For those who have already embarked on the journey to become a qualified plumber, the next step is to secure a fulfilling and rewarding career in this essential trade. With the demand for skilled plumbers consistently high, there are so many opportunities for those with the right skills and experience.
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A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one place to another using a refrigeration cycle. It can be used to heat or cool buildings, and it is a very efficient way to do so. Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, as they are a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to heat and cool homes.
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The electrical industry in the UK has historically been male-dominated, but that is gradually changing. Today, women are making more significant contributions to the field. According to a recent report by the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA), women now make up 1% of the electrical workforce in the UK. This is a small number, but it represents a significant increase from just a few years ago. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the proportion of women working as electricians in the UK has increased from 0.6% in 2011 to 1.2% in 2022.
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If you are new to working on a job site, or if you have recently started, you may have some questions about how things work. This blog article will answer some of the most common job site FAQs.
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For many Educators, the decision to leave the teaching profession can be a difficult one. However, for some, it may be the right step towards a fulfilling and rewarding career in the trades.
If you’re an ex-teacher in the UK looking for an alternative career path, there are many job opportunities available. With a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the UK, there's never been a better time to consider this path.
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Gas Safe Register has released a new technical bulletin (TB 162) that advises on the rationale behind a change to the 2-minute gas rate (heat input) check for domestic installations with metric (ultrasonic and diaphragm) gas metres.
Traditionally, gas engineers have conducted gas rating checks over a 2-minute period. However, Gas Safe Register has now stated that this can be completed in just 1 minute, reducing the time and cost of the check for both engineers and customers.
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A new survey [1] has found that UK homeowners are losing an average of £1,885 a year by failing to carry out essential home maintenance jobs. The most common tasks that people put off include fixing a leaking toilet, having gas appliances serviced and safety checked annually, and clearing damp or mould.
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Renewable energy installations are soaring in the UK, with heat pumps and solar panels leading the way.
More renewable energy installations were fitted in the first half of 2023 than in any other six-month period before, according to industry standards body MCS, with heat pumps and solar panels being the most popular technologies. Over 20,000 households installed solar panels every month, and heat pumps reached a record of 3,000 monthly installations. June 2023 alone saw more renewable energy installations than in any six-month period in recent history, with battery technologies particularly popular. This
Wales has taken the lead in renewable energy installations per household, overtaking Scotland for the first time since 2021.
Despite Scotland having around twice the number of households, MCS and housing data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that a higher proportion of Welsh homes are reaping the benefits of renewable technologies.
As of April 2023, the proportion of renewable energy installations across the UK was:
- 7.24% in Wales
- 7.23% in Scotland
- 5.52% in England
- 4.19% in Northern Ireland
More needs to be done to reach current net zero targets.
Ian Rippin, chief executive of MCS, commented: "As the cost of energy continues to rise, more people are turning to renewable technology to generate their own energy and heat at home. We need to continue to support this expansion to meet our shared national ambitions to reach net zero by 2050."
"More consumers have the confidence to invest in small-scale renewables now than ever before, but we need to make that transition even easier."
Conclusion
The boom in renewable energy installations is a positive sign that the UK is moving towards a more sustainable future. However, more needs to be done to reach current net zero targets. The government can support this by providing financial incentives for people to invest in renewable energy technologies and by making it easier for people to install these technologies.
You can view the latest MCS figures in full here
Tool Theft: A Major Problem for Tradespeople in the UK
Tool theft is a major problem for tradespeople in the UK. In 2022, there were over 40,000 tool thefts reported, with an average value of £4,470.50 per theft. This means that tradespeople are losing over £100 million worth of tools each year.
Tool theft has a significant impact on tradespeople's businesses. It can lead to lost income, increased insurance costs, and damage to reputation. In some cases, tradespeople may even be forced to close their businesses altogether.
There are a number of things that tradespeople can do to protect themselves from tool theft More...