Vent-Axia steps up for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Staff from Vent-Axia have put on their walking shoes to support Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September and raised money for Young Lives vs Cancer, the company’s charity of the year for 2022. Crawley-based Lena Hebestreit and Melanie Lewis tackled the South Coast Challenge on September 3rd, while Dudley-based Gail Bradley is taking part in Young Lives vs Cancer’s Challenge 60 virtual event. Vent-Axia’s support of the charity is part of a group-wide initiative which has raised £3,510 so far this year. Marketing Manager Lena Hebestreit, and Procurement Manager Melanie Lewis, both from Vent-Axia’s Crawley site, completed the 25km South Coast Challenge. They walked from Eastbourne to Alfriston in East Sussex in 6 hrs 26 mins and 55 seconds, coming 99th and 100th out of 248 entrants. Thanks to their efforts, they’ve raised £710 for Young Lives vs Cancer. It is not too late to donate to support Lena and Melanie, click here. Meanwhile, Gail Bradley, an inventory controller based at Vent-Axia’s Dudley site, is taking part in the Challenge 60 virtual event for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Participants are challenged to jog, run, cycle, walk or swim 60 miles in September to represent the 60-mile round trip that young cancer patients face, on average, to get the specialist treatment they need. But Gail is going above and beyond the 60 miles and is aiming to double it and take on a ‘Challenge 120’. So far Gail has raised £219 and is hoping to raise lots more for Young Lives vs Cancer - please lend your support here. Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly CLIC Sargent) is a cancer charity for children and young people that is solely funded by donations. The charity helps families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. Every day, 12 more children and young people hear the devastating news that they have cancer. The money raised will help towards the charity continuing to fight for children and young people with cancer. For example, £15 could pay towards a social worker to support a recently diagnosed young person; £38 could pay for a family to stay in one of the charity’s Homes from Home near the hospital and £100 could pay towards a financial grant to ensure families facing money worries can pay for basics like food. Speaking on behalf of Young Lives vs Cancer, Rose Bailey, Fundraising Engagement Manager, says: “We’re delighted that Vent-Axia has chosen to support Young Lives vs Cancer this year and we’re so grateful to Lena, Melanie and Gail for the support and effort they are making to help raise money for the charity. Thanks to Vent-Axia and their amazing staff, young people facing cancer, and their families, won’t have to face cancer alone.” “We did it! Over six hours and 40,903 steps later, Melanie and I completed our 25km walk of the South Coast supporting Young Lives vs Cancer. It was tough, but nothing in comparison to what cancer fighters have to go through. We walked for them. We’d like to say thank you to all of you who have supported us and donated so generously to this great charity”, says Lena. “Now we’re lending our support to Gail’s fantastic efforts where she is taking on the huge challenge of walking 120 miles in September to raise more, very much needed funds for Young Lives vs Cancer. If anyone can donate any amount, large or small, we’d be so grateful. Thank you.” When a child is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to. Young Lives vs Cancer helps families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. Powered by the kindness of their supporters, they face it all together. www.vent-axia.com www.younglivesvscancer.com

EDA’s training modules win HRH The Princess Royal’s training award

City & Guilds recently announced that the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) is one of 46 organisations recognised by the 2022 Princess Royal Training Awards. The award endorses the high-quality training provided by the association’s programme of 12 Product Knowledge Modules. HRH The Princess Royal, President of City & Guilds, awards outstanding training and skills development programmes which have been proven to have significant positive impact on businesses and their people. Now in its seventh year, The Princess Royal Training Awards continue to recognise organisations truly demonstrating exceptional commitment to learning and development. With skills shortages across the UK increasing and job vacancies doubling, creating engaging learning programmes to grow and retain new and existing talent has never been more crucial. Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of City & Guilds says: “The Princess Royal Training Awards demonstrate how training and development can open up opportunities and attract new talent to industries with significant skills gaps and labour shortages such as construction. We know from our Great Jobs report published earlier this year that construction continues to be a heavily male dominated industry, therefore it’s encouraging to see organisations using the power of skills development to address issues such as improving diversity and inclusion and changing perceptions. We would like to congratulate this year’s recipients and look forward to celebrating with you later this year.” Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA says “To win such a high-profile award is such a fantastic endorsement of the training we offer to EDA businesses. It is further testament to the contribution made by the product experts from EDA manufacturers and wholesalers who pooled their knowledge for the good of the sector to create this training. On behalf of the sector and the association, we couldn’t be more delighted.” Tracy Hewett, Head of Education and Training at the EDA, adds “Since this training programme launched in 2018 well over 3,000 modules have been studied by almost 2,000 people working in EDA businesses. This is proof positive that the UK’s electrotechnical sector invests in the professional development of its people which is such a positive message when it comes to attracting new talent.” www.eda.org.uk www.cityandguilds.com

Makita launches three new radio lanterns

Makita has launched three new cordless radio lanterns for its LXT and XGT battery platforms. The DMR055, DMR056 and MR009G have all been designed to offer functions and entertainment for both leisure and professional applications. The DMR055 18V/14.4V LXT Cordless Lantern is a work light delivering ultra-bright illumination, versatility, and convenience. Featuring a built-in AM/FM radio, and lamp extending to 360-degree light coverage, users can choose between lighting the entire workspace or a focused area thanks to its flexible settings. The lantern is also equipped with a memory function to recall the user’s preferred brightness and light tone levels. For convenience and mobility, this new product features a strap with hook, allowing the lantern to be hung up to illuminate upwards, horizontally or towards the floor. The 18V/14.4V LXT DMR056 and 40VMax XGT MR009GZ are packed with further features in addition to the above, including an LCD digital display, Bluetooth and DAB/DAB+ Radio station frequency. Users can choose from two brightness settings and three light tone settings: Daylight White, Neutral White and Warm White. What’s more, the DMR056 and MR009GZ also have two flashlight modes: torch and strobe and are equipped with a USB output port for charging mobile devices. Makita has designed its latest additions to offer impressive continuous run times: On a single, full battery charge, the 18V LXT DMR055 has a radio run time of 52 hours, a lantern run time of 16 hours, or a combination of 12 hours (when used with the 5.0Ah BL1850B battery). The 18V LXT DMR056 has a radio run time of 44 hours, a lantern run time of 16 hours, a combination of 12 hours, or a flashlight run time of 30 hours (using the 5.0Ah BL1850B battery). For professionals using the XGT battery platform, the 40VMax MR009G provides 51 hours of radio time, a lantern run time of 34 hours, a combination of 21 hour, or a flashlight run time of 66 hours (when used with the BL4050F 5Ah battery). Speaking on the new additions, Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK says: “While power tools are what we are known for, Makita aims to bring performance, quality and convenience on site in various ways. For this reason, we are very excited to be launching our new range of lantern radios - equipped with an impressive light and sound quality radio, and even more impressive battery run time.” www.makitauk.com

Domus Ventilation launches new interactive website

Domus Ventilation has launched a new company website, featuring an innovative interactive ‘show home’ which enables visitors to see product solutions for types of properties and individual rooms. The website has been redesigned from the bottom up, with completely new navigation and a modern, striking new look. It provides clear, easy access to the most popular content, including Domus Ventilation’s comprehensive product range, and has introduced new sections providing an overview of the company’s specific ventilation solutions and services for residential and light commercial properties, developers and merchants. At the heart of the new website, is the Domus Digital Showroom, featuring an eye-catching graphic of the inside of a residential apartment development. Visitors to the website can explore the potential products used in seven options - studio, one bed, two bed, three bed, gym, café, and ceiling void. Clicking one of the icons within these scenarios reveals the Domus Ventilation product suitable for that application, including a 360° product image, product overview in bulleted form, and links to the relevant product page and product range for more detailed information. The interactive graphic makes finding the right solution for a specific property type and its rooms effective and enjoyable! Access to information has been improved on the website through the introduction of Downloads and Learn sections. The former houses Domus Ventilation’s array of brochures and datasheets and access to download the Domus Ventilation Family Manager free BIM REVIT software. The Learn section encompasses the latest news and case studies, along with accredited training courses provided by the company; these include Residential Ventilation Principles and Building Regulations, Pre-Planning Conditions and Ventilation, and MVHR Design and Best Practice. As you would expect, the product section on the new website provides comprehensive information on Domus Ventilation’s energy efficient ventilation systems and products, organised by System Ventilation, Fan Range, Fan Ancillaries, and Ducting Range. Replacement fans, spare parts and ventilation accessories can also be purchased through the website, for maximum convenience. www.domusventilation.com

Routeco announce UK acquisition

Routeco are delighted to announce a new strategic acquisition, with AutoLogic Systems joining the group. AutoLogic Systems was founded in 1993 and is well established within the UK as a provider of simulation products, consulting and related services, serving primarily the manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors. Within the modelling and virtual commissioning arena, they provide solutions for demonstration, simulation and controls testing and are a Value Added reseller of Emulate3D by Rockwell Automation, with expertise in consulting, training and supporting the software. AutoLogic also provide other solutions including the TOPS software for case and pallet optimisation, as well as container and vehicle load planning. Emulate3D is a digital twin solution in one of the fastest growing concepts of Industry 4.0. In the simplest terms, a digital twin is a virtual replica of a real-world object run in a simulation environment to test its performance and efficacy. Emulate3D also opens the way to mixed and augmented reality applications that change the way people can train to use and interact with industrial machines and processes. The technology enables industry to virtually test machine and system designs before incurring manufacturing or automation costs and committing to a build. Routeco have acquired a majority stake in AutoLogic with all employees and the management team remaining in place to continue serving customers and further develop the business. Other terms have not been disclosed. Dave Amps, Managing Director at Routeco says: “I am very excited to welcome AutoLogic into the Routeco Group. It fits perfectly with our strategy to provide innovative software tools and consultancy to our machine builder, end user and systems integrator customers, helping them to remain competitive globally and use technology to reduce commissioning time and their time-to-market.” Graham Carter, Managing Director at AutoLogic says: “AutoLogic has worked successfully with Routeco for some time and so I’m delighted that we’re now part of the Routeco Group. The acquisition gives us a tremendous opportunity to grow our business by providing our advanced software solutions and outstanding consulting expertise to even more customers. There is no better fit for us.” www.routeco.com www.autologic-systems.com

Makita pushes performance with BL4080F battery

Makita has launched its largest capacity battery to date, with an impressive 288WH of energy. The 8.0Ah BL4080F offers the longest runtime for its XGT products, meaning less downtime and improved productivity. Especially useful when used on higher drain XGT machines, this new battery pushes performance even harder. The 40VMax XGT BL4080F 8.0Ah battery has been designed to be both robust and highly intelligent. Equipped with 20 cells, it has a higher power output that enables Makita’s XGT tools to be pushed even harder and perform heavy duty, continuous operation over extended periods. Thanks to its heavy-duty and durable outer and cell casing, this product has a significantly improved impact resistance. The BL4080F is also IPX4 rated with a water and dust-resistant triple layer structure and an enhanced terminal structure to handle any job site condition. The battery has been designed with Makita’s digital communication function between the tool, battery and charger to optimise the charging process, reduce charge times and protect the battery from damage. This real-time digital communication actively monitors heat, overload, and over-discharge as well as delivering up to 2x longer sustained power during demanding applications. Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita, says: “We are very excited to be releasing this product as our largest capacity battery to date. Offering the longest runtime for our XGT products, this product will considerably improve productivity on site, as users won’t need to down tools to recharge batteries as often. Furthermore, despite its capacity, the battery can be charged in just over an hour - at approximately 76 minutes when using the DC40RA charger, which makes it stand out in the market. It truly is a gamechanger, and we cannot wait for people to test it for themselves.” www.makitauk.com

BEAMA launches the UK Electricity Products Supply Chain Council

The UK Electricity Products Supply Chain Council launched on 7 September). Lead by BEAMA, with membership from across the energy and contracting sector and support from the government, this is an unprecedented platform for the supply chain of electrical equipment for the electricity transmission and distribution networks, and end-use energy products market. Never has it been more urgent to ensure the resilience of the UK energy sector, and with manufacturing capacity for key products set to increase tenfold to meet demands for net zero delivery, we need collaboration and engagement with the new leadership in government to open pipelines of investment to secure the timely and cost-effective supply of equipment into the market. Manufactures of energy technologies are facing mounting geopolitical pressures on the supply of raw materials and componentry for the delivery of complex energy technologies essential to our net zero transition and for a move away from imported energy. There has been a global shift in demand and supply of key technologies and associated materials that ensure the security of our energy industry. The council will help tackle the immediate pressures on the supply of equipment, while looking to the future and how to ensure the longer-term investment needs of the supply chain. With this comes great opportunity and BEAMA members (manufacturers of energy technologies) say the level of investment needed is achievable, bringing opportunity to re-shore parts of the industry to the UK and create new trading relationships. The newly formed council is an example of collaboration at its best and the UK energy and contracting sector coming together with government to alleviate pressures on the market. One of the biggest barriers to investment sited by BEAMA is the availability of people and skills. Manufacturers and raw material suppliers need confidence in future orders and the UK market trajectory to invest in manufacturing capacity, people and places. BEAMA CEO, Dr Howard Porter states: “This is an unprecedented era of change and with mounting pressures on the supply chain we need this level of collaboration across industry and with the government. We will lead this council to ensure the resilience of the electricity equipment supply chain. The current energy crisis and geopolitical pressure placed on the supply chain should not hold back progress to meet our net zero targets, but we should see this as an opportunity to invest in low carbon tech industries, this includes the manufacturing sectors BEAMA represents.” According to Steve Bratt, CEO of leading electrical contractors’ body ECA, says: “Increased collaboration between the electrical product supply chain and the businesses that design, install and maintain products and systems will deliver effective and sustainable solutions for the UK energy sector and the wider marketplace. “It’s now vital that we increase the number of skilled installation contractors to ensure the successful deployment of electrical energy solutions at scale. This will provide major benefits to clients in the energy sector and beyond and help government and industry to meet the UK’s net zero targets.” www.beama.com

 Safety advice issued as dangerous sites triple

The UK’s biggest electricity distributor has issued urgent safety advice to homeowners, after cases of interference with the electricity network tripled over the past year. UK Power Networks has seen the number of instances soar at owner occupier properties, often where demolition or refurbishment work has left a property in a dangerous state, with cables needing disconnection or a small services connection. Examples among more than 100 incidents in the past year include illegal service alterations such as moving electrical equipment like meter boards and service cables or leaving a ‘cut out’ at the end of a power supply exposed. UK Power Networks has a range of safety advice including always pre-planning work, using cable avoidance tools and employing professional electricians to complete tasks. Neil Clarke, Head of Connection Services and Disconnections at UK Power Networks, says: “Interfering with the electricity network can lead to serious injury or even death. Leaving a site in a dangerous situation is an unacceptable risk to take. “My team are seeing at first hand too many sites being left in an unsafe state, and we feel this is a result of poor planning and a lack of expert advice. “For the number of illegal service alterations and connections to triple in the last year is a concerning trend. It can be a mix of impatience or ignorance of the correct processes leading to dangerous mistakes being made by tampering with the network. “We urge anyone involved in a house project which requires electrical work, be it the owner themselves or a third party, to plan properly and follow the correct safety procedures to protect them, their colleagues and the general public. “You must allow time to contact your network provider to disconnect the power supply if you are demolishing a building, constructing a new property or removing a temporary electricity supply.” www.ukpowernetworks.com

Rated People campaigns for a more diverse trades industry

Ahead of ‘National Tradesmen Day’ (16 September 2022) - a day that was created to celebrate incredible people working in trade professions - the find-a-tradesperson platform, Rated People, highlights the need for more inclusive language to break down stereotypes and encourage more people into trade careers. Researchers at Rated People interviewed 3,000 UK residents, tradespeople and 16 to 18-year-old school leavers to uncover how much binary non-inclusive language, like ‘tradesmen’ is still being used and what effect it’s having. The study reveals that 80% of UK residents still use the term ‘tradesmen’ to refer to all people working within the industry, and gendered language is also still being used in career advice in school, which is having a negative effect on the number of young people considering a career in the industry. Three quarters (73%) of 16 to 18-year-olds heard the term ‘tradesmen’ as a collective term for all people who work in trade professions, and over 40% (42%) say they would be more likely to consider a career in the trades industry if more inclusive language was used in career advice. So, Rated People is now calling for UK schools to stop career advice from using gendered terms like ‘tradesmen’ as a collective term for everyone in trade professions in a bid to drive positive change within the industry. Why it needs to change Rated People wants to make it easier for more people, regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexuality to get into the industry and thrive. Encouraging a broader range of young people into trade careers will be a key avenue to close the skills gap. There’s huge support for a more diverse workforce among existing tradespeople - almost nine in 10 (87%) tradespeople think it would be good for more women to start working in the industry. Current career advice appears to be falling short, as the study also discovered less than half (42%) of 16 to 18-year-old girls were even given a trade career as a potential option at school. Whereas 65% of boys had trade careers communicated to them as viable career choices. Added to that, just 4% of school-leavers opted for an apprenticeship last year (according to government reports), so it’s obvious that much more can be done to promote trade careers to young people. How Rated People is campaigning for change By releasing this study, Rated People hopes UK schools will evaluate the quality of career advice and the effect that non-inclusive language is having on young people who are making further education and career choices. As a result, the find-a-tradesperson platform is calling for change by making 16 September 2022 the first ‘National Tradespeople Day’ - renaming the antiquated ‘National Tradesmen Day’ to better reflect all the amazing people who work in the industry. And in order to boost awareness about the issue, Rated People is launching a new nationwide TV campaign to further promote the diversity message. The newly launched TV advert shows ‘if you’ve got the skills, we’ve got the jobs’ to highlight the most important thing is how skilled you are, and nothing else. To show this, the TV advert intentionally features tradespeople from a first-hand perspective, showing the work they’re doing, and not who they are, or what they look like. Rated People hopes the advert will show no one judges a skilled pair of hands for who they are, they just care they’re doing a good job, the five-star kind of job. Adrienne Minster, CEO of Rated People comments: “Many factors have contributed to the workforce shortages across the industry - from an ageing workforce and reduced numbers of young people getting into trade professions, to Brexit and poor career advice. "With demand higher than ever, it’s critical that more is done to encourage young people into the industry. For an industry that offers great financial security and job fulfilment, more needs to be done to ensure young people see this as a welcoming environment where they can flourish - where everybody, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or sexuality, can thrive. "One of the biggest ways to break down stereotypes is to use more inclusive language and we hope our campaign for diversity will start to drive a positive change in the industry. "It’s also important to say that this is no way a slight to all the hardworking and incredible tradesmen within the industry - we salute you and all the amazing work you do. We acknowledge the historical workforce shortage in Britain right now and want more people to get into the industry. We hope that using more inclusive language will help to achieve that.” www.ratedpeople.com

Bumper apprenticeships for electrical industry

The UK’s largest distribution network operator plans to recruit a bumper intake of 50 apprentices in 2023 to support the country’s transition to net zero. Apprentices who join the company will be trained in traditional skills that maintain, repair and build electricity networks which help deliver power to 8.4 million homes and businesses across the East of England, London and the South East to ensure safe and reliable power supplies. Their work will also help communities use local electricity networks to run low carbon technologies including electric vehicles and heat pumps. UK Power Networks is currently training 32 new craft apprentices in Level 3 Apprenticeship Standards and 21 new higher apprentices (engineers) in Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship Standards. In the last 10 years, 333 apprentices have been trained by the electricity firm. Charlie Aston, Engineering Trainee Manager at UK Power Networks, says: “We are excited to recruit the new intake of 50 apprentices. The success of our previous cohorts really demonstrates the business benefits of providing apprenticeships and I’m sure our next group will bring skills, enthusiasm and bags of potential to become fantastic assets for our business as we keep the power flowing for customers and play our part in helping to widen the age profile of our industry to build for the future.” The two-year programme gives apprentices the opportunity to become a qualified and competent craftsperson in one of three trades: cable jointer, overhead linesperson and electrical fitter. The practical skills are taught at the company’s training centres in Suffolk and Kent, coupled with on-the-job training with experienced field staff, putting new skills into practice under supervision. Caden Gardiner, a foundation apprentice who already works at UK Power Networks, says: “I was looking online for apprenticeships and discovered the UK Power Networks website. I read about people who have worked for the company previously and it interested me. Apprenticeships are a good investment for the company as they train their employees and invest in their future. You also get on-the-job training which you don’t always get at university.” UK Power Networks is ranked number one in Europe in the global Smart Grid Index and was also named first for Best Big Companies to Work For. The company is also rated as a ‘Platinum’ level Investor in People. The company is welcoming 14 new craft apprentices this month (September) as part of its 2022 intake and applications for the next 50 will open soon. www.ukpowernetworks.com