Family-run electrical contractor wins business award

Starkey Electrical, a family-run electrical contractor based in the West Midlands, was named ‘Electrical Contractor of the Year 2024/25’ at the Central England Prestige Awards in recognition of its positive reviews, testimonials, engagement with customers, and for having built up a loyal customer base in its local area of Stourbridge. The win marks the fourth consecutive award Starkey Electrical has received at the annual ceremony - which this year took place at Moor Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield on Monday, 26 May - and the second time the team has won in this category. The company, which was founded in 2009 by husband-and-wife team Stuart and Lisa Starkey, has also previously been awarded ‘Sustainable Electrician Company of the Year’ and ‘Electrician of the Year.’ Stuart Starkey, Managing Director at Starkey Electrical, comments, “To be recognised for an award once is a huge achievement, but four times is incredible. As a small company, we have always strived to provide a world-class, exceptional end-to-end customer service and, of course, do an excellent job in the process. “Our team continues to grow from strength to strength and this award is testament to the exceptional talent of our team, who always go above and beyond for our customers – a commitment that has now been recognised and rewarded four-fold. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on our journey over the past 16 years and continues to do so.”

CEFLive25 champions education, innovation, collaboration

CEFLive25, an event hosted by UK supplier of electrical products CEF, returned to the Birmingham NEC on 5 and 6 June 2025, drawing thousands of electrical professionals, suppliers, and manufacturers for two days of networking opportunities, CPD-accredited learning seminars, and exhibitions of technology shaping the future of the industry. A key focus of this year’s event was on driving progress across sustainability, skills development, and cross-industry collaboration. It included a packed agenda of TechTalks, expert-led panels, and practical demonstrations. Chris Ashworth, CEO of CEF, says, "Smaller suppliers need help and guidance. There’s a massive gap in sustainability support, and we’re stepping up to fill it - starting with webinars for over 70 suppliers and a growing programme to upskill the industry." A collaborative ethos extended across the event, with recognition that the industry can no longer operate in silos, with CEF calling for deeper cooperation between wholesalers, manufacturers, and the wider supply chain. Chris continues, "We take our role as experts seriously. Our business and our industry must remain professional and prepared. This is a dynamic sector, and we’re here to help everyone—from apprentices to seasoned pros—navigate the change.” CEFLive also highlighted investments in education and training, addressing fast-changing regulations, a national skills shortage, and the need for ongoing professional development. The TechTalks returned, with over 12,000 attendees participating across the two days, and CEF unveiled the launch of a new online learning platform offering CPD-accredited content and live sessions for remote learning. “This isn’t about a defined ROI—it’s just the right thing to do,” concludes Chris. “When you get the best people in every discipline working together, great things happen. CEFLive25 proves that.” For more from CEFLive25, click here.

Baxi to showcase products at InstallerSHOW

Baxi, a heating and hot water systems manufacturer, will be exhibiting on stand 5F42 at InstallerSHOW 2025, the heating industry’s largest event, which takes place this year at Birmingham’s NEC from 24 to 26 June. Among other products, there will be the chance to see the company’s newly launched, pre-wired and pre-plumbed Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) cylinder which is fully compatible with Baxi’s residential ASHP range. For those installers considering branching out into heat pump installation, Baxi’s renewable experts will be on the stand to discuss how the company may be able help them along the journey. Baxi’s range of residential boilers - including combi, system, heat only, and electric models - will also be on display. The boilers will be positioned alongside the compatible Megaflo Eco cylinders, controls, and accessories, including the uSense 2 smart room thermostat. Providing a special attraction for boxing fans, visitors to the stand are invited to meet and compete with heavyweight boxing champion Lewis Williams, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and rising star in professional British boxing. Those adventurous enough to challenge the champ’s swing in a competition are in with a chance of winning VIP tickets to see Lewis live in action at an upcoming fixture. Installers will additionally have the opportunity to see a full ASHP system configuration on the stand, as developed by Baxi’s Packaged Solution team for Travis Perkins’ WholeHouse digital platform. For heating professionals working on commercial and light commercial projects, there will also be the opportunity to see and inspect the new ‘Remeha by Baxi’ Quinta Ace and Quinta Ace S series of wall-hung commercial boilers. These commercial technologies will all be showcased on the Baxi stand along with the new Baxi AquaHeat Heat Interface Unit (HIU). BESA 2023 v3 registered, the AquaHeat units are electronically controlled, facilitating remote monitoring, commissioning, and troubleshooting. Rob Pearse, Residential Business Director at Baxi, says, “Our number one goal with InstallerSHOW is to give installers a chance to see everything that’s available to them, from our comprehensive solutions to wraparound support. Our priority is to make things easy for our customers by offering reliable, intuitive, and future-ready heating solutions backed by the training and advice needed to take full advantage of them. Whatever the project, we want our customers to know that they can always rely on us for high-quality, energy-efficient, and sustainable heating solutions with superior support. Put simply, we want them to know that at every stage of the project, we’ve got their back.” For more from Baxi, click here.

Acrospire delivers solar lighting for Hampton Beach

Hampton Beach, a newly developed community in Peterborough by Barratt Redrow (including Barratt and David Wilson Homes), has been designed to balance modern convenience with sustainability. Situated around the picturesque Teardrop Lake, the development provides residents with scenic views, expansive green spaces, and access to essential amenities. With Barratt Redrow’s stated commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, sustainability was a key factor in shaping the infrastructure of Hampton Beach. To support these environmental goals, Acrospire, a British manufacturer of exterior LED lighting systems, in partnership with GM Briton, was chosen to provide an energy-efficient street lighting solution. The project aimed to install low-carbon, off-grid lighting that would enhance visibility, improve safety, and align with the sustainable ambitions of the housebuilder. Acrospire supplied and installed Defender solar luminaires. Specifically designed for the UK market, Defender was selected for its performance, delivering up to 10,285 lumens and offering up to five nights of autonomy on a single charge. The solar lighting installation seeks to reduce Hampton Beach’s carbon footprint while providing bright, evenly distributed illumination across footpaths and communal areas. By operating independently of the power grid, these luminaires should help lower long-term energy costs, eliminate the need for trenching and cabling, and reduce ongoing maintenance requirements. James Brooker, Area Sales Manager at Acrospire, comments, "With today’s astronomical electricity costs, solar lighting solutions like the Defender make perfect sense for new build developments. By removing the need for trenching and wiring, they pay for themselves quickly — offering a long-term, environmentally friendly investment with no ongoing energy costs. The ability to deliver high-quality lighting without relying on the grid is a game-changer for housebuilders looking to meet their sustainability targets while keeping operational expenses low." A spokesperson at Barratt and David Wilson Homes, says, “We are delighted to work with Acrospire to provide energy efficient street lighting at our Hampton Beach developments. Finding more sustainable ways of living is a priority for us as a leading housebuilder, and we are pleased to be making strides to becoming net zero.” For more from Acrospire, click here.

Government must go further with solar, says expert

Following the government’s proposal of rooftop solar being mandated for new homes, a renewable energy and solar expert is warning that policy must go further to address energy for commercial buildings. Damian Baker, Founder and Managing Director of RenEnergy (a British renewable energy company), says, “While it is good to see solar being mandated for new homes to support homeowners with lowering bills, the government is not solving the issue of energy costs for commercial buildings and the high-energy industries that use them. “Commercial premises use significantly more energy than homes, and rising energy costs for businesses continue to pose a challenge as the economic landscape remains uncertain. Solar production can provide a significant opportunity for businesses to take back control of their energy, particularly when it comes to installing solar car ports in car parks. “Car parks for buildings such as supermarkets and retail parks, offices, hotels, golf clubs, train stations, and airports can introduce significant savings on energy costs, and surplus energy can be sold back to the grid, significantly reduce their operating costs, improve margins, and potentially pass on energy savings to consumers in the form of lower prices. “In turn, car ports on commercial premises can provide much-needed, large-scale EV charging infrastructure that can boost the uptake of electric vehicles, particularly for homes with no driveway. “Most importantly, car ports offer the potential for the UK to significantly improve its energy security and reduce reliance on the already overstretched electricity grid, with solar carports able to gain planning approval within eight weeks under permitted development with prior approval. “We believe the potential is enormous with RenEnergy’s own ongoing research already identifying over 629,000 suitable parking spaces and counting that could provide over 1,456 GWh of solar energy per year. The government has called for evidence on their viability, but it is already clear that there is opportunity to produce significant solar energy to benefit British businesses and, in turn, the public. Now is the time to build on this residential mandate and get serious about solar production for commercial premises to improve energy security and lower costs for all.” For more from RenEnergy, click here.

elementalLONDON announces partnership with ADE

elementalLONDON, a debut show from the team behind InstallerSHOW, has announced the formation of a partnership with ADE: Heat Networks. With the ethos of ‘advancing the efficiency of buildings,’ elementalLONDON says it will deliver an event founded on the wants and needs of its audience and combining insight with practical understanding of the challenges faced by professionals in the heating and cooling, water, air, and energy space. The show will involve a two-day conference and exhibition programme to over 4,000 specifiers from across the built environment industry. The partnership seeks to enable elementalLONDON and ADE: Heat Networks to work together to advocate on the priorities for the UK in achieving net zero. ADE: Heat Networks’ industry news and views on driving the decarbonisation of heat and energy will be shared with elementalLONDON’s network of professionals from across the built environment. ADE: Heat Networks will also have a key presence within the exhibition at elementalLONDON and will be contributing to the live programme at the event. ADE: Heat Networks member companies will be invited to attend the event and to showcase their solutions for decarbonising energy systems. Tom Wilson, Business Development Officer at ADE: Heat Networks, comments, “ADE: Heat Networks is very excited to be a part of elementalLONDON this year. Future proofing our buildings by decarbonising British heat and empowering energy users to take control of their energy use will be essential to driving towards Net Zero in the UK. We look forward to meeting with all the elementalLONDON participants to collaborate on this mission.” Felicity Reese, elementalLONDON Partnerships Manager, adds, “We are thrilled to agree this partnership with ADE: Heat Networks and to have its support for elementalLONDON. Engaging users and investing in energy efficiency and low carbon heat are key priorities if we are to truly decarbonise our built environment industry and advance the efficiency of buildings. We look forward to welcoming their members to Excel London in November 2025 and beyond.” For more from elementalLONDON, click here.

KNIPEX introduces new Self-Adjusting Crimping Pliers

KNIPEX, a German manufacturer of professional hand tools, has introduced its Self-Adjusting Crimping Pliers as a tool for electricians in time-constrained conditions. Engineered for crimping wire ferrules up to 16 mm², including twin ferrules up to 2 x 6 mm² or 2 x AWG 12, these crimping pliers are designed to automatically adjust to the cross-section of the wire ferrule size. A square compression aims to ensure uniform crimps that meet DIN 46228 parts 1 and 4, and the pliers are UL approved when used with KNIPEX ferrules. The pliers have lateral access to be able to reach into confined spaces like control panels and distribution boards and still crimp. According to the manufacturer, they have an efficient lever action and the ratchet mechanism has been designed to ensure consistent crimping pressure. The product weighs less than 500g and is chrome plated with multi-component handles. For more from KNIPEX, click here.

Honeywell unveils AI-powered building management

Honeywell, an American multinational conglomerate specialising in aerospace systems, building technologies, performance materials, and safety solutions, has announced the launch of Honeywell Connected Solutions, an AI-powered platform that integrates critical building software and technologies into a single interface. The platform's early adopters – Verizon Communications and Vanderbilt University – have already begun using the solution in their buildings. The product, which is built on Honeywell Forge, allows building operators to manage Honeywell software, systems, and devices through an integrated interface. When a building or campus is fully connected, users should gain real-time visibility into how critical systems are operating, alongside insights on how to troubleshoot challenges that may arise. Users, which can include facility managers, multi-site operators, and integrators, can connect to the platform with an AI-enabled installation process. The system seeks to address some key issues facing buildings today through: • Advanced encryption - to help safeguard against cyberthreats. • Remote monitoring and diagnostics - to help to reduce labour time and cost. • Predictive maintenance prompts - to spot and address issues before they escalate. • Energy-management solutions - to support decarbonisation efforts. "From aging buildings and rising downtime costs to skilled labour shortages and growing cyber guidelines, building owners and operators face a complex landscape of global trends that are constantly making operations more complex and costly. To address this, Honeywell's Connected Solutions allows building managers to link critical building software, technologies, and devices together to streamline management and compliance and help protect uptime," says Billal Hammoud, President and Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell's Building Automation segment. "Honeywell's Connected Solutions is an innovative platform offering the tools to use real-time data and AI-driven insights to help us optimise our buildings," comments Alex Kohnen, Chief Facilities Officer at Vanderbilt University. "We look forward to creating a better ecosystem for our students, faculty, and staff." For more from Honeywell, click here.

Ansell Lighting introduces new Avio and Tauro bollards

Ansell Lighting, a lighting designer and manufacturer, has unveiled two new additions to its bollards range: Avio and Tauro. With multiple outdoor settings including commercial, healthcare, education, hospitality, and retail ancillary in mind, Avio and Tauro have been designed for installations such as large car parks, high-level feature perimeter lighting, emergency lighting, and parks. Both the 930mm x 170mm Avio and slightly taller, 1040mm x 170mm Tauro offer interchangeable heads with a half-shield lens option to provide single direction output. Additionally, both come with an AFIX IP connector (and optional root mounting kit) and a head shields accessory. The integrated CCT and wattage switches are housed within the removable head of the bollards. Adler rotational legends also remove the need to stock multiples. Avio and Tauro are die-cast, aluminium bollards with a textured graphite finish. They have IP66 and IK08 ratings and a L80, 77,000 hour lifespan, alongside a five-year warranty. Available in black and silver/grey, they are OCTO compatible, CCT selectable between 3000K and 4000K, and power selectable, offering a choice of four outputs in one luminaire, as well as delivering a light source of up to 120lm/W. Mark Abbott, Managing Director at Ansell Lighting, says, “With Avio and Tauro, we have created the complete package – versatile, installer-aware, and providing the ultimate in reliability while meeting illumination requirements and visual comfort needs within outdoor environments.” For more from Ansell Lighting, click here.

Domus Ventilation ducting installed at York aparthotel

Ducting from Domus Ventilation, a manufacturer of ventilation systems, has been installed at a new, luxury aparthotel in one of York’s most architecturally renowned streets, Micklegate, as part of the Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system installed throughout the new development. Situated within York’s central historic core conservation area, Micklegate has been designed with a contemporary interpretation of the medieval streetscape. A new addition to the Supercity Aparthotel portfolio, it features 46 apartment suites designed for luxury, practicality, and comfort, along with a ground floor restaurant and bar. The MVHR system in place extracts stale air and transfers the heat from it to the fresh air drawn into the building. Pairing with this, Domus Ventilation ducting has exacting tolerances and connects together, aiming for minimal air and moisture loss. The ducting has been designed to work in harmony as part of a system and has been third-party tested. Domus 204x60 Rigid Duct and fittings have been used throughout the new Micklegate aparthotel, along with Domus sound attenuators. The latter absorbs sound over a range of audible frequencies travelling through ductwork - such as the MVHR fan, external traffic noise, or room-to-room-cross talk. York-based M&E contractor J. H. Shouksmith & Sons is a long-standing Domus Ventilation customer and was responsible for specifying and installing Domus Ventilation ducting on this project. Senior Contracts Manager of the company, Carl Turner, comments, “We always use Domus ducting on any contract we undertake due to the ease of installation and the large mixture of fittings available.” Domus Ventilation manufactures its ventilation products for the domestic and light commercial building industry from its production facilities in South Wales. For more from Domus, click here.