Archive for April, 2022

Tesla UK are once again exhibiting at Installer show 2022 with a bigger and better stand than ever before, more space, more products, more conversations.

Tesla UK would like to welcome you all to stand F152 where you will be greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable member of our team, who will be happy to demonstrate the latest innovative products and plumbing solutions to come out of the Tesla stable.

Traditional ranges such as our immersion heater and gas hoses will be proudly on display as always and we welcome all conversations and questions. As a proud UK manufacturer our gas hoses boast patented fire safe features to keep homeowners safe in the event of a fire – don’t forget to ask us how.

Come over to see our exciting new product ranges such as the updated and improved TeslaTun dry trap tundish and the vFlow, the most competitively priced PRV termination point on the market. We will also be using the Installer platform to officially launch and give installer a sneak peek into the hugely anticipated neXgen draw off cock range which will be on sale during the show at exclusive promotional prices.

The T-Smart range continues to go from strength to strength and after much market feedback we are now able to launch the much requested top mounted variant. Be sure to stop by our stand to get hands on with the product and to see demonstrations of the products many features and benefits. With the rise in energy bills and peoples heightened interest in greener energies and smarter energy consumption, find out why T-Smart is the next generation of immersion heater and can help homeowners achieve these energy savings.

We will be trading on the day so be sure to stop by the stand and grab yourself a bargain on our trade counter, we look forward to another successful show full of conversation and market feedback, see you there!

Tickets to InstallerSHOW are FREE. Click here to get yours.

The Metex Team are excited to exhibit at the Installer Show this year (you can find us at stall L133) and meet the installers and retailers using our products – here’s what we’ve got planned:

To start, we’re demonstrating a pair of simple and innovative tools designed to make chamfering and cutting pipes on site quick, safe and easy. Sturdy, compact and handy, PipeGrip supports and clamps one end of a 110mm or 160mm PVC pipe even on uneven ground, while Chamf simply mounts onto a regular power drill and chamfers a 110mm pipe safely in 15 seconds, removing the need for laborious filing or risky angle grinding. If you pop over to our stall you can see these two in action!

And if prying open manhole covers on site is driving you nuts, come get acquainted with our Unikey universal manhole cover lifting key set and see how it works in practice – poking around with screwdrivers or crowbars will be a thing of the past!

For retailers, we’re showcasing our innovative fixing kits with their unique education board. The fixings education board takes away any guesswork for installers when choosing a fixing, by clearly showing fixings, wall types and applications at a glance, saving you valuable time when speaking to installers.

Apart from our iconic Corefix fixings, widely recognised as the ‘go to’ fixing for dot & dab walls, the fixing kits include a wide variety of Cobra fixings – Cobra Anchors have been manufacturing high-quality fixings for various wall materials in the North American market since 1973 and we’re looking forward to showing just how versatile they can be!

If you’re looking to take away more than just info and inspiration, we’re also doing a couple of HOT show day offers, with two different fixings combos worth £40 for only £25, together with a free bottle of Metex chilli sauce to tickle your taste buds!

We’re more than happy to not only chat about our products, but we also want to hear about your needs and any issues you’ve encountered, as solving customers’ problems is what we come to work for!

If you want to chat later on or have any questions you forgot to ask, you can always reach us on 0800 130 3646 or find us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn!

Tickets to InstallerSHOW are FREE. Click here to get yours.

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers (WCoP) is working with a number of trade and professional bodies to focus on Apprenticeships for the Future at this year’s Installer Show, which is set to take place at the NEC, Birmingham, between 21 and 23 June.  

Industry organisations working alongside the WCoP include: APHC, BESA, BPEC, City & Guilds, CIPHE, JIB, SNIPEF and WRAS, with representatives from each attending the event to kick-off a programme of activity based around recognising and developing the next generation of plumbing and heating professionals. 

As well as highlighting the variety of career paths available in the plumbing and heating sector for young and retrained people, the WCoP will be presenting numerous apprenticeship and industry awards throughout the exhibition. In particular, Master of the WCoP, Nicholas Jones, will be in attendance on Apprentice Day (Thursday 23 June) to present this year’s Bursary Awards.  

The WCoP’s tools and equipment Bursary scheme has been running for over 20 years, and is designed to help students working towards S/NVQ Level 3 MES (Plumbing) or equivalent to purchase essential kit that can otherwise prove costly alongside studies. The Company usually considers Bursaries of up to £1,000 for plumbing students, which is awarded in the form of vouchers for equipment (which is sponsored by Monument Tools and City & Guilds). 

To be considered for a financial award, students are encouraged to apply direct to the WCoP but must have a reference from their lecturer or employer. Professional bodies are also encouraged to support students who, in their opinion, meet the criteria and would therefore merit consideration as a possible recipient of a Bursary. 

In addition, the WCoP will also present Certificates of Excellence to the winners of last year’s Installer Merit Awards, winners of BPEC’s Awards for Excellence for 2021 and the HIP Learner of the Year in 2022. 

Richard Soper CBE, Chair of the WCoP’s Education and Technical Committee, said: “As we put the pandemic behind us and look to the future, it is great to be able to step back and celebrate people’s personal and professional achievements.  

“Having negotiated three periods of national lockdown, the plumbing and heating industry has continued to support local communities throughout, protecting vulnerable individuals in the process. It is only right that we take a moment to reflect and recognise the tremendous effort made by so many students, apprentices and professional installers during this time.      

“Being one of the most ancient of the Livery Companies of the City of London, the Worshipful Company of Plumbers has served the craft of plumbing continuously for over 650 years. It was founded to promote and maintain high standards of craftsmanship and business conduct, so being able to award a number of Certificates of Excellence this year, as well as continuing the Bursary scheme, is an important aspect of bringing this ethos through to 2022 and beyond.”  

Mike Costain, Managing Director at Lyrical Communications who are organising the show, commented: “Following the success of last year’s in-person event, we are excited to welcome WCoP and other experts to our new home at the NEC in June. We’re also extremely proud to play our part in supporting the next generation of plumbing and heating engineers by creating an opportunity to celebrate industry excellence and individual achievements.” 

For more information about the WCoP and how to apply for a Bursary, please visit the website www.plumberscompany.org.uk

Tickets to InstallerSHOW are FREE. Register to attend here.

We’re delighted to announce that the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has partnered with elemental UK to bring its industry knowledge and a host of informative in-person sessions to InstallerSHOW in June.

BESA’s CEO David Frise, said of the partnership: “The route to net zero is hugely important for BESA and its members, so partnering with elemental at InstallerSHOW is a natural choice for us. We’re looking forward to delivering an industry-leading programme of content over the three days of the show, and talking to a wide audience of building services engineers and beyond.”

Lucy Dixon, elemental UK’s head of content, said: “We’re thrilled to have BESA on board – the partnership will allow our visitors to access even more superb educational content at the show, covering everything from smart homes and renewables to ventilation and healthy buildings. It really is a must-attend event for built environment professionals tasked with managing the decarbonisation of our buildings.”

The BESA theatre at elemental will be home to a selection of sessions, aimed at building engineers and those seeking to further their professional knowledge, enhance their skills and ensure they remain fully qualified and competent in an environment of fast-moving changes and directives.

Sessions in the BESA theatre will be delivered by BESA, REFCOM and a selection of BESA’s Affiliate Members.

BESA will also be hosting a number of committee meetings, which will be open to all who wish to attend. These will include, RACHP, Ventilation, SFG20 and an Affiliate meeting.

Recent findings from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) show bathroom manufacturers achieved record-breaking sales in 2021. BMA members cover an estimated 80% of the market by value, and the association membership roster grew 20% bigger during the pandemic with more members and affiliates compared with 2019.

BMA Chief Executive, Tom Reynold, said: “Initially the pandemic forced sales to plummet as the economy shutdown. There was a great level of uncertainty with some predictions looking grim for in terms of consumer spending on home improvement. However, that gloom has proved unfounded with unprecedent interest in bathroom refurbishment since late 2020.

The bounce-back has continued through the whole of 2021, with total sales exceeding £1.18 billion, 4% up on pre-pandemic levels.” Industry leaders say this reflects strong demand despite a challenging business climate.

Free to visit, the InstallerSHOW will feature key bathroom manufacturers and suppliers who will be showcasing their latest products and innovations to visitors. These manufacturers include Bristan, Hansgrohe UK, MIRA, Roca, Triton Showers, Aqualisa, Cistermiser, BEMIS, Saniflo, Hamberger Sanitary, Wirquin, TYDE, Wirquin, Intatac, Neoperl, and Altecnic, plus many more.

Join us, BMA and our exhibitors in June to discover the latest bathroom trends, products and innovations.

Read the full article here

Register for InstallerSHOW for FREE here 

The Heating Installer Awards has announced its 2022 regional winners as well as the finalists for its Rising Star and Most Sustainable Installer categories. 

The shortlists have been decided by a panel of experts including representatives from the awards’ partners Armacell, CIPHE, Danfoss, LG, Stelrad, Polypipe Building Products and Installer, who recently scored all of the entries on problem solving, product knowledge and stand-out work. The panel was also joined by the 2021 Heating Installer Awards winner, Grant Gundelfinger, from Mayfly Group.

Now in its seventh year, the Heating Installer Awards recognises the achievements and raises the credibility of plumbers and heating installers across the country who deliver excellent work on a daily basis. Targeting every region across the UK, the awards encourage plumbers and installers to nominate a project they’re particularly proud of, which demonstrates high technicality, outstanding professionalism, and exceptional service – all resulting in a happy customer.

The judges said that this year the entries received were of a higher standard than ever before, with an increasingly outstanding quality of projects submitted, so selecting the best was no easy feat. 

The regional winners are:

• North West: Paul Clark
  • North West Highly Commended: Liam Brady
• North East: Craig Gilhome
  • North East Highly Commended: Robert Westall
• East Midlands: Glen Wakeling
  • East Midlands Highly Commended: Chris Surridge
• West Midlands: James Bowen
• Yorkshire: Damon Blakemore
• East of England: Michael Abbott
• Scotland: Ian Williamson
• Wales & Northern Ireland: Huw Jenkins
• South West: Craig Brookes
• South East: John Cruickshank
  • South East Highly Commended: Josh Tappin

Rising Star shortlist:

1. Craig Forrest
2. Nathan Ayre
3. Soph Maguire
4. James Bolton
5. Josh Bentley

Most Sustainable Installer shortlist:

1. Lee Guest
2. Gregg Cameron
3. Liam Barry
4. Alan Dean Marcon

The regional winners and category finalists will now go through to the next stage of the awards which involves a technical challenge and a public vote, with some money-can’t-buy prizes up for grabs for the winners.

To get behind an installer and vote for them to be crowned the national winner, the Rising Star or the Most Sustainable Installer, visit the Heating Installer Awards website and place a vote. 

The public vote will make up a third of the overall scores, alongside the judges’ scores and the scores from a technical challenge. 

The worthy winners will be revealed at Installer Show on 22^nd June – see you there!