The underfloor heating trade association, UHMA, saw its members vote for a new name and membership changes at the organisation.
Delegates representing 27 firms voted unanimously at the association's AGM to adopt statutes allowing the organisation to be called 'UHMA: The Trade Association for Surface Heating and Cooling'.

Members also voted to allow new categories of membership, including system designers and installers.

'For the first time, the association will represent the whole spectrum of our industry,' said chairman Chris Ingram, who was elected for another year in office.

'We've made huge progress over the course of 2009. We've managed to increase Membership - no mean feat in a recession! We've established working links with other trade bodies including the Heat Pump Association, The Ground Source Heat Pump Association, the Builders Merchants' Federation and the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council,' said Ingram.

Recently UHMA recognised a new training course specially developed by building services training provider Logic Certification. Ingram added: 'We've also taken steps to ensure that the demand for training in underfloor heating design and installation is finally being satisfied. Already well over 200 trainees have taken the special two-day course, which was developed under the auspices of BPEC in liaison with SummitSkills and UHMA'.

Chris Ingram will promote a new UHMA initiative aimed at training all counter staff in making the most of renewable energy in relation to underfloor heating. February will see UHMA's first exhibition display at the Manchester HEVAR show and will run its first major seminar on underfloor heating.