News

New APHC president seeks to improve industry training and calls for an increase in prosecutions for defective gas work

markantrobus

In his inaugural speech as the President of the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors, Mark Antrobus, outlined his key priorities for improving the quality of new entrants and changes in how the gas registration body operates.

Are chiller pumps hiking up your energy bills?

"Pump operation accounts for 20% of all energy use in Europe”

 Once a pump system has been installed, it’s tempting to leave it to its own devices. The equipment can run just fine for years without much observation. But inefficient chiller pumps can be a prime cause of waste: burning energy and putting a premium on your bills.

 “It’s not a commonly known fact, but pump operation accounts for 20% of all energy use in Europe,” says Bradley Ford, of pump experts Dura Pump. “And it’s true that chiller pumps are some of the worst culprits for inefficiency. We’ve made it something of a mission to make people aware of that, and to help companies cut that waste right down.”

F & P opens New Bedford distribution warehouse to increase customer service capability

fpman

 

F & P, Primaflow and Connections has officially opened its new Southern regional distribution centre in Bedford, scaled to serve customers in the midlands and south of the UK, and make over 3,000 products available for next-day delivery.

The new site – a multi-million-pound investment – forms a core part of F & P’s corporate strategy to deliver greater value to customers through shortened delivery timeframes and improved stock range and availability.

F & P Managing Director, Jed Kenrick, says:

'Customers put price first', according to new tradespeople study

hamuch

More than half of tradespeople (56%) have revealed that the most common question they are asked by customers is based on the cost of their services, according to research into the industry.

In a poll of tradespeople, ranging from electricians, plumbers and heating engineers to builders and gardeners, it was also revealed that just over a fifth of customers were most interested in availability (21%), with the range of services they provide being the third most common question asked (6%).

Other common questions asked by customers included whether the tradesperson could provide references (5%), the source of their materials (5%), if they are a family firm (4%) and if they used apprentices (3%).

The Evolution of Ground Source Heating

Heating

Kensa’s Evo Series Secures UK Release

 

The widely anticipated ErP A++ rated Evo series of ground source heat pumps from British manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps has received full MCS accreditation enabling its UK wide distribution via Kensa and its installer network.

 

Having recently been confirmed as the UKs largest supplier of ground source heat pumps for the fifth year running (BSRIA 2017), the Kensa Evo series is described as a ‘transformative and evolutionary’ tribute to its predecessor, the Kensa Compact series, which has been supplied to thousands of properties since its launch in 2002.

 

North East heating bosses in the running for prestigious awards

North East heating bosses

Two North East-based heating and plumbing entrepreneurs are in the running for prestigious Institute of Directors (IoD) awards.

John Savage, Managing Director and founder of trade supplies merchant Flame Heating Spares, and Phil Pallister, Managing Director of 0800 Repair Gas, have been shortlisted in two categories at the 2017 IoD Yorkshire and North East Director of the Year Awards.

John, who is the current IoD North East Young Director of the Year, is a finalist in the Director of the Year Award (SME Company) category, while Phil is up for the Young Director of the Year Award.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Principal York Hotel on July 5.

Sentinel is Centre of Excellence for Builders Merchants Federation

Sentinel group

Sentinel’s state-of-the-art training facility, which is located within the company’s substantial headquarters in Daresbury, Cheshire, has been awarded Centre of Excellence status by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF). The modern space will be used to host builders’merchants, including specialist plumbing and heating merchants, attending regional BMF events, which deliver support in areas such as training and development, business advice, and policy representation. 

 

HomeServe Membership saddles up for new five-year partnership with Walsall Football Club

Football

Walsall-based UK home assistance provider boosts its support for its home town club, extending its status as principal partner until the 2021/2022 season

 

New deal includes shirt branding for the next five years as well as other itinerary

 

Walsall-based home assistance provider HomeServe Membership has put pen to paper on a new deal to continue as the principal partner of Walsall Football Club for the next five years.

 

The deal will see the club’s new 2017/18 shirt, which will be unveiled in June, adorned with HomeServe branding on the front and back as well as other itinerary.

 

Plumb Center launches first commercial online hub

Plumb Center website

Plumb Center has launched a dedicated commercial plumbing and heating section on its website designed to make life easier for installers looking for commercial-grade products and helpful advice.

The site, which features more than 2,500 products and growing, has been launched in response to customers asking for more sector-specific products to be all in one place. The hub also allows Plumb Centerto collate the branch network’s extensive knowledge and commercial insight into one, regularly updated hub with best practice advice on the following sectors; education, healthcare, hotels and leisure, office and retail, security, and sports and fitness.