ManoManoPro UK sees product catalogue grow by half a million

In April 2022 ManoMano UK launched a new platform, ManoManoPro, designed by, and for, tradespeople and related businesses as a ‘one-of-a-kind’ dedicated B2B service aimed to make their lives easier. One year on and the platform now offers over 1.5 million products from over 500 sellers, establishing it as one of the go-to destinations for trade professionals in the UK. The platform, which is also available as a mobile application, combines the power of the ManoMano UK marketplace with specially tailored products and services, and the purchase process, therefore saving trade professionals time to focus on the task at hand. Since launch, the platform has only continued to grow in popularity within the trade industry. In March the total number of signups increased by 11% compared to February, whilst total sign ups in Q1 2023 increased by 73% versus the previous quarter. The app has also performed strongly over the last year, with over 500,000 downloads from Apple and Android users so far, and an average rating of 4.6/5. Trade professionals across the UK have been taking advantage of the benefits of the service since launch, with London, Manchester and the west Midlands proving the most popular locations so far. Trade generalists form the majority of sign ups with 22% of the total figure, whilst carpenters (9%) and maintenance workers (8%) have also taken a shine to the new service. Providing a simple way to buy tools and materials, seek advice and streamline admin, ManoManoPro launched with a pledge to give professionals back an hour of their day, every day. The major expansion of its product catalogue and seller partnerships is testament to the rapid growth and success of the service over the last year, offering: A simplified purchasing process that can be performed quickly on a single platform, reserved for professionals who can sign up by entering their company number or company name. Accessibility to a wide range of products (catalogue size 1.5 million) anytime, anywhere via the online catalogue or app with 24h delivery on key items. The ability to manage multiple projects remotely at the same time. A dedicated team at the service of every customer, providing a personalised experience and expert advice through a team of specialists available by telephone, email, or online chat from Monday to Friday (8am-6pm) who can help make decisions and provide information on products according to each project. Simple invoice management and an app for step-by-step order tracking to save time and help Pros to focus on the task at hand. A personalised navigation experience according to each users activity. The positive performance of ManoManoPro over the last year in the UK encouraged ManoMano to pursue its international expansion, with the service launching in Germany seven months later in November 2022. ManoMano aims to continue the strong launch of ManoManoPro in the UK by targeting 19% of all sales to be done through the app. Marie Mahiou, Head of Spart UK at ManoMano, says, “It has been great to see such a positive response to the new platform within the UK trade industry one year since launch. With 2023 looking to be an extremely busy year for trade, and rising costs continuing to challenge the nation, we want to ensure our service helps make the lives of trade professionals easier by becoming their back-pocket go-to for all tools and materials.”

It's about to get lit - introducing the ECN Awards!

Get ready for the newest and most spectacular industry event – the Electrical Contracting News Awards! The ECN Awards have been designed to recognise the very best of the electrical contracting industry and we invite you to join us for a night of celebration, great food, dancing and entertainment. Held at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Coventry on 30 November 2023, this event will help kick off the Christmas party season in style! The electrical contracting industry is vast, and we believe that those who strive to make all sectors of the industry safer, more advanced, more efficient and more sustainable deserve recognition. This is why we have created 20 awards within the following categories: Products, Sustainable Products, Projects, Training and Companies. If your company has launched a product or completed a project between 1 January 2022 and 31 August 2023 then please enter today – it’s FREE and you can enter as many categories as you wish. All awards will be judged by our panel of independent expert judges based on the criteria that can be found on the entry form. Our judges will be announced very soon – watch this space! And even if you don’t enter your own company, please join us on the night for a fun-filled evening! The Heart of England is a striking venue in the centre of the country which is easily accessible and close to the M1, M40 and M6, and also to the rail network. There are rooms available onsite for those who wish to stay the night, as well as many hotels close by. We do hope you’ll join us for a fantastic evening! If you have any questions, please contact either Carly Wills or Kelly Byne.

The importance of flexible worklamps

Ring has introduced three new worklamps that deliver on providing lighting solutions for all professions. All three worklamps are lightweight, durable and flexible, so the user can use their light with confidence and focus on the job at hand. The RWL400 is a battery operated worklamp that has a dual light head and two handles that can be altered to be freestanding at multiple different angles, allowing for full flexibility. The RWL400 is 400LM and has 16 hours of operating time. The RWL600 and RWL1000 are both rechargeable via USB-C and have handles attached, so that the light can be hung or be freestanding, ensuring that it is completely adaptable for the user. The RWL600 is 600LM and has an operating time of six and a half hours, with two and a half hours recharging time, whereas the RWL1000 has 1,000LM, an eight-hour operating time and takes four hours to recharge. Being lightweight and compact in size makes it ideal for mechanics and tradesmen to move easily and reposition when needed. Both units also come with a handy power bank function so tradespeople can charge mobile phones or devices when at work. Each of these lamps is designed to give the user an adaptable solution that can ‘flood’ the area they need with light, so they can work efficiently.

UK Power Networks bags ‘Most Admired’ award

UK Power Networks has been named Britain’s Most Admired Company for the Energy Distribution and Supply sector for 2022. The award, part of the Britain’s Most Admired Companies survey conducted by Echo Research in partnership with Coventry University, places UK Power Networks alongside companies such as Amazon, Legal & General, and Vodafone. The annual benchmark has been running for 33 years, inviting C-suite business leaders across the FTSE, as well as financial analysts, journalists, and commentators to rate companies in their sector. The 2022 survey, which has just been announced, rated 259 UK companies after interviewing 292 C-suite peers and analysts across 28 sectors. Companies are rated based on a set of 13 criteria, including Quality of Management, Quality of Products and Services, Financial Soundness, and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). UK Power Networks took the top spot in five criteria: ‘Capacity to Innovate’, ‘Inspirational Leadership’, ‘Quality of Management’, ‘Ability to Attract, Develop and Retain Top Talent’, and ‘Long-term Value Potential’. UK Power Networks says that it had an outstanding year in 2022. It was ranked number one in the Institute of Customer Services’ Customer Satisfaction Index, and had the most satisfied customers in the sector at 93%, according to industry regulator Ofgem. The company has also made a major commitment to helping the UK reaching net zero targets. UK Power Networks is processing over 9,000 Low Carbon Technology (LCT) connection requests every month - a 300% increase in less than a year, and leads a commercial EV trial using data from 6,000 vehicles to slash costs of EV fleets for local businesses. Sandra Macleod, CEO of Echo Research, says, “We were delighted to award UK Power Networks top place in its category for 2022. This has been a year of unparalleled change and disruption across the energy supply market. UKPN should be particularly proud, therefore, to have been judged the Britain’s most respected energy distribution and supply business by sector peers and city analysts. “This study reflects the views from a company’s closest observers and harshest critics - its peers and analysts. Over its data-rich history, Britain’s Most Admired Companies study has consistently reflected the drivers of reputation, each year pinpointing those businesses that are at the top of their sectors and those leading in specific reputational criteria.”

Acquisition of 50MW north Yorkshire solar project

Atrato Onsite Energy has announced the acquisition of a ready-to-build 50MW solar project in Richmond, north Yorkshire. The ground-mounted project will be constructed under a fully-wrapped EPC contract. The company will invest a total of £38m over a 12-month period to acquire and construct the project for a target energisation date in Q2 2024. Harmony Energy, one of the sellers, will continue to support the company with the delivery of the project. The company is running a competitive process across corporate and utility off-takers for the sale and purchase of electricity generated by the project. Once energised, the project is expected to save 11,475 tonnes of CO2e a year and power an equivalent of 17,120 UK homes per annum. Gurpreet Gujral, Managing Director of Atrato Partners, Investment Adviser to the company, says, "We are pleased to announce this acquisition which is our largest solar energy project to date. At IPO we stated our intention to build a diversified portfolio of behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter solar assets whilst maintaining one of the lowest sensitivities to power prices in the sector. This brings us a significant step closer in delivering on our strategy.”

Hochiki reveals the next generation of its emergency lighting systems

Building upon the success of the FIREscape range launched in 2009, this new design brings with it a suite of new features and benefits driven by technology improvements and innovations in the R&D process. FIREscape Nepto is BS 5266 compliant and, like its predecessor, is based around an addressable, emergency lighting control panel with self-contained LED-based luminaires and exit signs running on an extra-low operating voltage. And to ensure project continuity, the new system is backwards compatible with the existing panels and devices within the older FIREscape range. FIREscape Nepto can continually self-test and monitor itself, making installation and maintenance of the new system quick, easy and less costly compared to centralised battery or mains-powered systems. Another new development is a range of aesthetic enhancements and new recessed luminaire designs which negate the need for a recessing adaptor. These new recessed variants are available with both a standard and a high-power output. Customers and end users will now benefit from reduced project install and ongoing maintenance costs as improvements have been made to the photometry, increasing the maximum spacing between luminaires, reducing the amount required in any one space. And battery life has increased from four to 10 years (dependent on system usage), reducing ongoing maintenance costs. Scalability is a key feature of the FIREscape Nepto system. The range has been designed and configured so that control panels can be networked to protect large, multi-site complexes all from a central point of control. And for smaller projects, the new control panels are supplied with one 127 address line as standard, with the potential to achieve 254 addresses when upgraded to two lines, helping to make smaller systems more cost effective. Further to this, up to 12 panels can be directly networked together and operated from a single point, negating the need for a graphics package if it isn't required. The team behind the new design are also working on a cloud-based subscription service which is set to be released later this year. This service will enable remote access via internet enabled devices, providing system notifications and the ability to monitor and interrogate multiple client sites from anywhere in the world. Robert Head, Commercial Project Manager for Hochiki Europe says, “The release of this new product from Hochiki is very exciting and builds on the success of our existing FIREscape range. I am particularly excited for the cloud-based service that is coming later this year. Our customers are going to benefit from a cost effective, fully compliant and cutting-edge emergency lighting technology that is second to none.” The Hochiki Europe team will be hosting a webinar to run through the new features and benefits on 23 March, as well as attending the Fire Safety Event at the NEC 25-27 April, where they will be demonstrating the new FIREscape Nepto system.

Legal & General Capital invests a further £15m in decarbonising homes

Legal & General Capital (LGC) has invested £12.5 million across three companies - Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC), Hometree, and SunRoof - and increased its existing investment in Sero Technologies as part of its commitment to decarbonise the residential sector. These partnerships demonstrate the breadth of LGC’s investments into decarbonising residential real estate, from reducing construction emissions through to offering the technology and support needed to retrofit existing housing stock. LGC invests in energy transition, supporting the scale-up of innovative businesses that deliver solutions to reduce carbon emissions throughout the economy. Over the past six years, its investments have focused on decarbonising power, transportation, and the built environment. Over half (59%) of UK households view more investment in energy efficient homes as an attractive option to address the cost-of-living crisis. LGC's long-term investment supports aims to ensure both the successful scale-up of innovative new companies and technologies, and lasting benefits to households as the UK and Europe navigate a new energy landscape and the transition to net zero. John Bromley, Managing Director - Clean Energy at Legal & General Capital, says, “Housing is a major contributor to carbon emissions and requires some of the most radical and immediate overhauls of any industry. The UK has some of the poorest-built housing stock in Europe when it comes to energy efficiency, but the scale of this challenge also provides a huge opportunity for investors and innovators to develop and scale up leading tech to decarbonise UK homes. This will generate not just environmental but also economic benefits by stimulating jobs and growth in the green economy across the UK, not just in the industrial heartlands. "In the face of that challenge, I’m delighted to welcome three new clean energy partners to Legal & General Capital and increase our investment in Sero - all of which will accelerate the development and deployment of solutions that will help reduce carbon emissions at speed and at scale. We have partnered with these businesses in recognition of their unique and innovative positions within their respective markets and their potential for growth. We look forward to working with our new partners as they accelerate their growth in order to address the climate crisis.” LGC’s investments into CEC, Hometree, and SunRoof are the latest in its commitment to investing in businesses, technologies, and innovators that support the transition to net zero - and a natural evolution for its clean energy portfolio, whose partners include The Kensa Group, Oxford PV and Rovco & Vaarst. LGC also joined other leading cleantech accelerators and investors in the UK to form a coalition to help inform and shape a new initiative, called Cleantech for UK. This initiative aims to pave the way for a new generation of global cleantech champions in the UK by establishing a dialogue between the UK’s policy-making community and those living the reality of creating, incubating, investing in and scaling cleantech companies.

Scolmore Group develops its technical team expertise

Scolmore Group says that it attributes its position in the market to sustained reinvestment in its business infrastructure and people, in order to provide a solid platform for continual growth and expansion. Among the areas of the business that have seen investment in recent months is the technical support department, where a number of promotions and a new appointment have been announced. Scolmore Group’s technical support team now numbers eight, with the Head of Technical Engagement, technical engagement engineers and technical support engineers working to support all companies in the group - Click wiring accessories, Ovia lighting, ESP security and Unicrimp cable accessories. Having joined the company in 2021 as technical engagement engineer, Jake Green soon took on the role of Technical Engagement Manager and has since been promoted to Head of Technical Engagement. His role includes engaging with consultants, specifiers and electrical contractors to advise and educate them on the right solutions and products to meet the ever-changing regulations and technical requirements of the industry. He also helps develop and present training content at industry events, as well as across Scolmore’s social media channels, including the SGTV YouTube channel. Neil McManus joined the expanding department towards the end of last year as Technical Engagement Engineer. A TMIET member (Technician Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology), Neil has more than 20 years’ experience teaching and managing a large provision at Leicester College, where he delivered electrical qualifications as well as implementing the provision of T Level qualifications. With his wealth of qualifications and hands-on experience, Neil is proving a valuable asset to the team and brings his expert knowledge to bear to resolve customer enquiries and to develop links with apprentice providers and colleges. He also works closely with Head of Technical Engagement, Jake Green, to connect with contractors and to deliver valuable training. James Hannon joined the Ovia division of Scolmore Group as a senior technical lighting engineer in 2021 and has since been promoted to the position of Technical Engagement Manager. James’ previous experience includes five years working as a qualified electrician and eight years as a senior site services engineer with a leading manufacturer of commercial and industrial lighting systems. James oversees the running of the technical support team and ensures the technical accuracy of all information that leaves the department - whether for customers or for internal purposes. He also plays a key role in new product development and making sure that the department stays up to date with the latest regulations. Group Marketing Manager for Scolmore Group, Katie Plumstead, comments, “The business has been enjoying significant growth in recent years, and it is important that we maintain the level of excellent customer service that we are valued for. The expansion of the technical department with high calibre, qualified team members will ensure that we can continue to build on the support we offer to our customers.”

Kensa launches new funding offer - ground source for the price of air source

Kensa is bringing an innovative new funding offer to the market to enable house builders and developers to install ground source heat pumps for the price of air source heat pumps. Kensa Contracting manages projects end-to-end and Kensa Utilities will fund, own and maintain the shared ground array infrastructure necessary for large-scale ground source systems. This removes the cost and hassle for house builders who simply fund the heat pump and internal heating distribution system. Each property will pay a monthly standing charge to access the shared ground array, for a minimum 40-year agreement, just like any other traditional utility. This emulates the current gas grid and means that house builders and homeowners can reap the unique benefits of harnessing underground heat to keep their houses warm and provide hot water, and even cooling. The addition of an energy-efficient and low carbon ground source heat pump will increase the value and saleability of a newbuild property. Kensa Contracting is hosting a series of free webinars to explain in more detail the funding conditions for its offer - to register, click here. Alternatively, you can contact Kensa for a one-to-one CPD on the benefits of ground source heat pumps and why they are the best route to compliance. UK ground temperatures remain constant year-round and ground source heat pumps utilise this stored solar energy. They can deliver 3-4kW of renewable energy for every 1kW of electricity, making them ultra-efficient and they produce no point-of-use emissions - making them extremely low carbon. This makes carbon compliance easier and cheaper in developments, improving SAP ratings, and avoiding the costly addition of energy saving measures to meet Part L Building Regulations. The funded offer from Kensa ensures house builders can quickly and cost-effectively future-proof their new developments with ground source heat pumps to comply with the interim target of a 30% reduction in carbon emissions ahead of the Future Homes Standard in 2025. Delivering energy-efficient, low carbon and low-cost cooling – without harming the environment or contributing to overheating – is a balance only achievable with ground source heat pumps. Not only does this help house builders comply with Part O Building Regulations, but passive cooling actually re-charges the ground for more efficient heating the following winter. Wouter Thijssen Managing Director of Kensa Utilities, says, “Homeowners prefer ground-source. Of all viable heating options, it is the cheapest to run, the least hassle to maintain, has the longest lifespan, creates the least noise and visual impact, and it allows for low-cost cooling. It does however cost more upfront to install, due to the shared ground array located outside the property. “But when you install gas, you don’t buy and own your own mini-gas network, so we emulate this arrangement. By Kensa Utilities funding and owning this in return for a standing charge, the upfront cost for a housebuilder should be lower than air-source heat pumps and your end-user should pay less to run the system too because of its higher efficiencies. Win-win.” Funding just the heat pump and internals, per property, you could expect to save up to £500 per property on a newbuild site on the upfront cost of the heat pump and up to £1,000 per property for a retrofit site. For non-domestic sites, this could be much larger. End-users can expect to save over £100 a year on running costs, even after paying the standing charge. Kensa Utilities can flex the funding amount up or down, with the standing charge going up or down along with the funding amount. The package can also work with the Green Heat Network Fund and the Scottish Heat Network Fund, subject to the site aligning to scheme conditions.

Consort Claudgen launches 2023 Heat brochure

Consort Claudgen has unveiled its 2023 Heat brochure, showcasing new products and innovations for diverse heating needs. Key highlights include the user-friendly Consort Connect app, enabling remote heating control via smartphones or tablets, and the cost-effective PVE panel heaters with timer battery backup that retains all settings when turning off the heater. The energy-efficient CHMC controller, compatible with commercial fan heaters, incorporates an electronic lock and accurate temperature control. When paired with an occupancy sensor, it further conserves energy when it detects no movement within a given range. The redesigned Screenzone air curtains are easy to install, with a new width of 2m and an optional ACMC controller for customisable operation modes, prioritising energy efficiency. To download the brochure, click here. Consort offers support on heating schemes for electrical contractors. Its dedicated technical team delivers valuable advice, calculating heat loss and recommending the most suitable heaters for each project.