World's largest electric vehicle dataset released

The world's largest dataset on commercial electric vehicles (EVs) is now available for anyone to use for free, helping the UK prepare for mass uptake of EVs in the transition to net zero. Real world data collected from over 6,000 EVs as part of UK Power Networks’ innovation project, Optimise Prime, offers unparalleled insight into the future of electric fleets and the needs of businesses when it comes to EV charging infrastructure. Optimise Prime saw UK Power Networks and Hitachi join forces with Scottish and Southern Energy Networks as well as the UK's biggest fleet operators, Uber, Royal Mail, and British Gas to understand when, where and how often employees charge on-the-go, at home and in a depot. The live trials from the project concluded in June 2022. The dataset offers unrivalled insight into the behaviour of some of Britain’s highest profile fleets and brings significant potential benefits for: Fleet managers and businesses: Real-world data enables them to model their own company’s charging patterns with unprecedented accuracy, and in turn be able to take advantage of smart tools offered by networks to lower the cost of connecting and charging their fleets Electricity network operators in the UK and overseas: Deep insight into how EVs behave will allow networks to build the most accurate forecasts ever and develop highly targeted, long-term investment strategies Customers wanting to charge their vehicles on public chargers: Having the most accurate possible picture of EV charging will ultimately mean lower costs for customers by ensuring the right level of new infrastructure is delivered in the right places at the right time From enhancing forecasting to developing new solutions that will deliver net zero at lowest cost, access to extensive real-life data can now help shape the work of anyone determined to enable the low carbon transport revolution. Insights into where more public chargers will be needed by 2030 to support charging for the full 45,000 London Uber drivers, along with the required electricity grid upgrades will be shared with local authorities to support their community decarbonisation plans. Understanding what public charging demands will look like in future, across their areas can help local authorities generate chargepoint investment, ultimately accelerating the transition to net zero. Drivers will have confidence to make the switch to an EV, knowing they have access to the infrastructure they need locally. Ian Cameron, head of customer service and innovation at UK Power Networks, says, “Nowhere else in the world is there such a rich pool of data about the behaviour of electric vehicle fleets. We are proud to be offering it to the industry to interrogate and layer with their own data-driven insights. We hope this will become a fountain of innovation that will unleash a wave of creativity to help our communities to decarbonise faster and more affordably.”

Toolstation sponsors prizes for the Young Builder of the Year Awards

Toolstation continued its role as the prize sponsor for the 2022 Young Builder of the Year Award organised by Youthbuild UK. The awards were presented at the Houses of Parliament, and Toolstation provided the winners with much needed quality tools to kickstart their careers. Speaking about sponsoring the awards, Greg Richardson, Head of Marketing at Toolstation says, “We’re really pleased to continue our sponsorship of Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year Awards, which rewards disadvantaged young people for their hard work and dedication from working in the construction industry. Through our partnership, we can give Youthbuild UK our support towards their work nationally and locally, helping young people learn construction skills and develop careers which directly contribute to the growth and success of the UK trade sector." The awards aim to empower and recognise disadvantaged young people at risk from social exclusion and who have had to overcome significant barriers and gone on to secure employment or further training within the construction industry. Past winners have come from a variety of backgrounds; full time carers for parents, refugees who risked their lives by travelling from war torn countries, and people who have been directly affected by drug and alcohol abuse. Ian Davis, Chair of Youthbuild UK says, “We’re really pleased Toolstation has continued its longstanding support for the Young Builder of the Year Awards and the work of Youthbuild UK. The awards are unique in recognising young people who have overcome barriers, risen to life changing challenges and achieved against the odds. They may have been dealt a tough hand, but their stories of success are both humbling and inspiring” The winners were chosen on the 19 October. The winner of the 14-18 year olds category was Kyle Belmont, who secured an apprenticeship with Lee Marley Brickwork and has studied at Brooklands College, achieving a L2 Bricklaying qualification. Highly regarded by his company, he is working towards his SSSTS Supervisor qualification and has started his L3 Bricklaying qualification. The winner of the 19-25 year olds category was Reiss Doherty, who is now a quantity surveyor with Barratt Homes with the ambition of becoming a senior quantity surveyor. He has also been part of Barratt’s ‘Rising Stars’ programme, aimed at future leaders of the company.

City & Guilds acquires Trade Skills 4U

City & Guilds has announced the acquisition of Trade Skills 4U, a training provider for electrical engineering, from private equity firm Palatine. Trade Skills 4U has helped over 90,000 individuals across all ages train and retrain in skills, which lead to continuing work and careers. Trade Skills 4U delivers a wide range of training and assessment in the electrical sector including skills boot camps, apprenticeships and City & Guilds accredited qualifications. Courses are delivered via training centres across the country, including Gatwick, Leeds, Coventry and Warrington, and also via a range of online programmes. Trade Skills 4U strengthens City & Guilds’ offering across engineering, construction, and transport, following the acquisition of rail training company Intertrain in November 2019. It also supports City & Guilds’ responsible business agenda, with Trade Skills 4U already delivering a suite of green skills training to support people to live and work more sustainably. With significant skills gaps across the country, City & Guilds’ Great Jobs research, published earlier this year, revealed there will be 3.1 million essential job openings in industries including construction, engineering and transport in the next five years. There is substantial demand for skills development in these key industries to meet this demand. By combining the strengths of both City & Guilds and Trade Skills 4U, they will deliver electrical training that supports the workforce to ensure efficient and safe practice in homes, places of work and societies. Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of City & Guilds says, “Trade Skills 4U is joining the City & Guilds community at a critical time as the UK grapples with severe skills shortages. Trade Skills 4U prides itself on inclusivity and removing barriers to work, ensuring individuals from all walks of life can access high quality skills training that leads to meaningful careers. This perfectly aligns to our City & Guilds purpose of helping people into jobs, and by championing this together we can ensure that we are further providing opportunities and the skills needed to succeed.” Carl Bennett, Founder and Chief Executive of Trade Skills 4U, comments, “Together with City & Guilds, it is our mission to support the delivery of electrical training in the UK. The data on skills shortages expected in coming years is alarming. So, as we rely more on our digital capability and the electrical system that powers it, we must make electrical training provision a priority. Although there is a lot to do, together we are part of the solution, and we will do all that we can to support our industry.” Andy Moss, Managing Director at City & Guilds, says, “Investing in Trade Skills 4U further strengthens our training offer by extending our reach in the electrical engineering market. We’ve worked with the team at Trade Skills 4U for many years, and we’re proud to now be coming much closer together. By investing in the business, we will build on the great foundations already in place to accelerate our combined growth in electrical training.” Matt Coles, Impact Fund Investment Director at Palatine, concludes, “As our first ever impact investment, we are incredibly proud of all we have achieved with Carl and the Trade Skills 4U team over the last five years. Together we have grown an exceptional business, which is having a clear impact on addressing skills shortages and improving social mobility in the UK. City & Guilds represents a natural home for Trade Skills 4U to continue to grow its scale and impact and we look forward to following the business’ future journey.”

Community hub wins Ansell’s Shine a Light campaign

A project fighting social isolation in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey has been revealed as the winner of the Ansell Lighting Shine a Light campaign. Elmbridge Community Eco Hub, which provides a multi-functional safe space and range of community minded activities, secured a huge 40% of the public vote and will now receive a lighting installation prize worth up to £5,000 from Ansell. The campaign, which aimed to recognise and reward the work of community organisations that provide vital support and services, received nominations from across the country and attracted more than 3,000 votes for the shortlisted projects. The Elmbridge Community Eco Hub is a not for profit, volunteer led organisation started by Mick Tumilty, who originally came up with idea of having a Library of Things, where people could borrow tools and equipment they didn’t own themselves. But he also wanted to foster a greater community spirit, reduce social isolation, and try to reduce waste. Since the hub opened in a 200-year-old former stable block just eight months ago it has had 6,000 visitors pass through the door and is run by a dedicated team of 60 volunteers. The initiatives now include a very successful community fridge, regular repair café, seed bank, book, board game and jigsaw swaps, skill share and litter picking sessions, plus a huge community garden. But the lighting in the hub is old and ineffective - consisting of just one tube light - and Mick is also keen to introduce lighting in the community garden so it can be used for longer and more safely. Mick says, “After almost two years of isolation due to lockdowns, it was very clear that local people wanted to feel part of something, needed a focus and a reason to recreate that sense of community. The hub has been a huge success so far and we have great ambitions to continue to develop our offering. But the inadequate lighting means currently we have to close at 4pm and the garden can only be used or worked on in daylight hours. “Winning Shine a Light will transform what we can offer and when, and really support our future plans. As an eco organisation, having green, energy efficient lighting will be amazing, and we are so grateful to everyone who supported us and voted for us.” Elmbridge, which beat off competition from Spark Community Space, in Southsea, Portsmouth, Cleethorpes Band in North East Lincolnshire and From Tiny Seeds Community Interest Company in Holmfirth, Huddersfield, will now receive a lighting consultation and design from Ansell’s team of experts, Ansell products and a contribution of up to £2,000 towards installation by an approved electrician. Mark Abbott, Managing Director at Ansell Lighting, says, “Elmbridge Community Eco Hub is clearly at the very heart of its community, and it is amazing to see what they have already achieved in a relatively short amount of time. We are looking forward to seeing how Shine a Light can help take the project to the next level. “In our 30th year we felt it was important to give something back to communities that have faced tough times in the last few years. We want to thank everyone who has supported the campaign - from our wholesalers and installers, through to the communities that voted.”

SCENO wins at Electrical Industry Awards

Zumtobel is delighted to announce that its SCENO luminaire has been awarded Lighting Product of the Year at the 30th anniversary of the Electrical Industry Awards. The Electrical Industry Awards is a celebration of the best that electrical industry professionals have to offer, rewarding a whole host of proactive approaches to individual achievement, technical innovation, and supply-chain collaboration. The virtual awards ceremony went live on the 27 October 2022, with BBC weather host and presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas presenting awards to the winners. Jon Lim, Product Manager for the UK and Ireland at Zumtobel Group, comments, “This is excellent recognition of what our development team have achieved with the SCENO luminaire. Launched in April this year, instead of a large light source (like many competing products), SCENO relies on a series of miniature lighting chambers. Whether fitted with seven LEDs or 14, installed on one or two sides, the combination of lenses and anti-glare honeycomb louvres guarantee the best light quality and effective glare control with a high level of visual comfort.” SCENO is as flexible as two luminaires and as compact as one. Doing more work in less space - precisely what is needed on the shop floor. Its individually swivelling wings are exceptionally versatile, and, thanks to its countless application options, it gives retailers a free hand in shop design and product presentation. The judging panel comments, “An innovative, adaptable, flexible solution in a format that adds to design and application options. The optic choices and deep louvre for glare control aid flexibility whilst reducing distracting source intensity.”

Travis Perkins colleagues jump out of plane for cancer charity

Travis Perkins’ Regional Operations Manager and Mental Health First Aider, Jane Downey and 25 of her colleagues from the Travis Perkins and Benchmarx Kitchens teams took to the skies over the weekend and jumped 15,000ft in a tandem skydive to show their support for Macmillan. Despite already jumping over the weekend, Jane Downey plans to jump a further two times as she and the team continue to raise money for the charity, smashing their £10,000 goal with nearly £15,000 raised. Last month, Jane and her colleagues also took part in a 30-mile hike at sunrise from Lancaster Castle, battling a torrential storm and finishing at Blackpool Tower that night, hoping to raise £10,000 for the Builders’ Merchant’s charity partner Macmillan. The charity provides practical, financial and emotional support to those living with cancer in the UK, a topic close to Jane and her colleagues. Jane Downey says, “I’m so proud to be working with a team of people that are willing to selflessly put aside their fears and take part in our charity fundraising challenges. Every single penny raised will be going to Macmillan and we are lucky to have other fundraising events including a 72-hole golf day and sit-up challenge along with bake sales, colleagues ‘braving the shave’, prize raffles and various fun activities in local branches to help us raise as much as we can for Macmillan. Cancer is a cause close to many of our hearts and although the majority of us were terrified at the thought of covering that distance and taking that initial step off the side, the fear doesn’t come anywhere close to what far too many of us and our loved one’s face when affected by cancer.” She continues, “All donations no matter the size, foot rubs and words of encouragement will be massively appreciated by us all and Macmillan Cancer Support. The money raised will help Macmillan continue to do whatever it takes to provide vital support to those who need it.” If you wish to support Jane and her colleagues with a donation, please visit their Crowdfund page here.

CEF opens new stores around the UK

CEF is expanding its services to customers with the opening of new stores across the UK. The first new store is scheduled to open in Leyland, Lancashire on 7 November. CEF will be the only dedicated electrical distributor in the town, and will comprehensively service the domestic, commercial, industrial and renewable sectors. The new CEF Leyland store will offer almost 4,000ft² of space, carrying over 3,000 stock lines and will provide employment for four members of staff. While many loyal customers already shop with CEF at the nearby Preston and Chorley stores, the new Leyland location will provide greater convenience and the same service in a growing town with an ever-increasing demand for electrical products, energy saving lighting and renewables. The store will stock a wide range of electrical products for domestic, commercial and industrial applications, including big name brands that customers know and trust. To reduce energy consumption and its carbon footprint, the new store has been fitted out with low wattage LED panels. The warehouse uses LED high bays and LED battens with microwave sensors to maximise energy savings. Branch Manager, Mark Pollard comments, “We aim to provide outstanding customer service to all of our customers. Going above and beyond is in our DNA and we are bringing this ethos to Leyland. With almost 20 years of experience within the electrical industry, we’re confident we can achieve this. “Our friendly, approachable and enthusiastic team have the knowledge and expertise to source, service and supply. We are also actively looking to work with and support local community projects and charities with fundraising, donations and raising awareness.” More stores coming in the future On a recent episode of the TechTalking podcast, CEF’s Managing Director, Chris Ashworth set out plans to increase the number of CEF stores to serve local electricians and contractors across the UK. Chris says, “It’s all about customer convenience. We need to have stores and products close to where customers are working, supplemented by the width of our online offering and service, and beyond that, provide solutions and support to their businesses as well.” CEF also moved its existing Leicester store to bigger and better premises at the end of October. The new store provides customers with access to a greater width and depth of stock in over 8,750ft² of space, together with improved customer parking.

LEW Stockton opens!

Stockton has become the home of LEW Electrical Distributors’ 16th branch. Having opened on the 17 October, it is led by Graham Cousins and Mike Waggott who have a wealth of experience and expertise in the local area. LEW has branches across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, the North West, Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire and have been helping the trades and public for nearly 30 years! Items stocked include lighting, home security, fittings and smoke detectors. LEW stock some of the biggest brands in the industry such as Scolmore, Hager, Schneider Electric, JCC and Aico. This new branch has already created new jobs in the warehouse and on the trade counter, promoting growth in the area. LEW Group Manager, John Potter, says, “We are really excited by the opening of our Stockton branch. These are exciting times for us as an organisation, and we are looking forward to expanding to fit our customers’ requirements. We are already developing key relationships in the area, so we are confident, along with the LEW difference that we offer, that this new branch will become a key branch in the LEW portfolio.” There are going to be both weekly and monthly raffles, where you spend over £100 (excluding VAT) to be entered in the weekly raffle, and £250 (excluding VAT) for the monthly raffle. Prizes include a Virgin Experience Day, and a brand new PS5. In addition to this, the weekly prizes are three Love to Shop vouchers worth £50.

RGB Communications introduces BPC Energy

RGB Communications has been appointed as the UK distributor of The British Power Conversion (BPC) for the AV and custom install markets. BPC PowerGem Plus RT UPS series BPC’s UPS Systems are aimed at a broad spectrum of commercial and residential industries and sectors, including computer environments such as offices and data centres, industrial automation processes and healthcare facilities. It also provides battery back-up for residential homes. The BPC Energy range of UPS’ includes more than 60 different models. From the smallest to the largest units, the manufacturing process is monitored to ensure ‘the highest levels of reliability, quality and safety are achieved’ says the maker, in accordance with many key international standards. BPC is actively developing PV Solar and associated products for wind and turbine generators to address major growth in the renewable energy market. Not only does BPC pride itself on its prices and products; it also has a service department offering a full range of services ranging from site and power surveys, commissioning and battery-builds to service contracts and maintenance visits. As all BPC products are backed by a after sales service providing comprehensive emergency breakdown and spare parts support. BPC Energy’s devotion to excellence is reflected in the enduring quality of its products to provide a solution for every application and is matched by an equally lasting commitment to customer care. BPC Energy says, “The RGB team has great vision in where the direction its business is headed, and alongside BPC, we can see huge growth potential in the market for our single-phase UPS products. We are looking forward to working with RGB, and we are excited to grow a successful partnership together in 2023, and beyond.” Product feature - BPC PowerGem Plus RT The BPC PowerGem Plus RT is a range of UPS systems that can be installed whether on the floor in tower form, or in rack mount cabinet configurations, powering a wide range of applications. The PowerGem system results in improved operational performance of up to 97% in ECO mode, 92% in inverter mode and over 90% in battery mode, providing a much greener product with a smaller battery and longer autonomy backup times. The range is equipped with the latest digital signal processor (DSP) technology with versatile features demanded by IT managers, enabling integration into all types of networking environments.

Warwick and Leamington Spa set for boost from CityFibre

CityFibre has named Warwick and Leamington Spa as the next locations in line for a multi-million-pound investment in digital infrastructure - a move that will see the towns join the nation’s growing list of full fibre enabled communities. CityFibre is set to invest £30m in a new network that will bring fast and reliable full fibre enabled internet services within reach of almost every home and business in Warwick and Leamington Spa. Full fibre networks, unlike many of the copper-based ‘fibre broadband’ services available today, use 100% fibre optic technology to carry data at light speed all the way from the home to the point of connection. This gives users speeds of up to 1,000Mbps for upload and download, near limitless bandwidth and connectivity users can depend on. A full fibre connection also goes far beyond simply enabling access to the latest entertainment at lightning speed. As an essential digital utility, full fibre boosts households and businesses alike, with experts saying it will drive a range of economic benefits, such as making us more productive and innovative. Construction work on the full fibre network in Warwick and Leamington Spa has just begun in the Warwick All Saints and Woodloes Ward. As work is completed in each neighbourhood, CityFibre will designate the homes ‘ready for service’, which means residents can choose to connect to full fibre enabled broadband services when they go live in their area. As Area Manager, Bashir Ahmed will be responsible for overseeing the project, while also acting as the main point of contact for all stakeholders. Bashir says: “We’re thrilled to announce that our full fibre network is coming to Warwick and Leamington Spa, which will future-proof the area’s digital infrastructure for decades to come. We cannot wait for the local community to experience the many benefits of full fibre connectivity - from smooth digital entertainment experiences to unbeatable homeworking - once our build partners install the network.” Councillor Jody Tracey, Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transformation, adds: “This is a significant development for our district, and we are delighted that thanks to CityFibre, residents and community service providers, including the council, will be able to take advantage of improved connection speeds and offer households faster access to online services.”