Shoal Group acquires Shrinktek Polymers International

Shoal Group has acquired Shrinktek Polymers International, a leading supplier heat shrinkable tubing for the electrical and construction industries. Shrinktek Polymers International has a product range which varies from economical commercial sleevings to high technology options, manufactured to the relevant national and international specification requirements. Following the acquisition, the Shrinktek Brand will be incorporated by Shoal Group into its Cablecraft business. Cablecraft will continue to support and develop the brand with the same commitment to its customers and continue to supply competitively priced products and services. Shoal Group MD Mark Taylor, comments, “This is a good strategic fit with our Cablecraft business that expands the breadth and quality of our current Heatshrink range with the introduction of the Shrinktek offer. We can build on the good work Martin, Catherine, Fran and the Shrinktek team have achieved so far and look forward to delivering a great service and developing strong partnerships with Shrinktek customers”. Shrinktek International Director Martin Haley, says, “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for putting their trust in us over the last 20 years and bringing us to where we are today. And rest assured Cablecrafts’ commitment to continue to deliver exceptional customer and product support is strong, you’re in safe hands.” Shoal Group is a group of companies operating in the UK and serving 53 countries around the globe. It offers customers access to over 30,000 cable management, identification and termination solutions and over 4,500 flexible and specialist cables products. The group is comprised of five brands - Cablecraft, FS Cables, SWA (Specialist Wiring Accessories) Shoal Export and Birch Valley Plastics.

E-van market share grows despite shrinking market

New electric van data shows that December was a disappointing month for van sales, and electric vans were sadly no exception. Despite this, E-vans continued their steady growth over the last few months, claiming 8% of the overall market last month. This is a trend seen throughout the entire year. Whilst the overall market shrank in 2022, the E-vans accounted for 6% of registrations this year, up from 4% last year. A total of 16,846 E-vans were registered, compared to 12,185 - an impressive rise given the shrinking market. This data is from green motoring consultancy New AutoMotive’s Electric Van Count (EVC), the same organisation that releases the Electric Car Count - the most up-to-date and comprehensive electric car sales data in the UK. Ciara Cook, Research and Policy Officer at New AutoMotive, says, “The electric van market has shown resilience in a month which saw just under 8,000 fewer vans registered compared to figures from last year. “For the fifth time this year electric vans have surpassed the level of market share proposed as an initial target in the forthcoming ZEV Mandate, which is slated to start this time next year. This is progress - but it demonstrates just how out of date and out of touch with the market these proposals now are. It is imperative that the government takes note of the progress achieved this year and revises the target upwards, or else the mandate risks holding the industry back. “It is important that the gains that electric vans have made in the market over 2022 continue to be consolidated and improved upon in 2023. This means that the government must continue to offer support to businesses thinking of switching to an E-van. Prioritising the grants offered to those seeking to make the switch, as well as continuing to offer support to businesses during the ongoing energy crisis, is crucial to continuing to encourage the uptake of electric vans.” UK market overview The electric van’s share of the market remained largely steady compared to figures from last year. However, there was a slight decline in the actual volume of E-vans registered year-on-year. This was a trend seen across all fuel types, with the largest fall seen in new diesel vehicles, with a drop of just under 7,000 vans. 2022 has seen the contractions in the van marketplace hit new diesel sales the hardest, however, in December figures show all fuel types suffering from the overall shrink in new van registrations. The race for EV market share The top manufacturers for December are Vauxhall, Peugeot, and Mercedes, accounting for 66% of all E-vans registered this month. Only Vauxhall, which accounted for one in three E-van purchases, managed to improve the total number of EVs registered year-on-year. Mercedes took the biggest hit in sales, with a reduction of 79% compared to last year's figures. The brands that are quickest to electrify As we have come to expect, Maxus tops this table. 68% of its sales in December were electric, up from just 11% last year. It is also the manufacturer that has seen the most improvement year-on-year. Of the larger volume manufacturers, Vauxhall comes in second with around one in three vehicles being electric. Mercedes continues its bad run of form, with only 10% of registrations being electric - a 52% decrease in figures from last year. UK market overview: 2022 2022 has been a tough year, and many households and businesses have had to cut costs in the midst of a generational cost of living and energy crisis. Given this, it is no surprise that new van registrations have suffered. 268,586 new vans were registered in the UK over 2022, down 21% from registrations in 2021. Crucially, this is lower than sales figures for 2020, when COVID-19 lockdowns severely affected the market. All eyes will be on whether the van market can recover over the course of 2023.

People moves in senior TREND Networks team

Two senior team members have been appointed to new roles at TREND Networks. Dan Barrera, formerly Global Product Manager with TREND Networks has been appointed into the newly created role of Director of Product Innovation. Tim Widdershoven, who has been with the company for eight years and was most recently Marketing Director, has become International Sales Director. “Instead of doing what everyone else is, we’re looking ahead to develop products with the features and functionalities that our customers may not even realise they need yet,” explains Dan, who has 25 years’ experience with TREND Networks and is also a member of the ISO and TIA standards committees. “In my new position, I’ll have a strong focus on our product roadmap and on finding new ways to meet our customers’ requirements while providing better value.” Dan will lead a team of product managers at TREND Networks to continue to bring customer research into product innovation and develop new solutions. He will also work closely with the commercial team to help ensure products remain competitive, including defining special promotions, bundles, and kits. Alongside this, Tim will now lead a team of international sales managers, with a goal of growing TREND Networks’ business in markets outside of North America and the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) region.  This includes supporting customers with events, training, demonstrations, trials, and onboarding, as well as close cooperation with distribution partners. “I have the benefit of seeing the business from the marketing point of view, and the sales angle, which really helps me understand our customers’ perspectives and provide exactly what they need,” Tim says. “Since starting the role in September, it’s been great to spend time with so many customers in the field, demonstrating some of our focus products, such as LanTEK IV-S, SignalTEK 10G, and the FiberMASTER series.” Tim has a particular focus on growing the home market for TREND Networks in the UK. The company is headquartered in High Wycombe, including research and development, distribution, and customer services departments. TREND Networks is also currently recruiting a UK Sales Manager in order to extend its team and support expansion in the UK. In his new role, he continues to work closely with the marketing team. Abbi Norman, who has been with TREND Networks for three years, is now Global Marketing and Communications Manager. With her team, she is focused on supporting product launches, digital marketing, social media, and working closely with local sales teams.

Rolec and Sinexcel bring a range of DC charging units to the UK

Rolec EV has announced its partnership agreement with Sinexcel. The partnership will introduce a new range of cost effective DC rapid EV charging stations, offering speeds from 60kW through to 480kW to support both the future of electrified transport and the nation's net zero plans. Rolec EV already offers the UK’s largest range of AC fast and DC rapid charging points, and these latest additions will be the most price competitive in the industry. The UltraCharge 160 is the first of three models to be introduced and, to ensure suitability to the UK market, intensive testing was carried out at Rolec’s HQ in Lincolnshire for over six months. Having passed complex testing and compliance procedures, Rolec is now able to confidently charge ahead with deliveries from February 2023. The modular and scalable charging station can be upgraded in modules of 20kW, all the way up to 160kW, making it the perfect future-proof and cost effective solution for public, fleet and highway infrastructure deployment. Offering convenient charging times for every electric vehicle on the market, the UltraCharge 160’s intelligent dynamic power balancing feature enables two vehicles to charge simultaneously and can be activated via either mobile app, RFID, Apple Pay, Google Pay or contactless card payment, as well as conforming to the ISO 15118 Plug and Charge standard. Frankie Mellon, Rolec’s Sales Director comments, “I am delighted to have formed a strategic partnership with Sinexcel. From the initial discussion Rolec felt we had found a partner who shared the same goals as our own, to excel in customer service, product development and to have a wide product range for all applications at a cost effective price point. “We installed the first UltraCharge 160 at our HQ some six months ago now and since that point we have worked extremely closely with Sinexcel to further develop the product to meet the requirements of the UK market, integrating with cars, lorries, buses, and to identify features we wished to include as standard for our clients, such as a contactless payment terminal and long reach cables. “With many workplaces now requiring a DC and AC charging solutions to support fleet, visitor, and employee charging, it is imperative that we can quote and deliver a reliable product with a short lead time to include within our proposal. “The modular approach of Sinexcel has enabled Rolec to hold UK stock of 60/80/120/160kW models, offering next day delivery to our UK customers. With a 160kW unit retailing at £25,000 we know this product is going to be very well received by the industry.” Charles Meng, Sinexcel’s Country Director says, “We see the partnership with Rolec as a mutual achievement of our vision for each other. It's not just a normal partnership, it's more like entering a formal relationship, like a marriage. After getting to know each other better, we share the same goals together. “Sinexcel saw Rolec's passion for ‘zero emissions’. The team is professional, precise, efficient and always surprises us. Rolec's record in EV is amazing, with a deep knowledge of the EV charging business and always brings us new inspiration. “The Sinexcel and Rolec EV teams met in Boston to formally confirm what we had in mind for each other. Together, we will move forward to a new chapter."

Smart home technology market will grow to $10bn by 2031

A new report from Guidehouse Insights examines the global market for smart home technology. The better known smart home applications include smart speakers to control lighting and advanced thermostats to reduce energy usage. But another class of solutions enhances the health and wellbeing of the residents in a healthy home: indoor air purifiers, consumer-healthy home equipment like CPAPs, and telemedicine, among others. All of the healthy home solutions satisfy the basic human need of improving quality of life. According to the report, smart home technology that enhances the health and wellbeing of residents is currently a $3.6 billion market that is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.6% to $9.7 billion by 2031. “The global revenue for healthy home technology is significant in that it is comparable to that of advanced thermostats,” says William Hughes, Principal Research Analyst with Guidehouse Insights. “This rapidly growing smart homes segment helps healthy people stay well, supports people with chronic issues so they can avoid emergencies, and informs caretakers about any potential crises, so the elderly can remain in their homes as long as possible.” However, several barriers hinder faster growth in the market. A wide range of solutions at different price points can be confusing for consumers. Sales channels can sell only some of the solutions, and have the additional pressure of supply chain problems and a shortage of skilled labour. Furthermore, many of the benefits of home health technologies are hard to measure and quantify, according to the report. The report, ‘Market Data: Healthy Homes’, examines how the healthy home segment of the smart home device market will develop across five global regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Analyses for the 10-year period between 2022 and 2031 are segmented by region and category product type: indoor air purifiers, consumer home health equipment, telemedicine, and others.

How to build a five-star Google Business Profile

With the cost-of-living crisis meaning homeowners are spending less on home improvements, the working landscape is more competitive than ever for UK tradespeople. To stand out from the crowd, trade companies can consider investing more time into marketing, and one effective method of boosting your visibility is to create or improve your Google Business Profile. A Google Business Profile is a free, fast, and effective way to help your business appear in Google search results and on Google Maps. Typically, they appear when someone searches with local intent (e.g. ‘builders near me’ or ‘electricians in East London’). It displays your business name, a link to your website, your phone number, and your reviews. To help tradespeople improve their profiles, IronmongeryDirect has partnered with My Local Toolbox to analyse thousands of Google Business reviews and reveal exactly what it takes to improve your online presence. Increasing your number of reviews There are two things you need to focus on to collect reviews: Go above and beyond in your day-to-day work - do a good job and make your customers happy. Ask customers for a review. If you’ve done a good job, you’ll find most people are very forthcoming in providing a positive review. If you’re just starting with your Google Business Profile, ask old customers to leave a review. This can help to accelerate the number of reviews you have in the early stages, which helps to build trust with Google and potential customers. According to a recent analysis of 10,000 reviews by My Local Toolbox, the traits customers talk about most in reviews are professionalism (42%), quality of work (34%), punctuality (13%), tidiness (7%) and perceived value (4%). How to climb the rankings Relevance: Make sure your profile closely reflects what you offer, as Google is all about relevance. If you’ve set your profile up properly (and in detail), you should be sending all the signals Google needs to understand what you offer, and which searches to show your profile for. Distance: Be specific about the areas you serve in your profile, so that you appear in the correct local searches. Reviews and ratings: You will appear higher in the rankings if you have a large quantity of positive reviews, so be proactive in asking customers and give them a polite nudge if they don’t leave a review the first time you ask. Engage with customers: Reply to customers when they leave a review, even if it’s just to say thank you. Acknowledge shortcomings and criticism in a professional and courteous manner. Remember your future customers may read the comments, so it’s important to show yourself in a good light. Building a great review profile on any platform takes time. Persistence and consistency are key to building a high number of reviews and climbing the rankings. If you stick with it, you should have a steady stream of enquiries coming through, which will bring lots of benefits to your company.

NAPIT welcome DCUSA change to streamline works

NAPIT is delighted with the decision taken by OFGEM to approve the Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA) change proposal to widen the scope of the DCUSA, allowing any authorised REC accredited meter operator to carry out de-energisation and re-energisation works. This change proposal, which will be implemented on the 29 June 2023, will allow any Retail Energy Code (REC) accredited Meter Equipment Manager (MEM), in the capacity of a Safe Isolations Provider (SIP), to carry out de-energisation and re-energisation works, and if reasonably necessary adjust the terminals or terminate/replace the customer tails of the meter at metering points at which they are not the appointed MEM. NAPIT has been calling for action to be taken to make the process of requesting the removal and replacement of a service cut-out fuse simpler for over a decade, following concerns raised by members on wait times, cost differences, challenges getting through to the right department and receiving conflicting information about the right thing to do. Whilst NAPIT's preferred option to allow registered, qualified electrical contractors to perform this role is not currently permitted, it is a welcome positive step that accredited MEM’s will be able to perform de-energisation and re-energisation works from 29 June. NAPIT have supported the change proposal process over the last 18 months, actively contributing to the stakeholder meetings, and providing empirical evidence through its member survey results to assist with justifying the need for change. NAPIT hopes this change will make the process of requesting and arranging the removal and replacement of a service cut-out fuse quicker and easier, thereby enhancing electrical safety standards by reducing wait times, and by reducing the number of unauthorised service cut-out fuse removals. Frank Bertie, Chairman of the NAPIT Trade Association says, “This decision has been a long time coming, and I’m delighted to see it pass the final decision stage. With the rise in interest and installation rate of low and zero carbon technologies, which often require the de-energisation and re-energisation of the electrical supply along with an increase in electrical work following the electrical safety regulations which have been placed on landlords, this change has come at a good time. I hope that this change will lead to wider availability and better service for our members looking to arrange de-energisation and re-energisation works. Whilst I am fully supportive of this change, we will continue to listen to members to understand if this change is enough, or if more still needs to be done.”

EcoVadis bronze sustainability medal for Scolmore Group

Scolmore Group has been recognised for its sustainability efforts with a bronze medal awarded by EcoVadis. EcoVadis is a provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence, and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Backed by a technology platform and a global team of domain experts, EcoVadis’ sustainability scorecards provide insight into environmental, social and ethical risks across 190 purchasing categories and 150 countries. EcoVadis awards bronze medals to the top 50% of companies participating in its programme worldwide. More than 90,000 companies have undergone an EcoVadis assessment, and Scolmore’s ranking in the top 50% of all participants is based on the company's aggregate score across the four key appraisal areas - environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. This achievement qualifies Scolmore for the EcoVadis Bronze Medal Award, and in celebration of the successful completion of the assessment, EcoVadis will be planting a tree on Scolmore’s behalf through its partnership with One Tree Planted. Responsible for driving the EcoVadis sustainability initiative at Scolmore Group is Manuela Rubino Courtney, Group Legal and Compliance Manager. “We are honoured to have been awarded a bronze medal in recognition of our achievements,” says Manuela. “To have earned this status in our first-ever submission is testimony to the commitment and efforts of our teams to embed corporate sustainability into the culture, strategy and day-to-day operation across the Scolmore Group of companies. This achievement also signals to our customers that we are the right partner to support their own sustainability drive.” The objective of the EcoVadis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rating methodology is to measure the quality of a company’s CSR management system through its policies, actions and results. The EcoVadis CSR rating methodology is based on seven founding principles: Evidence based - the burden of the proof is on the company assessed. CSR management systems leave traces (e.g. policies, certificates, reporting). Supporting documents are a must. Company declarations are credited only if evidence is provided. Industry, location and size matter - the CSR management system is assessed by taking into account material industry issues, presence in risk countries, and the size and geographical span of the company. Diversification of sources - the rating is based not only on supporting documents provided by the company but also on standpoints published by NGOs, trade unions, international organisations, local authorities, or other third party organisations (e.g. auditors, CDP, Dow Jones Risk Compliance Database). Technology is a must - a rating system can only become reliable and robust if it is supported by technology. Technology facilitates industrialisation, which enables fast learning, growth and scalability. Assessment by international CSR experts - the supporting documents are analysed by a team of CSR experts from around the globe who keep track of the latest best practices in CSR. Traceability and transparency - every document used in the rating process is stored securely and can be traced back. Companies assessed have access, if needed, to the most detailed results and to each scoring decision. Excellence through continuous improvement - a professional rating methodology is open to quality controls, continuous improvement, and to stakeholders’ feedback. EcoVadis has implemented a company-wide quality management system supported by a client advisory board and a scientific committee. Scolmore Group will be looking to improve its scores next year by further embedding the existing initiatives as well as identifying opportunities to expand sustainability efforts across the group of companies. The Scolmore Group of companies incorporates Click Scolmore with its extensive wiring accessories collection and the Elucian by Click consumer unit and circuit protection range, OVIA lighting and lighting controls, ESP security and fire protection products, the Sangamo range of heating controls and time switches and Unicrimp cable accessories.

New appointments spearhead growth for Seaward

Seaward has announced several senior appointments as it continues to invest in resources and develop expanding national and international operations. Alison Thompson has been appointed as HR Manager in a new role that will see her become part of the senior leadership team, contributing to the overall business strategy and supporting growth. She brings over 20 years’ experience to the role and will be responsible for leading on all aspects of the company’s people strategy, managing the HR department and all related operational activities. This will specifically include recruitment and selection, training and development, talent management, coaching and mentoring, staff engagement and change management. Andrew Simpson joins as Business Development Manager for Calibrationhouse, which provides specialist UKAS accredited calibration services for electronic, optical and dimensional test equipment. Bringing a wealth of sales management experience both in the UK and internationally to the role, he will be responsible for developing a growth strategy for service and expanding return to base calibration and repair operations, alongside providing support to export customers in strategic locations around the world. In the US, Gregory Jung has been appointed National Business Development Manager - Rigel Medical, in a move that sees continued expansion of the brand’s operations across North America. With a strong background in healthcare management, he will be working alongside the senior US leadership team to develop new markets and commercial opportunities on the back of sector leading products, new launches and technical innovation. Elsewhere, Seaward UK has promoted Gregg Brown to the position of Commercial Director and John Madden steps up to become Operations Director, as the Peterlee-based company continues to maintain a resilient performance post pandemic and see strong demand for its products across all its markets. Welcoming Alison, Andrew, Gregory to Seaward and congratulating Gregg and John on their promotions, CEO Chris Callan says all will contribute significantly to increasing market share and supporting new product developments, despite the challenging times. Chris says, “Our investment in talented people is the linchpin of providing top quality products and services to customers right across the world. We look forward to see those continuing to grow their careers at Seaward, and contribute significantly to our future success. “We are investing further in our growth strategy - developing our expertise and capability is a key part of this strategy. We offer exciting projects and technologies and it has been fantastic to welcome new members of the team to strengthen our ability to introduce new products into our global markets.”

Octopus Energy enters solar installation market

Octopus Energy is adding domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) to its catalogue of home energy tech installation, helping to slash customers' electricity bills and create a multitude of new green jobs. Octopus Energy’s engineering arm, Octopus Energy Services, which already installed electric vehicle chargers, air-source heat pumps and smart meters, is now also installing solar panels. The company is aiming to quickly ramp up the rollout, targeting 5,000 installations in 2023. The new service is launching across the Midlands and the South, with a view to expand it nationwide within the first year. In addition to the solar panel installation service, Octopus customers will be able to choose from a range of solar batteries, allowing them to store the green energy they produce and sell it back to the grid when it’s convenient for them. They will have access to the UK’s highest-paying energy export tariffs: Agile Outgoing links a customer’s payments to wholesale energy prices that day. It is the best value export tariff on the market. Between September 2021 and September 2022, customers on this tariff were paid 34p/kWh on average, with payments going up to £1.29/kWh in the last year. Fixed Outgoing pays the best fixed rate export prices in the country. Customers are paid 15p/kWh exported back to the grid - three times more than any other UK energy supplier (the next best tariff offers 5p/kWh). Customers with solar panels and a solar battery who choose the Agile Outgoing tariff could save up to 90% on their electricity bills compared to customers on a standard variable tariff. To enable this feat, Octopus is planning to create nearly 200 new green jobs in their solar division, ranging from engineers and surveyors to tech and operations support, and based across the UK. Octopus Energy’s stable of installation technology and proprietary tech now allows eligible properties to exist without energy bills. By installing solar PV, a solar battery and a heat pump, houses can become ‘Zero Bills’ properties. ‘Zero Bills’ is an Octopus certification that means homeowners do not pay a single energy bill. This was trialled with an initial pilot with Ilke Homes in Essex, where 22 eligible homes are sold with the option of being ‘Zero Bills’, with the aim to increase this to 10,000 homes by 2030. John Szymik, CEO of Octopus Energy Services, comments, “Given the success we have had in scaling and installing huge swathes of smart, green home energy tech, we are champing at the bit to begin installing the last piece of the puzzle, solar photovoltaic. “If more homes in the UK produce clean, green solar energy, we will be able to accelerate the energy transition and bring down system prices for everybody by lowering system costs. “In true Octopus style, we’ll focus on reducing solar installation times down to record levels, hoping to soon make solar panels affordable for everyone.”