Spazio Plus: Designed for faster, smarter installs

When it comes to emergency lighting, Zemper appreciates that the types of fitting count for contractors. More fittings mean more time on site, more cost, and more disruption for clients. That’s where Zemper’s Spazio Plus stands out. Up to 30-metre spacings: The Spazio Plus delivers exceptional optical performance, achieving up to 30m spacings depending on ceiling height and conditions. This means fewer fittings are required to achieve full coverage - saving you time and reducing project costs. Installer-friendly by design: Spazio Plus can be both recessed or surface-mounted and comes supplied with two optical lenses as standard, covering open areas and corridors without the need for extra components. Features like pre-wiring, compact housings, and push-fit terminals make installation quick and straightforward. Long-lasting reliability: Using advanced LiFePo4 lithium battery technology, Spazio Plus offers long life and low total cost of ownership. Like the rest of the Zemper range, it’s backed by a six-year warranty - including batteries - giving contractors and clients complete confidence. Award-winning innovation: Recognised by the Lux Awards in the UK, where it was highly commended for its performance and installer-focused design, Spazio Plus has already proven its value in real-world projects across Europe. A product built for installers: Whether you’re fitting out a school, hospital, office, or industrial site, Spazio Plus helps you work smarter: fewer fittings, faster installs, and dependable performance when it matters most. Discover why contractors across the UK are choosing Zemper’s Spazio Plus for their emergency lighting projects. Find out more at Zemper's website. For more from Zemper, click here.

Zumtobel achieves fourth Ecovadis Gold

The Zumtobel Group, an Austrian lighting company specialising in indoor and outdoor lighting, has been awarded an EcoVadis gold medal for the fourth time in succession. The evaluation by the independent sustainability platform covers the headquarters in Dornbirn as well as all the globally operating lighting group's other locations worldwide. In an industry comparison, the Zumtobel Group now ranks among the top 1% of all companies assessed by EcoVadis. Green improvements Sebastian Gann, Sustainability Director at the Zumtobel Group, comments, “We see the renewed recognition with the gold medal for the entire Zumtobel Group as clear confirmation: a confirmation of our sustainability strategy with the measures implemented to date and the goals set, which the Sustainability Team is realising together with our specialist departments. "We greatly value the evaluation by independent third-party partners such as EcoVadis, as they emphasise our position as a trusted partner in terms of sustainability." In this year's evaluation by EcoVadis, the Zumtobel Group scored additional points in the areas of ethics as well as labour and human rights. Regarding its carbon management level, the Zumtobel Group was rated as a ‘leader’ by EcoVadis. For more from Zumtobel, click here.

Simpson & Partners to expand EV charger installer network

British EV charger brand Simpson & Partners is looking to expand its Trusted Installer Network, introducing new tools, content, and commercial opportunities to help independent installers grow their businesses. The enhanced programme includes a dedicated Installer Portal for quoting, ordering, and approvals, alongside a new ‘Trusted Installer’ accreditation badge and ready-to-post social media packs to help partners market their services locally. Installers joining the network also gain access to local leads, favourable trade pricing, and priority onboarding support, helping them tap into the growing demand for stylish, British-designed EV chargers. Supporting UK business David Simpson, Co-founder of Simpson & Partners, says, “We’ve built the Trusted Installer Network to do more than just supply boxes; it is about workmanship, pride, and profitability. “Our goal is to support independent installers and give them the tools, content, and confidence to win the right kind of work from local homeowners to multi-bay business sites.” New installers can now book a 15-minute set-up call with the Simpson & Partners team to confirm their local area, receive trade pricing, and - when required - access marketing materials (including the optional 'Dealer Event Starter Kit'). “Our partners are the face of our brand in local communities,” continues David. “By combining great British design, reliable technology, and a strong installer network, we’re setting a new standard for how EV charging should look and feel: built in Britain, supported locally.” Simpson & Partners' EV chargers are designed in Britain.

Ariston opens new training centre in Dublin

Ariston Group, a manufacturer of heating, cooling, and hot water systems, has expanded its range of services to installers and heating engineers by opening a new training centre in Dublin, Ireland. The training centre opened in partnership with Plumb-It - an Irish plumbing and heating product distributor - and is the newest addition to Ariston’s growing portfolio of training centres throughout the UK and Ireland. Ariston’s new training centre is the first in Ireland, marking a step forward for the heating company as it says it seeks to broaden its audience of plumbers and engineers by opening local centres alongside creating a number of jobs for local people. Details of the facility The facility is kitted out with Ariston’s full range of wall hung boilers, from e-combi models to units like the Alteas. The renewables section showcases Ariston’s Nimbus heat pump range and Nuos heat pump water heaters, including a hybrid set up. There are also ATAG Commercial and ELCO boilers available for those working on commercial systems. The opening was reportedly a success, with FM 104 radio attending the day to provide entertainment for visitors and attendees, who were also able to enjoy a variety of food stalls while they toured the new facility. Allan Carrick of Ariston Group comments, “We are delighted to open another training centre and [to] take our first step into branching out in Ireland. "This is a significant milestone for Ariston Group as it will allow us to provide a variety of technical training and tailored solutions to local engineers and installers, giving them the knowledge and confidence to tackle complex jobs and meet higher levels of customer demands. “With the current skills gap posing a real issue to the industry, it is vital for installers to upskill into heat pumps. This will not only lessen the burden on the industry, but will open more doors for installers, helping them find more work and, ultimately, turn a bigger profit. "Training centres like ours can really support with this, so this launch is something we are particularly proud of." Paul Byrne of Plumb-It adds, “We are thrilled to have opened Ariston Group’s first Irish training centre at our premises. We have been a long-standing partner of Ariston Group and find their products easy to install and maintain. “We believe it is important to help local heating engineers develop their skills in a world that is always evolving when it comes to carbon-efficiency. "The training centre will be a hub of information and knowledge that will give engineers the confidence across of number of topics such as HVAC systems, system components, and safety protocols.” Heating engineers and installers wishing to book onto a training session can contact their local ASM, Daniel Lang, to find out when their next local session will take place. For more from Ariston, click here.

Aggreko plans major UK temperature control investment

Aggreko, a British multinational temporary power generation and temperature control company, is expanding its temperature control and oil-free compressed air capability in the UK as part of a wider $200 million (£151.6 million) European fleet investment. The company says the funding includes a dedicated temperature control and compressed air team in the UK and is designed to support increasing demand for industrial cooling, heating, and compressed air equipment. According to Aggreko, an additional $25 million (£18.9 million) investment is planned for 2026 to broaden available equipment and strengthen fleet resilience. The company notes the expansion includes low-emission chillers, air handling units, heaters, dehumidifiers, and oil-free air compressors. The business says demand continues to grow across industrial sectors where stable temperature control and clean compressed air are required, including data centres, manufacturing, food and drink production, and construction. Alan Dunne, Managing Director for Aggreko UK and Ireland, comments, “With this dedicated team and significant investment in our fleet, we are reinforcing Aggreko’s market leadership in temperature control and oil-free air solutions. "Our focus is on providing efficient, reliable, and energy-conscious solutions to support our customers’ critical operations. "The sectors we serve, including manufacturing, data centres, food and beverage production, construction, and petrochemicals refining, simply cannot afford downtime. It is our job to ensure they don’t have to. “This investment also speaks to the future of the industry. Customers are increasingly focused on resilience, sustainability, and total cost of ownership. By expanding our fleet and capabilities, we’re helping them address those priorities head-on with engineered, flexible solutions that perform today and are ready for tomorrow.” Industrial cooling applications Aggreko says the investment is designed to support industries where temperature control and oil-free compressed air are essential for maintaining uptime and product quality. Temporary cooling is used in data centres during infrastructure upgrades, while controlled cooling and compressed air support process integrity in food and drink manufacturing. The company also highlights use cases across industrial production, where cooling equipment is used to maintain accurate process temperatures. According to the company, the investment forms part of a longer-term strategy to support energy transition requirements and maintain equipment availability for temporary and modular industrial installations. Aggreko says its engineering teams design systems according to project requirements, with a focus on safety, uptime, and energy efficiency. For more from Aggreko, click here.

Round Pattern Time Switch is still going strong

Sangamo (distributed by ESP) has been manufacturing its Round Pattern Time Switches for over 65 years, and in that time has sold more than 11 million units. The Round Pattern Time Switch is trusted by installers for a wide variety of applications, not just because of its reliability, but its ease of use. The simple dial and levers make setting the switch up for daily fixed timings a breeze with no complicated menu options to navigate through. All Round Pattern Time Switches are also 20 Amp rated, providing a more robust switch than most other products on the market. The switches are split into four categories: a) Basic ‘black dial’ 24-hour time clock for simple on and off switching of up to 20A b) Standard 24-hour ‘red dial’ switch with added 100 hour battery reserve c) Solar Range - specially designed for lighting applications d) Digital Range - the newest addition combines the high capacity and reliability of the electro-mechanical models but provides full seven-day programming. A long-standing reputation Sangamo says it regularly hears from people with Round Pattern Time Switches still going strong after 40 and 50 years. When they eventually need a new switch, they reasonably assume - because of its age - that it might not be possible to get a direct, like-for-like replacement. However, because the original design has never needed to be updated, an RPTS you buy today is completely interchangeable with one bought decades ago. The Sangamo range of specialist time switches and heating controls is distributed through ESP, a Scolmore Group company. For more from ESP, click here.

NICEIC brings together businesses at TechLive

NICEIC, a certification body for the UK’s electrical contracting industry, successfully hosted its flagship in-person CPD event, NICEIC TechLive, on 22 October at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford. The sold-out event brought together over 250 NICEIC-certified businesses for a full day of technical learning, regulatory updates, wellbeing discussions, and business support. Designed to provide tailored, accredited training opportunities, NICEIC TechLive featured 12 expert-led sessions, offering attendees practical insight into the latest developments affecting today’s electricians’ work and helping them maintain professional excellence. A breakdown of the event The day kickstarted with a plenary session hosted by Paul Collins, NICEIC Technical Director, covering the upcoming Amendment 4 of BS 7671, as well as recent updates to BS 5839 (fire systems) and BS 5266 (emergency lighting systems). Attendees also benefited from focused sessions on equipotential bonding for compliance, building regulations, and a live version of NICEIC’s popular EICR Coding Clinic, co-hosted with Electrical Safety First. NICEIC Technical Director Paul Collins comments, “NICEIC TechLive was designed with our contractors in mind - to give them the tools, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. "The feedback has been fantastic, and it’s clear the tailored format really resonated with attendees.” The event also highlighted the importance of wellbeing in the electrical industry. An interactive session on mental health and wellbeing was led by Danny Mouskovias, NICEIC’s Learning and Wellbeing Manager, alongside Grace Ellis, Director of Welfare at the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC). During the event, NICEIC also announced the launch of 'The Tools to Talk', a new mental health and wellbeing toolkit developed in partnership with the EIC. The initiative aims to support NICEIC-certified businesses and their teams by giving them access to digital resources, including a quarterly e-newsletter, interactive episodes of The Wire webinar series, and downloadable materials to encourage open conversations around mental health. NICEIC Learning and Wellbeing Manager Danny Mouskovias adds, “Looking after our mental health is becoming an increasingly important part of professional life, especially in high-pressure industries like ours. "Through The Tools to Talk, we’re helping contractors feel more confident in recognising when issues might arise and empowering them to start meaningful conversations within their teams.” A focus on high-quality learning CPD is an essential requirement of certification with NICEIC and the company says it is committed to supporting certified businesses with access to CPD. TechLive enabled attendees to accrue five hours of high-quality, accredited learning. Sponsors and exhibitors from across the sector were also present to share their expertise on the latest products, services, and innovations. Kirstie Elbourn, MM Electrical and Design, notes, “To [deliver the highest possible standards], we are continually brushing up our knowledge and staying informed on any changes that impact our work. "TechLive gave us the chance to attend a number of interesting technical sessions where we learnt a lot, and there were some great insights on how to engage with new customers which we're going to look at implementing.” For those unable to attend, session recaps and key takeaways will be made available on demand via NICEIC’s website and digital channels. For more from NICEIC, click here.

Collaboration in action to bridge the electrical skills gap in Kent

ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) Member businesses, industry bodies, education providers, and public authorities have joined together to create an alliance to tackle the shortage of electrotechnical skills in Kent and Medway. The soon-to-be-launched Kent & Medway Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance (ETCA) aims to strengthen electrotechnical skills development and careers provision within the county, as well as provide the competence and professionalism needed to meet the demand of electrification in the UK. The Alliance is a joint initiative led by ECA and its Members, alongside Kent and Invicta Chamber of Commerce. What the industry is saying Andrew Eldred, Deputy CEO at ECA, explains, “ECA Members in Kent & Medway know how important it is to get together and resolve the skills gap issue locally. It is crucial for meeting local and national targets for housing, industry, clean energy, and digital infrastructure. “This will be the fifth local Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance that has been launched in less than a year. It joins other ETCAs in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Cheshire & Warrington, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.” Stuart Gibson, Divisional Manager at ECA Member Niblock Electrical Services, adds, “Kent needs many more qualified, skilled electricians to achieve its huge economic potential. "As local employers and strong supporters of high-quality training, we and other ECA Members welcome the shared commitment shown by industry, education, local authorities and the Chamber of Commerce to start to address the opportunities and challenges Kent faces together through a new ETCA.” Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce is the Employer Representative Body appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to lead the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Kent & Medway. Camilla Maurice, Kent & Medway LSIP Lead, says, “The Kent & Medway ETCA represents a decisive step towards building a future-ready electrotechnical workforce. "By aligning employer demand with high-quality training provision, we’re creating a collaborative framework to address critical skills shortages across housing, clean energy, and digital infrastructure. "This Alliance empowers businesses to shape the talent pipeline, unlock growth, and ensure Kent and Medway remain competitive and resilient in a rapidly evolving economy.” Who's involved? An ETCA roundtable event recently took place at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce offices in Ashford, with a wide range of electrical businesses, industry bodies, education providers, and public authorities meeting together to discuss electrical skills priorities in the county. As a next step, it was agreed to draw up a formal list of participants and priority objectives, which will provide a starting point for the new Kent & Medway ETCA. One early piece of work will focus on barriers to recognition of prior learning for individuals seeking an apprenticeship after completing a college electrical course. The following organisations attended the roundtable and indicated their willingness to join the ETCA (while others may be invited to get involved as the ETCA takes shape): Electrical businesses: • Chord Engineering, Maidstone • Gilbert & Stamper, Tonbridge • Niblock Electrical Services, Bromley • Triple Star Fire & Security, Orpington Electrical industry bodies: • ECA • Joint Industry Board (JIB) / Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) • NICEIC • The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) • Build UK Education providers: • East Kent College • Electrical Academy • JTL • Mid Kent College • North Kent College Regional/Local bodies: • Kent County Council • Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce • Medway Council For more from ECA, click here.

HellermannTyton develops new tool for cable tie removal

Cable management manufacturer HellermannTyton has expanded its application tooling range with the introduction of the EVO CUT, a hand tool designed for the safe removal of cable ties without damaging underlying cables or harnesses. The tool allows users to cut cable ties either at the head or along the strap, helping reduce the risk of damage during installation, maintenance, or modification work. It can be used with cables of any diameter or construction, making it suitable for use across multiple sectors, including automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, rail, and cable harness manufacturing. Improving safety and cable protection Graeme Morley, Product Manager for HellermannTyton, comments, “We are committed to developing solutions that not only make our customers’ lives easier but also safer. "This project was done in conjunction with a blue-chip OEM to reduce the weekly incidence rate of cable harness damage that was causing production delays and mounting downtime costs. Since the roll out of the EVO CUT, the incidence rate has fallen to zero. “By removing knives and snips from the production line, it not only allows for a controlled process to minimise risk and damage, but also greatly improves operator safety by removing exposed blades from the factory environment.” The EVO CUT is intended to remove the risk of insulation damage that can occur when using traditional cutting tools. Once severed, the cable tie is retained within the tool until the trigger is released, preventing debris and helping to keep working areas clear. The tool is designed for use with HellermannTyton’s T-Series cable ties, with interchangeable nose pieces that fit around the strap or head for precision cutting. It can also cut KR-Series ties, which are used in areas where vibration resistance is essential. The cutting blades are enclosed within the tool’s nose pieces, avoiding any exposed sharp edges. For more from HellermannTyton, click here.

Aico supports national campaign addressing damp and mould

Aico, a manufacturer of residential fire and carbon monoxide detection products, supported Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week from 20-26 October, an industry initiative intended to encourage collaboration across the housing sector to address damp and mould in homes. Government figures published in 2024 show more than seven million UK households are affected by damp and mould. The issue is estimated to cost the NHS about £1.4 billion a year, contributing to wider societal costs of around £15.4 billion. Industry collaboration to improve housing standards As part of the awareness week, Aico provided free resources and guidance for housing providers, landlords, and contractors. More than 200 people registered to take part, with support from organisations including AllergyUK, the Chartered Institute of Housing, and Trowers & Hamlins. The event included three webinars: The first, hosted by Professor John Edwards, Director of Edwards Hart, examined causes of damp, mould, and condensation, as well as offering practical recommendations for surveyors, contractors, and housing providers. “We have got to understand the causes of problems and deal with the causes,” noted Edwards. “We need to be proactive and undertake preventative actions.” A second session, led by legal specialists from Ashfords, reviewed the current legal framework, recent case law, and compliance requirements for landlords and housing providers. The session included an overview of Awaab’s Law and its implications for statutory timelines to investigate and remedy health hazards. The third webinar featured Dave Batsford, Regional Surveying Manager at whg, who outlined measures taken by a social landlord to improve housing conditions and described how tenant welfare, legal responsibilities, and financial constraints are balanced when addressing damp and mould. Tony Boyle, Regional Director at Aico, comments, “The response to the first Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week was fantastic, with huge engagement from housing associations, tenants, and policymakers. “But that was just the beginning. This year, we’re aiming to reach even more people, spark more action, and continue making progress towards healthier homes for all. “With the introduction of Awaab’s Law, there will now be a legal mandate to tackle damp and mould with urgency. "We want to ensure landlords, tenants, and housing professionals have the resources they need to understand their responsibilities and take meaningful action.” The awareness week forms part of Aico’s broader activity to support home life safety and assist housing organisations in improving living conditions across the UK. For more from Aico, click here.