latest catalogue has been launched following various range reviews, with hundreds of new products added, including: Strip lighting The retailer has added a brand-new range of Neon Flex LED strip lights from Integral LED to its lineup. Offering quality, dot-free light output even when dimmed, these strip lights mimic Neon effect lighting and can be bent into any desired shape or space. Suitable for both domestic and commercial applications, the lights are IP67 rated to perform even in humid indoor or outdoor environments. To complete the job, combine the strip lights with complementary accessories, including surface mounted and recessed strip profiles, as well as user-friendly remotes which allow users to change the colour and brightness of the room with the touch of a button. Touchpoint sockets and switches From simple on/off switches and blank plates to USB sockets and fan isolators, ElectricalDirect’s Touchpoint range offers reliable solutions at a competitive price. All of the switches are designed to be easy to install and use, with durable construction that ensures they will stand the test of time. Altro panel heaters Also exclusive to ElectricalDirect is the new Altro Panel Heaters range. Available in a number of sizes and wattages to suit both small and larger spaces, they’re ideal for improving energy efficiency thanks to the product’s advanced heating technology that ensures every watt of energy is used effectively. The units also benefit from overheat and anti-frost protection and are easy to install, while their smart controls and LCD display make them simple to use when adjusting to the desired temperature. Katrina Adamczyk, Head of Category Management and Merchandising at ElectricalDirect says, “We are pleased to introduce our latest catalogue as a useful tool for busy tradespeople to browse while on the go, which showcases some of our key ranges, as well the latest additions. Not only that, but since October, we have added over 1,000 new products to our website, providing our customers with solutions from trusted brands like Integral LED, Knightsbridge, JCC, Zinc Outdoor, Vent-Axia, and Crabtree.”

New Metal Clad outboard rocker sockets from Scolmore

Scolmore has added a new Metal Clad outboard rocker socket to its Click Essentials wiring accessories range. The new 13A 2 gang DP 3 pin safety shutter switched socket outlet with outboard rockers (twin earth) joins the growing Click Metal Clad range ,which also includes a number of two-way switch plates, switched sockets, safety shutter switched sockets and fused connection units. The Metal Clad range features electrophoretically coated plates and back boxes that provide a durable and long lasting heavy duty finish. All switch products are of modular construction, allowing the installer total freedom in designing customised switching solutions according to on-site needs. All socket outlets and spurs are tested and approved to BS1363. Unfurnished Metal Clad plates and mounting boxes are also available for use in conjunction with the extensive Click Minigrid and Click New Media modules.

Greenarc electrifies service offering with latest acquisition

Greenarc has announced its acquisition of Lancashire-based company Elektec. The purchase of electrical contractor Elektec represents Greenarc’s third venture in less than nine months with the investment in Oxfordshire-based Heat Engineer Software in April and the acquisition of the recently rebranded vehicle leasing and rental business Greenarc Vehicles completed in November. Chris Bingham, Chairman and CEO at Greenarc comments, “This recent acquisition is one of many investments from Greenarc in the past 12 months and we are thrilled to welcome Carl and Charlotte to the business to support our goal of transitioning our customers to a clean energy future. “With Elektec’s focus on EV charging points, battery storage, LED lighting, electrical compliance and more recently solar we have further increased our low-carbon service offering. This acquisition represents another important pillar of our decarbonisation proposition to individuals, businesses, and the public sector across the UK.” Charlotte Knowles, Director at Elektec says, “This acquisition allows us to continue to offer our electrical services locally but also provides Elektec with the expertise and funding to grow our services to customers. Not only this, but we now have access to a range of other renewable energy solutions to support our customers to decarbonise their entire energy infrastructure. “Greenarc’s honest and informative approach to clean energy fits in well with what we do at Elektec, we are thrilled to be joining the Greenarc team and I’m excited about the future work we will be achieving together.”

Martindale Electric celebrates 95 years of electrical safety excellence

Martindale Electric is celebrating 95 years of innovation and service. Since its inception in 1928 as the UK base for the US-owned Martindale Electric Company (Meco), the company has established a reputation for providing time-saving electrical measurement solutions for electricians, service and maintenance professionals, all backed up by local service and support. As part of the celebrations, the company is running a number of competitions and promotions via its website during 2023. Over the decades, Martindale Electric has continued to innovate and expand its product portfolio. In the 1930’s Martindale exhibited at the first British Industries Fair in London. The 1950s saw the company focus on product development and a split from its US parent company. In the 1960s, the focus shifted predominantly toward test and measurement equipment, and the classic patented Ring Main Tester (the Check Plug) was launched in 1968. The Check Plug became an success, with over 2,000,000 products manufactured and supplied to date. In the 1990s, Martindale Electric relocated to Watford and introduced a wider range of electrical test products designed to keep electricians and electrical engineers safe when testing electrical systems. The company's products, such as the FD500 low-cost fuse finder, won awards and simplified the task of identifying which socket is on which circuit. By 2001, the Martindale portfolio had expanded to approximately 70 products. During the 2000s, Martindale Electric continued to expand its range by product innovation and acquisition, and its catalogue now includes over 270 products. The company has introduced a wide range of safety products, including the patented non-trip, no battery, no test button loop tester displaying PE, PN PFC & PSC - the EZ2500 - and the HandyPAT range, three of the smallest, lightest handheld battery-powered PAT testers on the market. In 2017, Martindale Electric moved to a larger facility - Metrohm House in Watford - bringing under one roof R&D, service, calibration and sales in a modern eco-friendly building. Today, Martindale Electric is a leader in safe isolation, offering a comprehensive range of electrical test equipment and support to meet the varied needs of customers. "Martindale Electric is proud to celebrate 95 years of providing electrical safety solutions to our customers," says Managing Director, Steve Dunning. "We remain committed to delivering the highest level of customer service and support, and we are excited to continue innovating and expanding our product portfolio to meet the evolving needs of the industry. We look forward to the centenary celebration in 2028, only five years away." During May and June, the company is running a prize draw competition to win great prizes, including an iPad or a Martindale Socket Tester.

MCS apprenticeship celebrated in honour of King Charles III’s Coronation

The MCS Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship is among six green apprenticeships hand-picked by industry experts to mark the coronation in recognition of their sustainability credentials. In honour of His Majesty The King’s Coronation, the apprenticeships have been selected for their contribution to creating a low carbon economy by ensuring the country’s workforce is equipped with the skills needed to support the transition to net zero. The official coronation emblem will be used by employers and government to promote the apprenticeships as they are recognised as the gold-standard for green skills training. Each of the apprenticeships were chosen for encouraging more people to take up the opportunity to gain the skills to build an exciting career in the green industry while meeting the skills needs of employers and boosting economic growth, one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan says, “As we work towards our net zero goals, it has never been more important to prioritise green skills and protect our natural environment. In recognition of the critical role education and skills play in responding to climate change, these green apprenticeships have been selected in honour of His Majesty The King’s Coronation. “These gold-standard, sustainable apprenticeships offer people the chance to embark on exciting new careers in industries from forestry to construction and contribute to creating a more sustainable economy.” The apprenticeships were designed by employers working with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), who considered the impact of each occupation on the environment and future workforce. They also reflect His Majesty’s longstanding commitment to ensuring natural assets endure for future generations, integrating renewable energy sources into our everyday lives, and applying sustainability into every aspect of our economy. MCS CEO Ian Rippin comments, “One of the major barriers in increasing the uptake of low carbon technology in recent years has been a lack of qualified contractors to install systems due to limited training routes across the industry. Therefore, it is fabulous to see recognition from His Majesty The King and the Department of Education of the importance of increasing access to and awareness of green jobs. "Later this year, following the support and dedication of a group of MCS certified installers in creating this apprenticeship, we will be helping build a dedicated pipeline of industry talent when we launch our Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship. We are delighted that the apprenticeship has received this approval."

Fuuse raises £2.5m in follow-on funding

Fuuse has announced a £2.5m follow-on investment as its revenue and growth accelerates. The latest top up will galvanise Fuuse’s position in the UK and Ireland, feeding the growth of sales and support teams to serve forecasted demand and wider expansion plans. The investment is led by Par Equity, and is backed by a group of new and existing private investors and entrepreneurs with leadership positions in the energy, automotive and tech markets. Alongside over £400,000 in recent government-funded research and development, with more to be announced, this latest injection of investment enables Fuuse to aggressively enhance innovation and functionality for CPOs, fleets and destination charging. Michael Gibson, CEO of Fuuse says, “Fuuse is rapidly growing it’s market leading enterprise solution for EV charging as we continue our path to profitability. We have a robust pipeline of new projects with some major announcements to follow. We’re also building the foundations for the next wave of the EV revolution through our grant-funded innovation projects and we’re delighted to be ready to address the future demand we see coming down the road with the further support from our investors. “The future is very encouraging and we are ready at the helm to strengthen our foothold in the UK, expand our offering in Ireland and springboard into new international markets by the end of the year.” Alastair Moore, Senior Investment Manager at Par Equity says, “Fuuse continues to make incredible progress in establishing itself as a leading name in EV software, which is now the driving force in the wider EV charging market. As EV adoption ramps up it is essential that EV infrastructure owners and operators are ready and able to meet the needs of drivers, while managing the energy demand on the grid. "With around 600 charge point connections needing to be installed every week through to 2030 in the North alone ahead of the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles, Fuuse is now expertly placed as the partner to large enterprises and public sector organisations as they scale their own EV infrastructure. "At Par Equity we have been inspired by the team’s constant innovation and ability to lead the market with new features that deliver further benefits to customers as the EV charging market evolves. We are incredibly excited to see where Fuuse goes from here.”

Lighting industry gears for growth in remanufacturing

Experts gathered in London on 27 April to discuss the opportunities and the challenges of remanufacturing lighting equipment. More and more lighting manufacturers are adding reconditioning to their business model. A new standard is being published, and regulations are likely to change to incentivise remanufacture. Now is the time to embrace the drive to truly sustainable lighting. “It's increasingly clear that the remanufacturing of luminaires is moving from the fringe of the industry to the mainstream, driven by the environmental priorities of clients and their specifiers. This is already a big, profitable sector, and it can only grow rapidly in the coming years,” says Ray Molony, Editor, Circular Lighting Report. At the one-day special conference hosted by Recolight, experts learnt how to sell the concept of reconditioned lights, develop best practice sustainable policies and procedures, comply with the relevant standards, and set up a testing and compliance regime for reused luminaires. Simon Fisher of F Mark explored the ways that the lighting industry can sell the concept to its clients; Natalia Duffy of Cundall looked at lighting design using reconditioned luminaires; Kevin Stubbs of Llumarlite took attendees through BS8887; Tom Ruddell of Egg Lighting showed what a testing and compliance regime looks like; and Francesca Cameron of Recolight gave the conference the first glimpse of Circular Place, a portal to connect organisations that have used or surplus product to organisations that can make use of them. David Clements of FUTURE Design demonstrated how to remanufacture at scale, and Andrew Nixon of Gamma Illumination and Darrell West of Eco Fix UK Energy Solutions walked through some successful remanufacturing projects. A panel discussion with both manufacturers and specifiers looked at the barriers to the adoption of a reuse culture in the lighting sector and discussed ways in which those barriers could be overcome. Panelists included Alison Gallagher of Arup, Tom Ruddell of EGG Lighting, Martin Thompson of Tridonic, Antonina Crino of Signify, and Howard Lawrence of Commercial Lighting Systems. Delegates shared the challenges that they face with remanufacturing. Getting the message across about remanufacture, that it is not just about retrofit. Associated costs in striving for a net zero business. Acceptance from end users to renew rather than replace Lighting. There were many positives, with delegates saying: Remanufacture is not just about cheap retrofits but the more important aspect is to stop taking natural resources from the planet and then putting them back into landfill at end of life. This is a developing segment and whilst at source it is about modifying habits for the greater global and environmental good, there are commercial opportunities to be explored. The increase in attendees demonstrates the significance of sustainability in both cases. The remanufacturing sector is quickly becoming formal and picking up pace. Leading lighting design professionals are on board with the concepts, message, and key terms. Summing up the event, Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey says, “It was fantastic to witness over 70 lighting leaders really engaging on the challenges and opportunities that lighting remanufacture now presents. The room was buzzing with energy. The scene is now set for material growth in this sector, as more manufacturers get involved, and more end users demand reuse as an option.”

Low carbon hydrogen to play defining role in energy transition

The hydrogen market has progressed rapidly in recent years due to its growing application in industries like the transport, industrial, energy, aerospace, defence, and construction sectors. Against this backdrop, low carbon hydrogen is gaining traction as a critical component to achieve energy transition and long-term decarbonisation goals, says GlobalData. The global demand for pure hydrogen stood at nearly 74mMT per year in 2021, of which low carbon hydrogen accounted for a miniscule share of 0.89%. Low carbon hydrogen, including green hydrogen, has generated tremendous interest as a sustainable option to achieve long-term climate goals or net zero targets. Srinwanti Kar, Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments, “Various countries such as the US, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, and India have framed hydrogen roadmaps, strategies, mandates, and targets to develop a hydrogen economy in general - and low carbon in particular. These plans are focused mainly on scaling up hydrogen production capacity, reducing costs, and bolstering supply chain infrastructure.” GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Low-Carbon Hydrogen Market Report, Update 2023 - Global Market Outlook, Trends, and Key Country Analysis,’ observes that during 2021-2022, the low carbon hydrogen sector took first big strides as a number of projects were announced as part of the strategy towards energy transition. Srinwanti continues, “Significant policy support and governments’ commitment to decarbonisation is spurring investments in the hydrogen space. The momentum that has been built along the entire value chain is accelerating cost reduction in hydrogen production, retail, and end-applications.” In November 2022, at COP27, the World Bank Group announced the formation of the Hydrogen for Development Partnership (H4D), a new global project to increase the deployment of low carbon hydrogen in developing countries. Srinwanti adds, “North America leads the market in terms of low carbon hydrogen active production capacity, followed by the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and Asia Pacific. As of February 2023, the global low carbon hydrogen production capacity was 1,698ktpa, which is anticipated to reach 1,11,326ktpa in terms of high case scenario and 66,321ktpa in terms of low case scenario by 2030. Suitable planning at the funding level, constructive regulatory framework, and proper infrastructure may facilitate and accelerate the pace of projects.” As of February 2023, a total of 152mtpa of the low carbon hydrogen capacity is in the pipeline, of which 1.9mtpa is in construction, 136.7mtpa in feasibility, and 6.4mtpa in the front end engineering design (FEED) stage. Srinwanti concludes, “The cost of low carbon hydrogen production is expected to decrease by up to 60% over the next decade because of the reduction in the cost of renewable electricity. Facilitating regulatory framework and demand visibility by adopting legal measures, accelerating public funding for low carbon hydrogen projects, advancing hydrogen infrastructure development, technological advancements leading to cost reduction, access to finance, and government mandates or targets to support hydrogen adoption are some of the key factors which will drive the growth of the low carbon hydrogen market.”