UK to take on the world in plumbing and heating

A talented young plumbing and heating engineer has been chosen to represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011 in plumbing and heating.

Shane Trevitt, 22, who works for NG Bailey, was chosen to represent the UK after a tough four-day selection competition earlier this month. He will now step up his training to make sure that he is ready to compete at WorldSkills.

WorldSkills London 2011, which takes place at ExCeL from October 5-8, 2011, will be the world’s largest international skills competition with young people from across the globe competing to be the ‘best of the best’.

At the competition, 1000 competitors from over 50 countries will compete in 46 skill areas over four days. The event will also offer visitors impartial advice and guidance on careers and apprenticeships.

Skills minister, John Hayes, said: "Those representing the UK at WorldSkills will play a hugely important role in bringing the value of vocational skills and practical learning to national attention. I offer my warm support and congratulations to every member of the team.

 “To support the ambitions of young people everywhere in our country, we have created a record number of apprenticeships, and we are building the best skills training system we’ve ever had."

During WorldSkills London 2011, Shane will compete against the best from all over the world and they will be judged on their level of skill, accuracy and speed in completing projects.

From now until WorldSkills London 2011 in October, each competitor will be in training supported by a dedicated training manager. Their training will focus on preparing them for the WorldSkills environment by acclimatising them to working under time pressure and in competitive conditions.

Shane said: “It is a huge honour to have been selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011. I hope this opportunity will allow me to showcase how apprenticeships can lead to successful employment and career opportunities. I know the next few months will be tough as I will be in training for the event and I really hope the whole of the country gets behind Team UK for WorldSkills London 2011 like they do our sporting teams!”

The members of Team UK have been and will continue to be supported in their training by Edge, the independent education foundation, the Premier Supporter of Squad and Team UK and Brathay Trust, the Premier Training and Development Partner of Squad and Team UK. APHC also sponsors Team UK in plumbing.

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Female plumber named best local trader in London

Plumber Carrie Andrews has been named as the best local trader in London by recommendation website, Which? Local.

Based in Tulse Hill, Carrie, who runs Plummy Plumbers gained five star reviews and was praised by her customers for her “efficiency, thoroughness, and reliability”.

Reviewers also enthused about her friendly nature, with one commenting that she was “a pleasure to have in the house”.

More than 20,000 recommendations were made by Which? members for the Which? Local Business of the Year award. The award recognises local traders that provide a great service or go the extra mile for their customers.

Plummy Plumbers now joins seven other regional finalists for Which? Local Business of the Year. The overall winner will be announced on June 23 at the Which? Awards in London.

Pete Tynan, Which? Local manager, said: “Word of mouth counts for a lot when choosing a local trader, and the reviews on Which? Local show how much people value great local businesses.

“With a fantastic number of rave reviews from its customers, Plummy Plumbers is a worthy finalist for London. But of course, there can only be one overall winner, which we look forward to announcing at the awards ceremony in June.”

For plumbing supplies contact Energy Smart.

dodgy gas engineer tried to sneak out of court disguised as a WOMAN

A crooked gas fitter dressed-up in drag in a bid to sneak away court undetected.
Shamed Martyn Crute had just been fined £43,000 after a court heard that he carried-out dodgy installations without meeting safety standards.

But his attempt to avoid any negative publicity backfired spectacularly when he was spotted wearing a wig, dress and a pair of black high heels by a film crew from Anglia TV. 

What a drag: Crooked Crute tries to avoid the cameras after realising he's been rumbled
High-heeling it: But gas fitter Martyn Crute's attempt to disguise himself as a woman didn't fool the keen-eyed Anglia TV crew they filmed him as he shuffled out of Lincoln Crown Court and his antics subsequently appeared all over the TV news bulletins.

The Court heard employees of UK Oil and Gas Ltd, including director, Martyn Crute, carried out gas fittings and service pipework in several domestic properties between 23 February 2008 and 19 November 2008, despite not being registered with the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI).

The company, which operated shops called Embers in Horncastle and Sleaford and has since ceased trading, also installed two gas combination boilers in an unsafe manner potentially risking people's lives.
A large number of complaints were received about work UK Oil and Gas Limited undertook including from 14 rented properties and one from an elderly couple who had their boiler condemned - costing them hundreds of pounds to fix on top of the original installation costs of more than CB£2,000.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Martyn Crute for breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 while UK Oil and Gas Limited of Carre Street, Sleaford were charged with breaching three sections of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. 

Both parties pleaded guilty and were handed fines totalling £8,000.

Plumbing apprentice - 2011 SkillPLUMB competition

Calling all apprentices – the 2011 SkillPLUMB competition is looking for the industry’s most promising talent to be named the UK’s best plumber.

During the competition, organised by SummitSkills, entrants will be assessed on a series of challenging practical tests reflecting their day-to-day work. Regional heats will be held around the country, culminating in a grand final in September.

This year will see SkillPLUMB finalists competing side-by-side with those from SkillELECTRIC, SkillPIPE and SkillFRIDGE at a prestigious event that will also feature the UK final of construction competition SkillBUILD.

“Taking part in SkillPLUMB is not only highly motivational for employees but also drives them to achieve higher standards back in the workplace,” said Neil Collishaw, head of skills competitions and awards at SummitSkills. “Past competitors have gone on to become an even greater asset to their employers and a inspirational role model for their peers.”

Information sourced from Plumbzine.

For plumbing supplies including energy efficient boilers contact Energy Smart today.

EnergySmart goes mobile - order discounted boilers by text.

Energy Smart, in partnership with Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS), launched a new marketing campaign today which will change the way plumbers order boilers.  The SMS solution will enable plumbers to text Heat to 86688 at their standard network rate. This will prompt a phone call from one of our customer services advisors who will ensure the heating engineer gets the latest offer as well as processing their order within a matter of minutes.

The key advantages of this new campaign are that it takes the administration out of the ordering while offering instant savings.  The process also acknowledges the “on the road” nature of the job and will reduce time spent standing around in Merchants.

Mike Goldsmith, Managing Director of EnergySmart commented, “We are very pleased to launch this new customer-focussed approach to our plumbing customers and believe that it will save the installer time, therefore money and offer significant convenience.”

Energy Smart provides plumbing supplies and discounts on a range of high efficiency boilers and products promoting carbon emission reduction. Combine these savings with same day pick up from your local PTS branch or free next day delivery to an address of your choice and we believe we offer the best value on or off the web.

To find out more information, please contact: Redvers Paterson, t: 01376 531 531 or 07794 103 723.

For plumbing supplies, boilers prices including efficient products check out Energy Smart. Also follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/energysmartuk

Additional Notes:
Energy Smart is a campaign managed by CEN Services.  CEN is an environmental organisation delivering a range of services to engage householders, businesses and communities in environmental and social improvement.

We have a long track record of successful project delivery in energy and carbon management, energy efficiency, sustainable construction and design, sustainable travel and low carbon technologies. Founded in 1997, we now have over eighty employees in London and the South East, and are part of the Climate Energy group.

Our success is based on a partnership approach, and we work across the UK with local, regional and national government bodies as well as with commercial organisations and charitable groups.

Heating Plumbing Supplies Group now owned by staff

Heating Plumbing Supplies Group is now totally owned by the staff and management of the company with no outside shareholders.

The successful management buy out (MBO) follows the announcement of record sales and improved company profits for 2010.

Sales were £39.6 million in 2010 up from £33.3 million in 2009. Profits were up over 50% from £1.2 million in 2009 to £1.81 million in 2010.

Managing director, Ron Walker, said: “We are delighted to announce such excellent results and to have completed a successful management buyout of the company.

“We are especially pleased that 50% of our staff have taken the opportunity to invest in the company which reflects the amazing support and dedication the company enjoys from all its staff.

“We look forward to continuing the successful development of the company following our MBO and will continue to expand our branch network in the coming years where we can find the right people and suitable opportunities,” he said.


Sourced from Plumbzine

For plumbing supplies and boilers prices including efficient products check out Energy Smart. Also follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/energysmartuk

Biasi spearheads VAT scrappage campaign

Biasi UK has launched an online e-petition campaign to lobby the coalition Government to scrap VAT on all renewable products and high efficiency boilers.

Targeting those in the heating industry as well as professionals across all business sectors, the 'Scrap the VAT' campaign has evolved from the company's belief that one of the main barriers to the selection and installation of renewables and high efficiency boilers is down to the cost. By scrapping the VAT, these products will become more affordable and their use will become more widespread. In turn, this will result in reduced energy consumption and emissions as well as saving money on fuel bills for cash-strapped homeowners.

Biasi md Gren Ward said: "It is well known in the heating industry that boiler replacement is, for most people, a distress purchase and is not normally driven by a straightforward desire to upgrade and improve their heating provision. 

"If the Government is truly serious about encouraging uptake on these products to achieve our emissions targets and helping people to heat their homes in the most efficient and cost effective way possible, the best method of achieving this is to instantly remove the VAT on renewables and high efficiency boilers. The success of last year's boiler scrappage scheme demonstrated how such initiatives can make a big difference to people's thinking and purchase decision making.

"In addition, this would also have the knock-on effect of boosting the heating industry at a time when many of the public sector cuts are having such an impact on the trade.

"As well as installers and heating engineers, contractors, specifiers, merchants and the general public, we'd also encourage all our heating manufacturer colleagues and equipment suppliers to get involved in the Scrap the VAT campaign by signing up and spreading the word to encourage others to register their support."

According to the Energy Saving Trust, boilers account for around 60 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions from an average home heated by gas. It says that, by replacing an old G-rated with a new high efficiency boiler and using the latest heating controls, it is possible to reduce emissions and save the householder as much as £225 per year. In addition, use of a solar water heating system can reduce water heating bills by as much as £85 in a year; and solar PV can generate around 40 per cent of a household's annual electricity needs.

For more information on the scrap the VAT campaign and to sign the e-petition, go to www.scrapthevat.co.uk

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