First-of-a-kind event for International Women in Engineering Day

Cross-industry collaboration is on the agenda as electricity and gas network operators come together in an industry-first event to mark International Women in Engineering Day (23 June). A virtual event led by UK Power Networks with the Energy Networks Association (ENA), is bringing the industry employees, contractors and other member organisations together to celebrate, network and be inspired by some key female role models within the sector. Alex Sturge, head of communications, engagement and development at UK Power Networks, says: “It’s important that we continue to make engineering an attractive and appealing profession for women. Already this year we have created 30 new STEM ambassadors who are out and about engaging at schools and colleagues. They have so far shared the opportunities available in the energy sector with more than 1,500 young women. Our event today, on International Women in Engineering Day, is another great way to raise the profile of engineering at what is a very exciting time for engineering in the UK. The people we engage and attract today will be the people charged with facilitating the transition to net zero tomorrow.”

CityFibre’s Inverness full fibre network could cover Loch Ness 10 times

CityFibre has now laid a staggering 360km of full fibre internet beneath the streets of Inverness as part of its £24.5m investment to future-proof the city’s digital connectivity. This landmark achievement means there is enough full fibre cabling connecting the city’s homes to travel the length of Loch Ness 10 times. World famous as the home of the Loch Ness Monster, Loch Ness is 36km long and, by volume, is the largest body of freshwater in Britain, containing more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined. Allan McEwan, CityFibre’s Area Manager for Inverness, says: “Loch Ness is world-famous, with people flocking to its shores every year to see if they can catch a glimpse of Nessie. The fact that we have now laid enough fibre in near-by Inverness to stretch the length of the loch 10 times over really shows how much progress we have made with our project so far. “With work ongoing across the city and many thousands of homes able to access our network, Inverness now boasts some of the best digital infrastructure in the country. As a team, we’re really proud of the speed of deployment and we are excited for residents to have the opportunity to connect to the fastest and most reliable broadband services available.” Inverness is one of a growing number of locations in the UK to benefit from CityFibre’s nationwide full fibre rollout, which will bring new and improved broadband infrastructure within reach of up to eight million UK homes and businesses. Recent data published by Hatch outlined the projected economic impact of CityFibre’s full fibre rollout, with a productivity and innovation benefit totalling £100m in Inverness alone. It also reported an expected £46m increase in the value of local homes as a result of the project, thanks to the availability of vastly improved internet speed and reliability. CityFibre’s build partner GCU Utilities Ltd is working in various locations across the city with work currently ongoing in areas including Leachkin, Merkinch, Scorguie and South Kessock. Work has already been completed across most of Inverness in areas including Ballifeary, Balloch, Balnafettack, Clachnaharry, Culloden, Cradlehall, Culcabock, Culduthel, Dalneigh, Drakies, Drummond, Hilton, Inshes, Kinmylies, Lochardil, Millburn, Milton of Leys, Muirtown, Raigmore, Resaurie, Slackbuie, Smithton and Westhill. As work is completed in each neighbourhood, CityFibre designates 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. In Inverness, residents are able to access a range of options, with download and upload speeds of up to 900Mbps, from service providers BrawBand, TalkTalk and Zen, with others, including CityFibre’s UK launch partner Vodafone, expected to join the local network soon.

£500,000 works begin to transform BGEN’s headquarters into a net zero building

Work has begun to transform BGEN’s headquarters into a net zero building. The business is investing £500,000 as it continues to reduce its carbon footprint. “As a business we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint as soon as possible,” says Oliver Groarke, Head of Sustainability at BGEN. “Part of this project will enable BGEN to evaluate new concepts and technologies which we will be able to offer to our customers and prospects as they go on their own decarbonisation journeys”. The works to be undertaken include: Replacing the HVAC system Fitting solar panels Installing water reduction technologies Establishing renewable energy systems Fitting LED lighting Installing electric vehicle charging points Setting up control and energy monitoring systems “As a business we’re committed to becoming a net zero organisation by 2035 at the latest,” continues Oliver Groarke. “We have a lot more exciting developments in this area and look forward to sharing more updates in the near future.” The project is due for completion by September 2022.

Octopus Electric Vehicles helps over 1,500 UK businesses switch staff to electric cars

Octopus Electric Vehicles has hit a milestone of over 1,500 companies joining its salary sacrifice scheme in just over a year since its launch. The salary sacrifice scheme for electric cars provides an all-in-one service for drivers looking to make the switch. It is one of the fastest growing schemes of its kind in the UK and one of the reasons for Octopus’ five-star Trustpilot rating - the best in the industry. The scheme is the next step in the company's mission to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and drive the UK’s transition toward zero emission transport. Since launching to the market, it has grown by 22% on average each month, with companies of different sizes and sectors joining the scheme, including household names such as McLaren, Dyson, RES and Nando’s. To manage growing demand, Octopus Electric Vehicles has also expanded its team significantly, hiring 126 new staff across its offices in London and Weybridge over the past year. An EV salary sacrifice scheme is an attractive employee benefit where employers can offer their staff the use of a brand new electric car with a saving of 30% or more by paying through their gross salary, saving thousands of pounds on both national insurance and income tax. There is a small amount of Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax to pay, but it is very low compared to the savings, with the BiK rate for EVs set at 2% until 2025. Due to these favourable tax rates, salary sacrifice on an EV works out significantly cheaper than a personal lease of a petrol or diesel car. Encouraging staff to go electric also reduces their impact on the environment and provides a visible commitment by the employer to the planet and reducing local air pollution. Octopus Electric Vehicles offers companies over 65 models to choose from, all with an average of 215 miles in a single charge. The package includes servicing and maintenance, breakdown cover with the AA, as well as a free charge point at their home or 5,000 miles on the public charging network. Octopus also offers an energy tariff designed for EV drivers for those who charge at home, making it a one-stop-shop for those looking to make the switch to electric. The tariff takes advantage of low cost green power when the UK sleeps, making it cheaper to fuel an EV by up to 87% vs an equivalent petrol car. Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, says: “Demand for electric cars is soaring, with more than 65 great models now available, especially with petrol prices on the rise. It’s great to see so many businesses want to take a leading role in helping their employees discover the benefits of making the switch. “Launching a salary sacrifice scheme saves their employees money, letting them drive great cars, while cleaning up the local air in their communities and helping the planet. “2021 was a tipping point for EVs, and now the switch to electric transport is really accelerating. We’re delighted to be helping our clients and their employees as they make the switch.” Rebecca Constable, Director, People Experience, McLaren Racing, comments: “We’re delighted to be using the Octopus Electric Vehicles salary sacrifice scheme. McLaren fully supports the UK’s transition towards zero emission transport and we’re passionate about doing our bit to help. This is a fantastic benefit that our employees love and aligns with our internal goals to become a more sustainable business.”

Power workers celebrate 1,000 years working with cables and currents

Power workers with over 1,000 years of working with electricity between them have joined an elite club. Working out in the field or in the offices of UK Power Networks, 29 employees are celebrating a 40-year milestone with the company keeping the power flowing to 8.4million homes and businesses across the East, London and the South East. Once they reach the 40-year landmark of continuous service, staff are invited to join the ‘40+ Club’ which currently has 374 members including Kevin Buck from Lea Valley. His children must also have a current running through their veins as they are the third generation of his family to work in the electricity industry. Kevin became an apprentice jointer with Eastern Electricity shortly after he left school. When he met his wife, he discovered her father and brother also worked for the same company and now his son, daughter and son in law work for UK Power Networks too. His son Jamie is a jointer and his daughter, Sarah, a scheduler. Kevin moved on to become an HV engineer and was in charge of installing substations. He is proud of installing eight substations for the 2012 Olympics at the Lea Valley White Water Park. He also installed substations at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium and training ground – a tricky one for an ardent Arsenal fan! Kevin is now a local connections manager and says: “The main reason I enjoy my job is the people I work with, and I do also like dealing with customers.” Some members of the 40+ Club have worked in the business for 50 years or more. One of those is Mike Pearson who joined the world of cables and currents back in 1966 and has now completed 56 years in the electricity industry. Mike, from Peterborough, works as a maintenance manager making sure various electricity substations are well looked after. It’s a far cry from his first job in a factory making three-piece suites at the age of 17. At the time he lived in Derbyshire and soon looked round for a better job. He was offered one with the local council and one with East Midlands Electricity, he chose to work with the latter. From an admin role he became interested in poles and wires and after two years it was suggested he become an operational apprentice. He says: “I was sceptical at the time, but I was interviewed, and they offered me an apprenticeship.” Mike hasn’t looked back since and comments: “I enjoy doing the job and I think I contribute.” He is most proud of being in charge of a section of overhead lines around Peterborough during a major rebuild of the network in the mid-1980s. As for longevity in the business he adds: “I have had good managers and you need that if you want to enjoy the job.” Basil Scarsella, Chief Executive of UK Power Networks, hosted congratulatory dinners in recognition of their long years of service to the company. He says: “We take this opportunity to recognise the tremendous commitment and dedication of our longest-serving employees, who have served their local communities tirelessly for decades. I am grateful to all of our staff for their key role in keeping the power flowing safely and reliably for the millions of customers we serve.” Looking to the future, the company’s next group of 14 apprentices has been selected to start training in September.

Vent-Axia supports hand-dryer enthusiast with work experience

Vent-Axia has been working with Surrey Choices, an organisation that helps disabled people and those with support needs, to provide work experience for 19 year old Gabriel Hogan. Gabriel is taking part in Surrey Choices’ work-based alternative education programme. Surrey Choices therefore approached Vent-Axia to see if it could offer Gabriel a work placement as he is fascinated by hand dryers and wanted to be able to design a new hand dryer that was quiet but dried your hands in 10 seconds. Vent-Axia was happy to help, and Gabriel has been attending a work experience placement at the company to gain vital experience, learn more about the product design process and to design his own hand dryer. Gabriel is autistic, has ADHD and learning difficulties and faced challenges at mainstream college. Surrey Choices’ alternative education programme encourages his strengths and interests and helps them to grow and develop by offering independence at work and helping him with career development. Over the last month, Gabriel has been working with Sam Gregson, Vent-Axia’s Group Technical Manager for Unitary Fans, to design a hand dryer to Gabriel’s own specific requirements since he has a keen interest in and vast knowledge of hand dryers. Gabriel became interested in hand dryers after initially being scared of them as a child. He is sensitive to noise and while he likes fast hand dryers, he does not like it when they are very loud. Gabriel was invited to do work experience at Vent-Axia with four sessions over four weeks. He was given a tour of the product production, 3D printing and R&D laboratory and took part in some experiments to show the benefits of the different types of hand dryers, with drying time tests. Sam did a 3D modelling demo on CAD – Autodesk Fusion 360 for Gabriel and set it up so Gabriel could practise at home afterwards. Together they wrote a hand-dryer specification and went through a design looking at critical success factors, working out a concept and then doing some renders in white and chrome at different angles. Not only was it important that the hand dryer was quiet and fast, but Gabriel also wanted a nozzle that rotated so that it dried his hands and face. “Gabriel’s knowledge of hand dryers is immense and his understanding is very good - I was very impressed. Gabriel was keen to design a hand dryer that dried in 10 seconds. He had real focus and clarity of vision when it came to the design he wanted to achieve, and it was a pleasure to work with him and provide this valuable work experience for him. I’ve worked for Vent-Axia for 20 years, but Gabriel’s knowledge of hand dryers was vast - probably better than mine!”, says Sam Gregson, Group Technical Manager – Unitary Fans at Vent-Axia. “Vent-Axia was happy to be able to help Surrey Choices and Gabriel by offering this work experience. We have all been impressed by Gabriel’s product knowledge”, comments Richard Paine, Product and Marketing Director at Vent-Axia. “It’s great to be able to encourage and enhance this young man’s interest in part of our business.” “Gabriel has had a wonderful experience at Vent-Axia; he tested a range of hand dryers and with Sam’s help he designed a hand dryer using the software that the engineers use, to design a hand dryer specific to how Gabriel would like one to be. It was an amazing experience for him to gain experience in a working environment. Sam and Richard’s acknowledgement of Gabriel’s knowledge had been great for his self-confidence and he is very eager to take up more work experience opportunities.”, adds Sarah Oxby, Employability and Communities Manager at Surrey Choices.

Range of sustainable stripping tools now available from Industry Superstore

Industry Superstore (ISS) says that is pleased to announce the availability of the WEICON TOOLS Green Line, the world’s first range of sustainably manufactured cable stripping tools. The product range includes various cable strippers, dismantling tools and multifunctional cable strippers, with the Precision Wire Stripper S winning the World Tool Award. The Green Line was developed by materials experts and is made to a special formula which includes up to 97% renewable resources. The recyclable material is based on plant oils as well as natural waxes, fibres and minerals and offers an excellent useful life expectancy. WEICON have been looking at the sustainability of its products for a number of years and the new eco-friendly Green Line tools offer the same quality as their very successful classic product line and are just as robust and durable. About the material used: Based on plant oils, natural waxes, fibres and minerals Goes through a closed CO2 cycle and is recyclable Is largely produced without the use of the finite resource crude oil Has polyamide-like characteristics Is produced CO2 neutrally and with renewable energy

Knightsbridge helps students stay the course

Students at Bedford College are getting to grips with their hands-on electrical installation work with renewed enthusiasm thanks to Knightsbridge. The company donated a substantial quantity of wiring accessories to the college to help students complete this important part of their curriculum. Like many colleges, budgets for electrical devices are stretched, so Knightsbridge’s gift of switches, sockets and other accessories was gratefully received by the Electrical and Engineering Department. Steven Croft, Head of Engineering, explains: “The opportunity for our students to work with quality components is an absolute godsend. They can install, uninstall and work on the products time and time again. Previously we’ve had to source inferior components which just didn’t last, cracking or breaking even after a few installs. This just added further pressure to our already strained budget. This donation from Knightsbridge has been massive for us.” Bedford College caters for 280 electrical installation and 150 engineering students per year, all working to their respective level two or three apprenticeships and the practical side of the course is a significant part. Facilities include 22 installation bays where various commercial, industrial and domestic environments can be simulated to give students hands-on experience. “The feedback we’ve had from students about the Knightsbridge kit has been both amazing and enlightening. They clearly respect working with quality equipment and therefore value what they’re doing so much more. They have pinpointed things like ‘good quality’, ‘smoother installation’ and even working with the Knightsbridge kit as being ‘the highlight of the course,” continues Steven. Hannah Liscombe, Head of Marketing, comments: “We are delighted to have been able to provide Bedford College and the students with this donation. And we are doubly pleased that not only have the students been extremely positive about the kit, but that we’ve been able to support the students on their apprenticeship journey. It’s a win-win for all concerned!”

Relieving the fiddle of ring continuity testing

The measuring of R1+R2, R1+RN, r1, rn and r2 has just become quicker and easier with the release of the new Ring Continuity Adapter, A 2214, and associated firmware updates by Metrel. The adapter, A 2214, and its test leads are quickly nulled and clipped to the circuit conductors and connected to one of a range of Metrel multi-function testers. The test started with the press of a button and r1, r2, and rn are measured in one go. The tester and its plugged test lead are then moved round the ring-under-test’s sockets. The results are stored, and the highest reading displayed. As the tester communicates with the adapter through the circuit conductors to vary the configuration, this means that all measurements are completed in one hit, making it up to 60% faster than doing the job conventionally.

Collaboration key to supporting vulnerable customers

The utility industry has moved another step closer to a single, shared Priority Services Register (PSR) for the UK which will help companies look after vulnerable customers. Essex & Suffolk Water has become the next water utility to integrate its PSR records with UK Power Networks. The two utilities are now automatically sharing PSR records, enabling extra support for customers who may be more vulnerable if their electricity or water supply are affected. The partnership aims to prevent people who need extra help, from falling through the cracks, and ensures that those who register with one utility also receive support from the other without having to register twice. This latest partnership builds on UK Power Networks’ partnership with Thames Water which has now seen over 25,000 records safely shared since August 2021. A third of registrations shared by Thames Water with UK Power Networks so far, are customers who would have otherwise not received extra help during a power cut, as they had only registered with the water utility. Now thanks to the utilities working together, thousands of customers are automatically getting vital support instead. More customers need support during a power cut than ever before and there has never been a more crucial need for a cross-utility PSR to ensure that everyone who needs support - from the elderly and those with young children to those reliant on medical equipment - can register in the easiest way possible. People who are registered have access to a 24-hour priority phone line. The electricity network operator also offers tailored support such as hot meals and emergency power cut support kits. The water companies deliver bottled water to customers if their water is off and they can’t leave their house, which is critical for those dependent on water for medical needs. The trio of UK Power Networks, Essex & Suffolk Water and Thames Water are sharing the learnings from the project and working with others across the industry, to define how customers can get all the support they need from their utilities. Ian Cameron, Head of Customer Services and Innovation at UK Power Networks says: ‘We know creating a shared PSR platform is not easy, but we are proving that by coming together we can overcome the challenges. Ultimately, making it as easy as possible for customers to get the support they need is the end goal. This is just the start and as we gather momentum, I hope to see more utilities doing the same. The value in collaborating is clear, if we are all to do the right thing by our customers we cannot stop until a single, shared PSR covering all of our collective customers is made a reality.” Claire Sharp, Customer Director at Essex & Suffolk Water, comments: “Our customers are our biggest priority, and we want to make sure that they can get all the support they need, whenever they may need it. “Integrating our PSR records with UK Power Networks is just one part of our exciting, wider ‘Support for All’ project we’re working on, which has recently won funding from Ofwat. “The overall aim is to establish a cross-sector priority services register between water and energy by building a centralised hub of support. This partnership shows what can be done for our customers and is a huge step towards that.”