News Archive - December 2011
FiT legal challenge reflects employer concerns, says SummitSkills
23 December 2011
The foundations of a growing solar PV industry have been seriously shaken by the decision to cut the Feed-in Tariff, SummitSkills has told Government in its feedback to the FiTs consultation, ending on 23 December.
Senior Hargreaves appoints two new sales persons
22 December 2011
Senior Hargreaves has appointed Gary Parslow business development manager and Terry Smith to look after the east London Ductshop trade counter business in Rainham.
Quick Guide to CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme
22 December 2011
Tighter guides will protect Apprenticeship badge
22 December 2011
Tighter guidelines around the length of apprenticeships and the lowering of barriers facing SMEs will help the route to employment, says EAL.
ESB Novusmodus leads £12m investment in Geothermal International
22 December 2011
ESB Novusmodus has invested £8.6 million in Geothermal International along with other investors, including SSE Ventures, for new shares totalling £3.5m.
Registration is now live for HEVAR 2012
22 December 2011
Registration for HEVAR the national exhibition for the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration industry, has now gone live.
Robinson Willey launches new website
22 December 2011
Robinson Willey, has launched a new website,
www.robinsonwilley.co.uk. The company says it reflects the recent growth of the the company following its acquisition by the GDC Group, the UK heating division of Glen Dimplex.
Warnings have come from two parliamentary committees that planned Government changes to solar power subsidies may be fatal for the industry.
Muelink & Grol rebrand as M&G Group
19 December 2011
Flue gas systems manufacturer, Muelink & Grol has changed its name to M&G Group Flue Systems UK Limited.
Balfour Beatty JV wins £414m gas networks contract
19 December 2011
In a joint venture with CLG Developments, Balfour Beatty has been awarded a £414 million contract by Bord Gais Networks in the Republic of Ireland.
Glenigan reports 10% fall in construction starts
16 December 2011
Construction project starts are down 10 per cent, but civil engineering project starts for the three months to November are up by 61 per cent, according to the latest Glenigan Index.
Walter Meier appoints new humidification CEO
15 December 2011
Oliver Zimmermann has been appointed as the new CEO to the Division Humidification of the Walter Meier Group.
Eurovent identifies the energy saving potential
15 December 2011
Eurovent, the European Committee of Air Handling and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers, has issued a document highlighting its position on the energy saving potential of efficient air filtration and duct systems.
British Gas acquires remaining 81% stake in Econergy
15 December 2011
British Gas has acquired the remaining 81 per cent of Econergy for £6.5 million in cash, adding to its existing 19 per cent holding.
Space Air appoints new sales director
14 December 2011
Space Air has appointed Peter Selmes as regional sales director for London and the Home Counties.
ABB launches energy calculator App
12 December 2011
ABB has launched a free energy calculator application (App) for the BlackBerry.
Buying British will help the industry says Heatrae Sadia
12 December 2011
Heatrae Sadia believes that even in economically difficult times it's important to remain focused on home-grown products.
Fujitsu appoints new technical support engineer
09 December 2011
FG Eurofred has appointed Amrit Thandi as technical support engineer.
BSS Industrial appoints new regional sales director
09 December 2011
BSS Industrial has appointed Andy Lenton to the role of regional sales director for the Southern region.
Kershaw beats competition to win tennis contract
09 December 2011
Kershaw Mechanical Services has won the £700,000 contract to install full mechanical services to the new Edgbaston International Tennis Centre.
Flogas appoints graduate in Leicester
09 December 2011
LPG supplier Flogas has recruited graduate Judith Makin to its team at the company's Leicester head office.
Major co awareness programme launched to tackle gas safety
09 December 2011
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Gas Safe Charity have launched a major new programme to raise awareness of carbon monoxide (CO) which will see 10,000 families receive a free CO detector and many more get safety information.
HVCA to change its name
09 December 2011
The Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association (HVCA) is changing its name to the Building & Engineering Services Association from March 1, 2012.
Hitachi ARG appoints two new managers
08 December 2011
Hitachi Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ARG) has appointed two new managers to improve direct sales and distribution management.
Welplan warns of auto-enrolment delay
08 December 2011
The pension reform auto-enrolment delay could do more harm than good if employers don't take action now, according to pensions provider Welplan.
JS Wright makes three new London appointments
08 December 2011
Building services provider JS Wright has appointed three new members of staff in the South East.
Industry urged to go 'Deep Green'
08 December 2011
Skanska UK's president and chief executive Mike Putnam, has called for a 'deep green society' at the JCT Povey Lecture.
JCT launches sustainability life cycle consultation
08 December 2011
The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has launched a consultation to gain views from the property and construction industries about building life cycle matters in the context of sustainability and building contracts.
Online registration now open for HEVAR 2012
08 December 2011
HEVAR 2012, the UK's national heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration exhibition is now open for
registration online.
Warwickshire County Council has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive after a self-employed heating contractor lost most of two fingers in poorly guarded machinery.
Council fined for carbon monoxide leak at community centre
05 December 2011
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has been fined for a carbon monoxide leak from a gas boiler at a community centre.
Underfloor heating on the up and up
02 December 2011
A new report on the electric underfloor heating market from MTW Research claims that growth will return to the industry in mid-2012, with real term rises from early 2013 as product development and volume demand stimulate sales in the sector, following a relatively lacklustre 2011.
Green Deal Skills Alliance secures £1.4m to help firms go green
02 December 2011
The Green Deal Skills Alliance - a partnership of SummitSkills, Asset Skills and ConstructionSkills - has secured £1.4m to help employers take advantage of commercial opportunities around the low carbon agenda.
81 per cent rise in energy bills predicted by 2021
02 December 2011
Power Efficiency, a Balfour Beatty company specialising in energy management and carbon consultancy, claims in a new report that energy costs have increased by 77 per cent since 2004 and are expected to rise a further 81 per cent over the coming decade.
EIC opens new Bristol office
01 December 2011
National building services provider EIC has relocated its Bristol offices to the Avonmouth area. The company says its new 2,000 sq ft premises, which form part of EIC's national network of 13 regional offices, will also allow it to continue to service long-term clients in the region such as North Somerset Council with whom it has a three-year hard services planned and reactive maintenance contract.
Flogas expands call centre
01 December 2011
LPG gas supplier Flogas has expanded its call centre with the appointment of 15 new members of staff and the installation of the latest in call-handling technology.
Wilo appoints new sales director
01 December 2011
Pump manufacturer Wilo UK has appointed Richard Harden as sales director UK (Building Services).
Henderson Green launches new 'academy'
01 December 2011
Henderson Green, a south coast building services consultancy, has launched a new 'academy' to support new recruits and promote movement within the organisation.
ACR News Awards deadline extended
01 December 2011
The deadline for submitting entries for the annual awards event for the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, the ACR News Awards 2012 has been extended from 30th November until Tuesday, 3 January, 2012.
Systemair buys Airwell's Italian factory
01 December 2011
Swedish ventilation company Systemair has agreed to acquire the Italian factory operated by French air conditioning company Airwell.
Kensa launch GSHP installer videos
01 December 2011
Kensa's Installer Partner Programme has launched a series of videos designed to help installers.
Panasonic adds to UK team
01 December 2011
Air conditioning supplier Panasonic has recruited three more people.
Advanced Air appoints engineering manager
01 December 2011
Air distribution system manufacturer Advanced Air has appointed Gerry Butler as engineering manager. In this role, he will focus on new product developments, including many additions to its fan coil range.
Win an iPad 2 with Xpelair
01 December 2011
Xpelair Ventilation Solutions is offering contractors the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win an iPad 2, with purchases of qualifying products from Xpelair's range of fans.
Construction outlook bright as growth predicted
01 December 2011
The Chancellor's Autumn Statement which has sought to build confidence in the wake of the Eurozone crisis has been greeted with mixed reviews.
Venue announced for 2012 H&V Review Awards
01 December 2011
The 2012 H&V Review Awards for Excellence will be held at
St Paul's Grange Hotel in London on October 10, 2012.