National Grid announces cash incentive to use less electricity

The National Grid is set to deploy its emergency scheme for the first time, with hundreds of thousands of households set to be paid to use less electricity to avoid a nation-wide blackout. This comes as Britain's cold temperatures and soaring energy demand continue to exacerbate fears of a supply shortage, with the national power operator rolling out precautionary measures to maintain the country's energy supply. Ofgem's recent announcement that the average energy price cap is set to increase by 21% in April - bringing the typical yearly household bill to £3,000 - is set to further pull on purse strings across the UK. To assist households struggling with soaring energy prices, property expert and CEO of Livlet - the UK’s first intelligent home management platform - Dasha Klyachko, outlines how to keep your home as energy efficient as possible in the depths of one of the country's most severe energy crisis on record. Install a high efficiency gas boiler Dasha says, "Unless your home is well insulated, heating can account for over 60% of your home's typical energy consumption. By improving the efficiency of your boiler, you can save as much as 25% of your heating energy. Upgrading a low efficiency boiler to a new boiler with an ERP Rating of A could save you between £50-£135 per year on heating bills depending on your home type, existing boiler and heating profile. It could also reduce your household carbon emissions by 420-870kg per year." Install a smart home meter for an in-house display on your energy management Dasha continues, "Installing a smart meter will allow your energy supplier to obtain automatic and accurate readings of your energy use. In line with the UK's national smart meter rollout which states that all homes should have a smart meter by 2025, this means that households will only be billed for their actual energy use. Even more importantly, this will allow you to visualise and adapt your heating and electricity behaviour to reduce your energy consumption." Upgrade your appliances to more efficient models Dasha explains, "Opting for more energy efficient appliances in terms of washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, fridges, kettles, televisions and computers, can help with reducing energy and water consumption. For example, a refrigerator rated A+++ would use 60% less energy than an A rated refrigerator - equivalent to a saving of around £40 annually, and approximately a 60kg reduction in carbon emission." Using a programmable thermostat Dasha says, "A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature in your home to automatically adjust when you are not there, so you are not heating an empty house. Smart thermostatic radiator valves are also a good bet if your property has radiators, combining a programmer, thermostat and local temperature control to achieve the right temperature per space and only heat the rooms you want to. They'll typically be accompanied by an app, or each radiator can be programmed manually." Keep on top of your home management Dasha concludes, "Ineffective home upkeep could cost homeowners up to £13,500 in structural damage and an additional £4,000 for a full rewire if your property's electrics have been neglected for a long period of time, according to Unbiased. Livlet recommends that homeowners save 1-4% of their home's value each year to spend on maintenance and repairs in order to prevent any additional costs that appears in the long run. The platform also helps users by advising on the best time to carry out certain tasks, such as seasonal upkeeps or regularly spaced out safety checks."

Thousands of construction workers to benefit from mental health support

Did you know that in the UK two construction workers take their own life every working day and over 20% of work-related absence is caused by stress, anxiety, or depression? One life is too many, and that’s why Kier is putting its support behind the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity (Lighthouse Club), the only charity that provides independent emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families. All colleagues at Kier will benefit from Kier becoming an annual company supporter of the Lighthouse Club, so it can continue to provide vital support. Due to this partnership, support provided by the Lighthouse Club is also more accessible to people working within Kier’s wider supply chain, meaning thousands more people will have access to support when they need it. The construction industry is made up of a diverse and multinational population and one of the unique services the Lighthouse Club offers is a 24/7 confidential helpline with free translation for any language, meaning that anyone can access help when they need it without a language barrier. For those who aren’t comfortable reaching out for help on the telephone the charity also offers a free text support service. The Lighthouse Club also has a network of over 350 Lighthouse Beacons which utilise existing support groups to offer a safe space to share and socialise with like-minded people face to face. The beacons are facilitated by individuals with lived experiences who are able to encourage those struggling with life’s problems to share their issues and if necessary, signpost to additional support. Kier Group’s Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability Director Chris Lilley says, “We want to ensure our people and supply chain go home safely every day. By looking after the wellbeing of our people and those from our valued supply chain, we’re supporting them to bring their best selves to work and encouraging them to make safe decisions. “By supporting the construction charity, the Lighthouse Club, we’re ensuring our people and supply chain have direct and immediate access to support that is adapted to their needs, tackling issues they may be facing and giving them the best support possible. This includes access to mental, physical, financial and emotional wellbeing support 24/7 through the Lighthouse Club. We’re delivering joint webinars and toolbox talks alongside the Lighthouse Club for our operative and management colleagues, to help raise awareness of the support available. “At Kier, we prioritise wellbeing in the same way as health and safety. We currently provide mental health support through a network of over 500 mental health first aiders and our employee assistance programme. This charity support is the latest way we’re supporting our people and our supply chain.” Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Club says, “We’re absolutely delighted to have Kier on board as company supporter. It’s vital that every level of our construction community knows that we have a huge variety of free and easily-accessible wellbeing support, and we are really looking forward to working together to help improve our workforce wellbeing”.

UKALA and Aico announce partnership

The UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) has partnered with Aico. UKALA is a professional association that supports letting management agent members to be successful, stay compliant and provide a high quality service. The organisation represents members’ interests across the UK, works constructively with various government departments and sits on many committees and policy input bodies. Ever-evolving legislative changes require all rented accommodations in England to have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted to a fuel burning appliance. In rented domestic premises, a category LD2 fire detection system must be installed within the residence. A Category LD2 system, as defined by BS5839-6 2019, means that mains-powered alarms with a sealed tamper-proof battery backup should be installed in the living areas and escape routes, with a heat alarm in the kitchen, and all alarms should be interlinked. Tony Boyle, National Sales Manager at Aico, says, “We are delighted to be working with an organisation like UKALA, which strives to improve standards in the private rental sector through professional development and provision of information and help. In a climate of constant regulatory change, it is clear UKALA does a fantastic job of keeping its members up to date with the latest requirements for compliance and improving the safety of residents. With over 4 million people privately rented homes in England alone, it’s encouraging to see organisations like UKALA improving standards within the sector.” Aico products are supplied to the UK’s professional electrical distribution network. UKALA members can procure Aico products through these channels through an agreement set up separately by the organisation. Anthony Lock, Director of UKALA, adds, “We aim to give letting agents a package of benefits from client money protection insurance, help and information through to commercial benefits. UKALA members can enjoy access to all of Aico’s carbon monoxide, smoke and heat detector products that conform to the latest legislative changes through the appropriate professional electrical distribution channels. The partnership with Aico is an important safety-related addition to the benefits we offer UKALA members, and we are delighted to be working with them”. With these recent legislative changes and further changes on the horizon concerning issues such as retrofit and disrepair, UKALA members are welcomed and encouraged to register for Aico’s free, CPD-accredited training using this link.

Prolectric Services appoints new Managing Director

Prolectric Services has announced the appointment of Rachel Preen as Managing Director, effective from 1 January 2023. Rachel takes over from Chris Williams, who merged Forgen Renewables with Prolectric in 2014. In 2021, Prolectric Services was acquired by Hill and Smith Holdings, a FTSE 250 £1 billion international group, providing sustainable infrastructure and safe transport solutions. Rachel joined Prolectric in 2021 as Commercial Director to build on the company’s reputation in the off-grid renewable lighting and power sector, following a six-year post as Head of Marketing, Business Development and Commercial Partnerships, with energy company Ecotricity. With full responsibility for the leadership and development of Prolectric’s off-grid solar power technology business, Rachel’s new role will be instrumental in driving forward the company’s ambition for purpose-led sustainable growth. Rachel comments, “I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead such a talented and ambitious team at Prolectric who are passionate about providing off-grid, solar technology to the construction, national house building, infrastructure and rail industries. Together, our mission is to provide solar hybrid power and lighting solutions in the most practical way, to enable businesses to move away from polluting fossil fuels to achieve their carbon-saving goals and deliver on their sustainability commitments. “January 2023 sees the launch of our new rental partner business, ProRehire. As the specialist rehire division of Prolectric, ProRehire will support the rental industry to respond to the increasing demand for our solar products and help end users consolidate their supplier base. ProRehire will exclusively hire our full suite of sustainable power, lighting, and security products to rental partners and no longer hire direct to end users. It’s an incredibly exciting time for Prolectric.” Chris Williams, Non-Executive Chair, Prolectric, says, “I am delighted that Rachel has accepted the role as Managing Director. She has quickly become a key player within Prolectric. Rachel is clearly passionate about enabling positive change that accelerates the transition to a sustainable future. Her robust experience in the green economy, high performance, team leadership and relationship building, enables me to leave the business in very capable hands to be expertly guided through its next successful phase of evolution.”

ECS now recognised for QS applications

ECS has been referenced as part of the latest update to the Qualifications Guide for Qualified Supervisors with Electrotechnical Certification and Competent Persons Schemes, positioning the ECS Gold card as a quick and simple method of evidencing the standards achieved by an installation or maintenance electrician. This means your ECS Gold card can now be recognised as evidencing the qualification requirements for Qualifying Supervisor (QS) and electrical inspector status, further enhancing the value of your ECS card. Certification and Registration Bodies undertaking the assessment of enterprises carrying out electrotechnical work use a document called the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS), which sets the minimum requirements for the enterprise (e.g. a contractor) to be recognised as competent to undertake this work. These organisations are known as certification and registration bodies and competent persons schemes. The EAS includes the Minimum Technical Competence requirements for enterprises to be considered competent to carry out electrotechnical work including work in dwellings in accordance with Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. A qualifications guide has been developed under the direction of the EAS Management Committee to set out the requirements for qualified supervisors and persons carrying out electrical inspection and testing. Table 4A of the guide defines the application routes for persons who undertake electrotechnical work, in order to apply to become a QS. Tables 4B to 4F list the relevant routes for each work category and specify the accepted qualifications. There have been a number of updates to the qualifications referenced in Tables 4B to 4F. These may now be evidenced by the individual providing their valid ECS card. This will provide an easy to reference system for recognition given the availability of ECS Check, CSCS smart check apps and digital platforms for verifying ECS cards which all demonstrate the competency requirements which sit behind the Gold card. ECS systems can verify if an individual’s qualifications are sufficient when qualification certificates are inaccessible or unavailable. A current, in date ECS Registered Electrician Gold card with the occupation of Installation or Maintenance Electrician, which will show the relevant version of BS7671, should typically be sufficient to demonstrate the qualification requirements in Tables 4B to 4E. A grading of Approved Electrician may be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the qualification requirements of Table 4F. Paul Collins, Head of Technical Services for Certsure, and Chair of the EAS Management Committee explains, “The EAS qualifications guide continues to develop to become the most comprehensive and recognised list of qualifications accepted by certification and registration bodies, and as Chair of EAS I am really pleased to see the EAS Management committee and industry stakeholders working together to provide clarity and advice on what qualifications are acceptable to electrotechnical scheme operators in the UK.”

ABB invests in OKTO GRID to digitalise the grid

ABB is investing in Danish start-up OKTO GRID to advance the development of technology that will digitalise and extend the useful life of ageing electrical assets in order to meet the growing demand for reliable and stable power. OKTO GRID has developed a pilot solution that digitalises electrical infrastructure to enable real-time, remote condition and performance monitoring to prolong their working life by another 40 years. Optimising safety and efficiency of older equipment will enhance reliable and stable power supplies and reduce the equipment’s total carbon emissions. As part of the collaboration, ABB will provide their electrification, digitalisation and industry knowledge to enhance the development of OKTO GRID’s solution and accelerate technology and commercial readiness. “The world is becoming increasingly electrified which requires an upgrade of our existing electricity infrastructure. OKTO GRID is on a mission to digitalise transformers to handle new energy sources and rising energy consumption,” says Golam Sadeghnia, CEO of OKTO GRID. “Our solution, which works independently of transformer type, make, and age of the transformer, is mounted without downtime or any tooling required. To the best of our knowledge, we are unique in the market with this combination. Partnering with ABB will be key to accelerating market adoption, given ABB’s global footprint, technology leadership and domain expertise.” “I am confident that ABB’s investment in OKTO GRID, when combined with our technology and in-depth industry insights, will help industry leapfrog the much-needed upgrade to aging electrical grids to meet the demands for higher power performance, reliability and availability,” says Stuart Thompson, Electrification Service Division President, ABB. “This partnership with OKTO GRID exemplifies our approach to collaborating with innovative start-ups who have the shared goal of developing technology that drives smart, safe and sustainable outcomes for our customers.” Managed through ABB’s venture capital unit, ABB Technology Ventures (ATV), the minority investment in OKTO GRID is the company’s 11th venture capital investment of 2022. Since its formation in 2009, ATV has invested around $300 million in start-ups that are synergetic with its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio. OKTO GRID is a company specialised in the digitalisation of electricity assets to boost the predictive maintenance of infrastructure. In 2019, started developing an IoT device that captures four different data types non-invasively from electricity-generating or distributing assets, with a primary focus on transformers. The data is then analysed using OKTO GRID's proprietary algorithms for detecting anomalies and certain events related to the assets’ operation. The combination of a physical device, data capture, and analysis methods has given rise to several patent applications for the method and technology. OKTO GRID is a first mover in the market with its innovative solution, which is easily deployed and installed. OKTO GRID currently has customers in five European countries using the solution in a demonstration phase.

Hudson Group strikes new partnership with Wibe

The Hudson Group has formed a new partnership with Wibe Group to provide specialist cable management solutions for corrosive and hazardous environments. The collaboration will see Wibe cable ladders and Mita Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) containment products distributed to the UK through ‘Milton’, a new division of the Hudson Group. The Mita brand is a leader in corrosion-resistant GRP containment products, which are ideal for extreme applications across sectors including nuclear, oil and gas, marine, pharmaceutical, and transport infrastructure. Recognised for optimal strength and durability, Wibe cable ladders offer a highly efficient and flexible solution for the most demanding projects. Hudson’s CEO Simon Hudson-Smith says, “Wibe has a track record that spans 100 years and is universally renowned for the quality of its cable support products. We are looking forward to building on this foundation and exploring new opportunities, including the potential to collaborate with RMS and Armorduct to bolster our offer to clients across the UK.” Patrick Arcidiacono, Chief Executive Officer, Wibe Group adds, “This partnership will result in synergies that will benefit customers across a vast range of industries. Through Milton, we can quickly and effectively target the UK market with specialist products that will generate efficiencies and improve the quality of cable management solutions. “An important part of the Wibe Group strategy is to join key players in cable management around the globe and by joining forces with Milton and the wider Hudson group including RMS and Armorduct, we are fulfilling our objective. Milton will be headed by project director Paul Nolan who has worked in the electrical industry for more than three decades. With extensive experience in the cable management sector, Paul has particular knowledge of extreme environment challenges. Paul adds, “Our key aim is to provide contractors and consultants with ‘fit and forget’ cable management systems. Our specialist product ranges enable solutions that deliver maintenance-free peak performance for harsh and hazardous projects throughout the lifecycle of the installation. “The Mita products will bolster our specialist portfolio with GRP ladders, trays, channels, troughing and support systems that can be tailored for the most severe environments.” Milton will be based at the Hudson Group’s head office in Andover, Hampshire.

Develop Training achieves the Investors in People Gold Award

Develop Training has announced that it has been awarded the coveted gold standard from Investors in People (IIP). Achieved by less than 10% of those that apply for IIP accreditation, Develop Training is now officially considered the kind of workplace that puts the development, progression, and performance of its team as a central focus within its organisation. The IIP is a not-for-profit organisation that has worked with over 50,000 organisations to assess how each of these workplaces’ cultures serve to positively affect the growth of the companies they inhabit. The report, which the IIP ultimately generates in the process of this assessment, takes a period of three years. It is within this extensive assessment that companies achieve either a standard, silver, gold or platinum level. For Develop Training, achieving a gold award proves that the standard of training it provides internally is akin to the standard of training it endeavours to give out to its customers every day. John Kerr, Managing Director at Develop Training, says, “Ultimately, our work could not be done without clear leadership and the commitment of our staff, which is why we were glad this report revealed their feedback of feeling both acknowledged and supported. “People are the cornerstone of Develop Training, so to have their wellbeing and development be so highly rated gives testament to the relevance and competence of the training standards we have always guaranteed.”

JTL donates £5,000 to community projects

JTL has donated £5,000 to community projects nominated by its own workforce. JTL presented cheques to three winning organisations, who were announced as: Dartford Royals Football Club, Blackburn Leisure Astronomical Society and Burton Rugby Club Young Ambassadors Programme. In this instance, JTL’s donation will go towards funding a new ground and space for equal opportunity teams at Dartford Royals Football Club, a new projector and TV for exhibiting presentations at Blackburn Leisure Astronomical Society and tree planting for the Burton Rugby Club Young Ambassadors Programme, who wish to better offset their club’s carbon footprint. These organisations were all nominated, campaigned for, and voted on by JTL staff members. The opportunity comes as part of JTL’s continued work in supporting community projects, particularly those relevant to younger adults, which has previously seen young engineers compete in a Land Rover challenge and an U13 girls football club breaking into a boys’ league. All winners split the prize fund proportionate to the percentage of votes they received, with 19% for Dartford Royals Football Club and the Blackburn Leisure Astronomical Society, and 15% for Burton Rugby Club Young Ambassadors Programme. JTL will be following up with each organisation later in the year to see how the funding has contributed towards these projects. Caroline Turner, Policy and External Relations Director at JTL, says, “This is truly one of the most fulfilling projects that we conduct, as it allows us to prioritise the desires of our own staff members whilst also being able to support and engage with some fantastic community projects. As a charity working predominately with younger adults, we’re always keen to support causes relevant to backgrounds across this age group and introduce them to a range of new skills. “It was immensely gratifying to see how happy each of the winning groups were, and we sincerely look forward to keeping up with their progress as the year continues. Whether through traineeships, apprenticeships, or outreach projects like this, supporting communities is always a delight, and makes up such a huge part of what we do at JTL.”

Pickering Electronics enters its 55th year

Pickering Electronics has announced growth as it enters its 55th year. With a sales revenue increase of over 85% in the last two years, Pickering Electronics puts its success down to continuous product innovation. A reed relay, of course, is only as good as the reed switch itself, and Pickering uses the very best instrumentation-grade switches with appropriate switch blade coatings for the currents and voltages demanded by the application. An innovation still not employed by some competition - was the introduction of SoftCenter technology which protects the reed switch and minimises internal stresses, resulting in an extended life and contact resistance stability. The use of magnetic shielding, followed last year by the introduction of electrostatic screening in high voltage relays, prevents faulty operation. And of course, miniaturisation, such as the recent 4mm range, which stack on a tiny 4mm by 4mm pitch whilst still switching up to 1A, 20W. Another reason for the company’s success is Pickering’s diversification of its product range. New directions for the company include a strong focus on high voltage reed relays which are suitable for mixed-signal semiconductor testers, cable testers, medical electronics, electric vehicles, solar energy, big physics, and high voltage instrumentation. Recent releases include Series 67 HV relays with a Form C option, a new 100HV product high voltage relay with high coil resistances, and the increase in rating of the popular Series 104 product family, now up to 4kV and with optional electrostatic shielding. Series 67 and 68 high voltage relays are now also rated up to 200W. Pickering says that it has become a byword for product quality and reliability, and the company counts many leading names within the aerospace, EV, defence, semiconductor production and test and measurement industries, amongst its worldwide customer base. Kevin Mallett, Technical Specialist at Pickering Electronics, says, “Pickering has consistently led the reed relay industry, basing our business on three key pillars, innovation, diversification and technical support. We believe this approach is responsible for our success, not only in recent times, but also across our history, which now spans more than half a century.”