BigChange drives growth at SC Duncan Heating and Plumbing

The growth of a Hertfordshire-based heating, plumbing and electrical business has been driven by field service management software from BigChange. By equipping engineers with mobile devices, connected in real-time to a centralised job management system, SC Duncan Heating Plumbing and Electrical has fuelled efficiency gains and boosted customer service levels. This has resulted in an eight-fold increase in its workforce and has allowed the company to expand its operation to service domestic customers and extend into renovation and general building services. SC Duncan has quickly established itself as one of Hertfordshire’s premier private residential property services businesses. “I have a background working in large service companies, using a number of bespoke and off the shelf systems – good and bad! To underpin our expansion, it was clear we needed an all encompassing piece of software that could assist with every aspect of the customer journey,” comments James Tranham, Managing Director of SC Duncan. “So, the first thing I did was to engage with job management software providers and seek recommendations from other users. I knew I needed a solution that put the customer at the heart of every aspect of the system, yet also had the regulatory and compliance aspect rigidly embedded in all its workflows. “I am thankful to say I picked BigChange, which has been fantastic from the outset. BigChange has everything we need – a complete solution for the customer journey from booking and confirming appointments right through to invoicing. The reporting is also excellent, but the overall winning aspect is its simplicity.” “We pride ourselves on delivering a traditional local service, underpinned by cutting edge modern delivery and BigChange is at the heart of this,” James concludes. “As we continue to increase the of range services we provide and the geographic are we cover we know that BigChange will be with us at every step.”

myenergi Co-Founder wins prestigious renewable energy award

Jordan Brompton, Co-Founder and CMO of myenergi, has taken home gold as Woman of the Year at the 2022 Humber Renewables Awards. Now in its 10th year, the prestigious event celebrates innovation, progress and success in the clean energy industry across both banks of the Humber. A true leader in the sector, the judges were impressed by Jordan’s pivotal role in driving the rapid growth of myenergi, alongside her commitment to leading the transition to electrification. As one of the UK’s fastest-growing renewable tech businesses, myenergi is renowned for its portfolio of eco-smart solutions that help users to reduce reliance on mains energy supply. Commenting on the news, Jordan says: “When we founded myenergi, the vision was simple – create a positive impact, push the boundaries of possibility and change the world through pioneering green technologies. In the few years since, we’ve built a global brand, created hundreds of green jobs and helped to put the Humber firmly on the map as a hub for sustainability. “Considering the global challenges experienced over the past few years, it’s a privilege to take home the Woman of the Year award. Rather than a personal accolade, this is a tribute to the whole myenergi team, a true reflection of our dynamism, passion, enthusiasm and the success story that we’ve collectively created. “Being nominated alongside such inspirational women is an honour in itself – let alone taking home the award. It makes me so proud of the myenergi journey and how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time.”

Schneider Electric partners with Panasonic to make the future of heating smart and sustainable

To address the global climate change crisis there is a need to save energy and make homes of the future smart and sustainable. Drayton by Schneider Electric, has partnered with Panasonic to replace traditional gas boilers and offer room-by-room heating control system through its Wiser range of energy management solutions, seamlessly integrated with Panasonic Aquarea Air Source Heat Pumps and the Aquarea Smart Cloud and Service Cloud app. Schneider Electric is bringing sustainable and energy efficient solutions for residential heat pumps to Europe. This integrated offer will be first piloted in the United Kingdom. Heating the home can be a large energy load, particularly during winter or for older, poorly insulated European homes. Set in the context of the rising energy bills and predicted energy caps across the region later this year, the persistent worry for homeowners of the cost of heating and associated rise of energy bills continues. Heating rooms individually is a much more efficient way of making sure only the rooms in use are at a comfortable temperature. This new partnership means homeowners will be able to install Panasonic’s Aquarea air source heat pumps and control heating on a room-by-room basis, using Wiser with the Aquarea system. The Wiser range of home energy management solutions, with its mobile app, gives homeowners greater control of different devices. It also allows them to manage energy consumption through intelligent automation, making homes more energy efficient, as well as helping homeowners lower their bills and reduce their carbon footprint, making the smart, sustainable home of the future a closer reality. The Wiser way to use heat pumps Wiser can be easily set up with the Panasonic Aquarea heat pump, enabling installers to create multi-zone systems, where heating is remotely controlled room-by-room. Users can monitor and easily adjust the heating in each room and via any web-enabled device, including Android and iOS applications and internet browsers. The app will enable homeowners to eliminate unnecessary heating thanks to Wiser’s smart modes. For example, activating Away Mode when a property is unoccupied helps reduce energy consumption. Remi Volpe, Managing Director at Drayton, says: “In order for a net zero home to be achieved, different technologies will be required to work together to optimise their performance. This is particularly important when it comes to the heating system. This new partnership with Panasonic will enable us to develop Wiser into a full home-automation solution. Phase one sees the integration of Wiser with Panasonic’s low carbon Aquarea heat pump, and future phases will see the capabilities of the Wiser Home app expanded to include other Panasonic devices, such as lighting and electrical appliances.” Richard Bishop, Head of Marketing for UK and Ireland at Panasonic, adds: “Here at Panasonic, we place great importance on forging ethical partnerships that align with our core values. We are incredibly excited to be working with Schneider Electric – who is driving change for low-carbon living. This integration will further give homeowners more control over each room in their homes, and additional access to detailed insights, enabling them to make more informed decisions, at a time when keeping energy usage under control is more important than ever.”

Revealed: The 10 customer habits that tradespeople find most annoying

New research has revealed the customer behaviours that tradespeople find most annoying and being watched while they work tops the list. The study, conducted by IronmongeryDirect, found that more than two in five (41%) tradespeople find it irritating when clients won’t leave them alone while working. Being constantly asked how they’re getting on is another major annoyance (34%), as is the cheeky request to do additional little jobs ‘while you’re here’ (28%). The 10 customer habits that tradespeople find most annoying are: Watching you closely while you work (41%) Constantly checking your progress (34%) Asking you to do extra little jobs while you're there (28%) Asking for a discount (26%) Not paying on time (25%) Making suggestions or instructing you how to do your job (17%) Calling during non-business hours (17%) Insisting a job is urgent when it's not (15%) Not offering you a drink (14%) Not being in when you arrive so you can't get to the job (14%) The top grievances are similar for both tradesmen and women, but male workers are far more likely to be irritated by customers not offering them a drink (16% vs 9%). Meanwhile, tradeswomen are more bothered about clients calling them outside of business hours (23% vs 13%). Perhaps unsurprisingly, the self-employed are far more angered by customers who don’t pay on time (33% vs 22%) and ask for discounts (31% vs 23%) than employed individuals, likely due to it being their own personal income on the line. Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, says: “Customer interaction is an inevitable and important part of most tradespeople’s lives, and, as difficult as it might be, workers need to stay calm and professional, no matter how frustrating their clients get! “That’s why we’ve worked with a behaviour expert to offer advice to tradespeople on how to diplomatically deal with each of these customer habits, so that you can keep everyone happy while getting the job done.”

Energys urges schools and colleges to use fund to invest in efficiency

The rising cost of energy and inflation means that now is the time to invest in energy efficiency, and specifically, upgrades to LED Lighting, according to Energys Group. The company is urging business managers in maintained schools and colleges to reap the cost efficiencies that upgrades to LED lighting can offer. “This is often the easiest way to save money and cut carbon,” says Energys Group Account Director, Raj Gunasekaran. “Doing nothing is likely to impact on operational costs and may well affect your staffing budgets.” To support schools at a time when a combination of energy price rises, inflation and rising operational costs are increasing rapidly, Energys Group has announced a multi-million pound Energy Efficiency Fund for Maintained Schools. The company provides cash positive funding programs as well as full turnkey solutions and has implemented successful energy retrofit projects at over 1000 schools. “Our Energy Efficiency Fund for Maintained Schools is specifically aimed at educational establishments that want to improve their energy efficiency – but can’t afford them using CapEx Budgets,” adds Raj. “Energys has designed its fund in a way that no upfront payment is needed. And funding is available to all types of maintained schools.” For schools and colleges interested in this scheme, Energys say it will start the process by identifying your potential energy savings. The company offers a free no-obligation lighting audit. Audit process During the audit, Energys will also identify measures to see if the school meets eligibility criteria for the Government-backed SALIX Decarbonisation Grant scheme (PSDS). This funding scheme is due to open in September 2022. Energys has previously delivered PSDS projects in over 70 schools with a project value of £6 million.

IFSEC Global top influencers in security and fire unveiled

Selected from hundreds of nominations and a judging process by an international panel, the influencer awards span several categories, with those recognised on the list coming from across the globe. The categories, which are designed to cover roles spanning the sectors, included: Commercial Security – End users (including Security Directors/Heads of Security) Commercial Security – Security Executives Commercial Security – Association Figures/Academics/Thought Leaders Cyber Security Professionals One to Watch – Security Commercial Security – Manufacturers/Vendors/Integrators/Installers Fire Safety (Including a ‘One to Watch’ category) As has become customary over the years, the process consisted of two stages. Firstly, IFSEC Global invited nominations from its audience and beyond. Then, a panel of judges (who also put forward their own (limited) number of nominations) assigned points to each nomination based on the persuasiveness of the nomination, their research into the nominee, and their own knowledge of the nominee’s contributions to the field. Judges were not allowed to vote on those they nominated themselves. The final list was then compiled by Lead Judge, Grant Lecky, based on the judges scores in the security sector, and James Moore, Editor of IFSEC Global, for the Fire Safety sector. For this IFSEC Global awards, ‘Influencer’ is defined in the several ways, including: Someone who has played a key role in driving technological innovation Someone who has been a driving force in changing regulation, standards, guidance or best practice Someone whose insights and opinions are widely respected and are influential in shaping debate around industry issues Someone who has been instrumental in the success of the organisation or business they lead or are employed by Someone who has helped to raise the industry’s profile or been an influential voice in the national media James Moore, Editor of IFSEC Global, comments: “We run these awards each year to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible work and commitment professionals in the fire and security sector have. So many go above and beyond in industries that are ultimately about protecting people, property and assets, and it’s always inspiring to read the bios of those who make the final shortlist. “2022 was once again hugely competitive and a testament to the overall quality of professionals working in the sectors on a global scale. I would like to thank all those who submitted nominations and all the judges who took the time to assess the entries and provide their scores.” Grant Lecky continued his role as Head Judge this year, with Bonnie Butlin also supporting his efforts coordinating the judging process. Grant is Co-Founder of the Security Partners Forum (SPF), a network of security professionals that fosters greater communication and collaboration between the public, private and non-profit sectors across the globe. Bonnie is also Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Security Partners Forum, among many other projects. The ‘Global Security Influencer of the Year’ Award will be announced later this year from a separate panel of judges. The winner will be chosen between the top influencers in the security categories, excluding ‘One to Watch’.

Stay switched on to colour trends with ElectricalDirect’s Trendi products

The future of design-led electrical solutions looks even brighter with ElectricalDirect’s expanded range of Trendi Switch products. In line with its ‘Always Switched On’ campaign that offers customers a huge choice to ‘pick and fuse from’, it is excited to introduce a wide range of colourful Trendi Light Switches and Sockets suitable for commercial and residential applications. ElectricalDirect has expanded its range of Trendi 1 & 2 Gang Light Switches and Sockets to offer specifiers even more design possibilities. The range now includes 13 new colour finishes comprising of vibrant hues such as plum, pink and moss green, as well as neutral shades of matt black, light grey and warm grey. Easy to install with no additional wiring required, these durable products can be retrofitted over existing sockets to offer customers an effective way to add colour and interest to their interiors. With a sleek screwless design as standard, each switch and socket will seamlessly blend with interiors to deliver a minimalist and elegant finish. Speaking on the latest range, Sophie Anthony, Category Manager at ElectricalDirect says: “With over 100 new products added to our Trendi collection, installers are sure to find the colour to match any property. We are committed to stocking a wide range of products from market-leading brands that meet the needs of our professional and trade customers. As part of our ‘Trusted to Deliver’ brand promise, all our products are in stock and available with flexible delivery options, with prices being constantly monitored so our customers can rely on us for competitive rates.”

Council wins prestigious industry award for low carbon heat network

Leeds City Council has scooped up a prestigious industry award for the success of its flagship low carbon district heating network. The council and its network partners, Vital Energi and Ener-vate, were revealed as the winners of the ‘Heat and Efficiency: Operational’ trophy earlier this week at the ADE’s Decentralised Energy Awards. By using heat and energy recovered from non-recyclable waste at the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) to provide hot water to buildings in the city, the Leeds PIPES district heating network offers a reliable and affordable lower carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuel powered heating systems. Last year the £47 million network of insulated underground pipes supplied 13,900 megawatt-hours of heating and helped reduce the city’s carbon footprint by more than 2,000 tonnes. Currently stretching more than 26km in length, the network continues to expand and is regularly connecting to new buildings. It is set to become one of the UK’s largest heat networks in the future. Nearly 2,000 homes, commercial and public buildings have already been connected. Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust recently announced new plans to connect more of its own buildings to the network as part of a wider package of decarbonisation and efficiency measures using government funding. The Trust successfully connected the Beckett Wing of St James’s University Hospital earlier this year. Commenting on the award, Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate, says: “The Leeds PIPES district heating network is an innovative success story for the city, and I am thrilled that our award-winning project is getting the recognition it deserves. “This award is testament to the tireless work of council officers and partners, especially the more than 400 workers and apprentices in the low carbon sector who in just a few years have successfully turned our bold ambition into an exciting reality.”

Marshall-Tufflex stocking Basor Metal and PVC Cable Trays

Marshall-Tufflex has extended its partnership with Basor Electric and now holds in stock its Metal and PVC Cable Trays. The products join the company’s existing Basor Wire Basket range and as part of the agreement, Marshall-Tufflex is the exclusive UK distributor of Basor products. Underpinning the Hastings based manufacturer’s commitment to providing installers with a wide choice of quality cable management products for all sectors and applications, the new agreement with Basor now equips professionals with access to the entire Basor product range in the UK. Enabling the simple routing and support of power and data cables, the trays are ideal for commercial, industrial and public sector applications. The metal cable tray is available in light, medium and heavy profiles and has a pre-galvanised finish. The product is a ‘Fast Fix’ - allowing sections of tray to be simply interconnected and bolted together without the need for separate couplers, saving on both installation time and costs. The comprehensive range also includes an adjustable riser allowing for angles between 0 to 90 degrees to be formed to the exact height and angle required. The PVC cable tray range is ideally suited to harsh outdoor environments where a non-corrosive solution is required such as for water treatment plants, chemical and mining facilities as well as for shorefront areas. Available in five different sizes ranging from 100 to 400mm wide, the PVC cable tray is corrosion free, 100% recyclable, extremely lightweight and easy to install. In addition to the Wire Basket, Metal and PVC Cable Tray products, Marshall-Tufflex is also able to supply any other Basor products, including those that are not part of the standard range. Jon Chamberlain, Managing Director at Marshall-Tufflex says: “Having sold the Basor Wire Basket for a number of years, we are familiar with the exceptional quality and performance of the company’s products. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Basor by distributing its range of innovative solutions in the UK and to be able to supply any of its products to our customers, including those that are not part of our standard stocked range.”

Yorkshire manufacturer celebrates sparkling anniversary

Ellis Patents is marking its own right royal sparkling jubilee this summer – with the Rillington-based company celebrating its 60th anniversary. The cable cleat manufacturer, which actively exports to 45 countries through a global network of local distributors, was founded in 1962 by former WWII pilot, Arthur Ellis and began as a manufacturer of plastic pipe clips and cable clamps in York. The company relocated to Rillington, near Malton, in 1974 and began manufacturing cable cleats in the mid-1990s. Danny Macfarlane, Ellis Patents’ Managing Director, says: “Businesses need to be able adapt to stand the test of time, and time and again over the last 60-years Ellis Patents has done exactly that; whether it be embracing new technology or developing our product offering to meet the changing needs of the market.” “Since I joined in 2003, we’ve evolved from a manufacturer with a predominately British focus into an organisation with a truly global outlook and a reputation to match – so much so that today it’s virtually guaranteed that our cable cleats will be under consideration for any new major electrical installation anywhere in the world.” Another key ingredient in the Ellis Patents success story has been the longevity of its workforce and the loyalty that has engendered. The vast majority of Ellis’ staff live locally with over 60% having been with the company for over a decade. Amazingly, its longest serving employees, Steve Spaven and David Wheeler joined within a week of each other in February 1987. “Having such a loyal and experienced workforce is a huge benefit for the business and for the suppliers, distributors and customers we work with,” continues Danny. “The experience we have across the entire business is unparalleled; and because so many have chosen to build their careers with us rather than move on, they treat Ellis Patents as their business rather than just the place they work.” Ellis Patents will be marking its 60th anniversary with a summer party at The Hospitium in York.