The Electric Vehicle Homecharge schemes, which have funded the installation of more than 130,000 EV charge points, have been hugely influential in readying the UK electrical industry for the transition to electrification of the transport industry, it is vital that consumers have confidence in the quality of electrical installation work for EV chargepoints.

A number of steps are being taken to improve the levels of competency of members of electrical competent person schemes undertaking this work including embarking on a free, EV charge point specific, training programme including webinars and technical articles, and ensuring that any members who undertake this work have an EV charge point installation reviewed during their regular on-site technical assessments.

David Cowburn, Chief Operating Officer of NAPIT Registration and Stroma Certification commented:
“Electric Vehicle Charge Points will soon become the norm in the UK, but at the moment the technology is relatively new and evolving. We are grateful that the Government have shared their audit report with us and are working alongside us to educate and advance our installer networks knowledge.

“We are taking steps to make it easier to internally identify those members undertaking the installation of EV charge points through creating a new notification code on our software, so we can view an EV Charge point installation at our regular technical assessment.

“Registered electrical installers have a key role in delivering the scale of electrical vehicle use that will be necessary to reduce emissions from transport, and we aim to support them in meeting the challenge while providing the assurance of competence from our schemes that consumers are used to relying on.”

John O’Neill, Technical Director of NICEIC and ELECSA added:

“Registered electricians clearly have a major role to play in supporting the electrification of transport.  As an industry we fully support and align with the Government’s position and want to work with contractors to ensure that consumer safety and trust in EV installation is retained.

“That is why, as on-site assessments resume, we will increase our surveillance of EV charging installations where it is clear that contractors are undertaking such work.

“We will continue to be both supportive and vigilant in the ongoing electrification of vehicles; working together with Government to nurture and strengthen this important part of the low carbon strategy.”

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Formally launching later this month, the Construction Talent Retention Scheme is a partnership between industry and Government to secure essential talent in the UK’s construction sector.

Announced by the Chancellor in today’s statement, the scheme is run by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) which is made up of trade and business associations from across the supply chain.

The online portal supports redeployment of staff at risk of redundancy from across the sector, while also enabling temporary employee loans between businesses.  It also gives displaced workers from other sectors a route to find new employment in construction, while offering businesses a platform to find the skills they need.

The not-for-profit programme has funding secured until the end of April 2021, providing a free online platform for any business or organisation looking to hire, while ensuring that candidates’ skills and experience are given a prominent platform within the wider industry.  Businesses and employers interested in finding out more are encouraged to register their interest at:  www.trs-system.co.uk/construction

“We welcome the announcement from the Chancellor confirming support for the Construction Talent Retention Scheme.  It is a crucial tool for keeping skills within the sector and will make a huge difference to construction workers and their families that have been affected by redundancies or job losses due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  The Talent Retention Scheme has the full backing and support of those working in the RMI and Home Improvement Sector” said Anna Scothern, Chief Executive NHIC

As a key member of the CLC’s Refurbishment, Maintenance and Home Improvement workstream, the NHIC are working behind the scenes with other stakeholders to launch the website as soon as is possible and we will keep you informed of progress on our website and across social media.

NOTES TO EDITORS

NHIC

Through our corporate and associate membership options, the NHIC represents almost 100,000 businesses carrying out millions of refurbishment, maintenance and home improvement jobs each year.

Representing 100’s of trades and sub-trades NHIC membership contributes over £13Bn each year to the UK Economy with members delivering over 1 million hours of CPD training each year to raise standards and deliver quality improvements to the nation’s homes.

This makes the NHIC the most representative and influential body for Home Improvement and RMI professionals in the UK. The true voice of home improvement.

It’s more than 40 years since the National Home Improvement Council was launched and there remains much to be done and new challenges to address, not least supporting the economic, green and socially conscious recovery post COVID19.

As the umbrella organisation or the sector, the NHIC supports its members in their areas of expertise which allows us to make a real contribution to the future improvement of the nation’s homes.

Post COVID19 recovery together with the new demands on homes for home-working, home-schooling support and home-exercising alongside the demographic demands of an increasing and ageing population, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, fuel poverty and the ever-present concerns regarding an ageing workforce and skills shortage, the need to raise awareness and the standards of home improvement is never-ending.

NHIC Mission:

For everyone in the UK to live in safe, healthy and affordable homes.

NHIC Vision:

An ambassador for collaborative action, we work across our membership, wider industry and government to raise all homes to modern living standards while inspiring and supporting householders to refurbish, maintain and improve their homes using local professionals with confidence.

NHIC Values:

• Raise standards and deliver quality
• Embrace and drive change
• Be Passionate
• Be Professional
• Be Inclusive

NHIC Objectives:

• To promote awareness of the health benefits of safe and sustainable home improvements
• To improve the quality, safety and affordability of building work in and around the home
• To improve living standards and reduce fuel poverty in homes across the UK
• To be the voice of home improvement to Government.
• To promote awareness of the need to improve the existing housing stock in the UK alongside an expectation of quality and reliability of works
• To help ensure the UK has sufficient skilled workers
• To sustain a prosperous, successful and inclusive not for profit membership organisation

NHIC Response to COVID 19 

Sharing thinking, guidance, and support between members to support householders has always been at the heart of the NHIC. From the very beginning of the lockdown due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the NHIC opened its doors to any individual or organisation working in the refurbishment, maintenance, and home improvement industry. Giving free access to member benefits at no cost. Welcoming members and non-members alike to learn from the weekly webinars, share ideas and enjoy the camaraderie as part of the weekly digital drop-ins and receive daily political briefings on both COVID19 as we all general political news. The NHIC through in it together has allowed the RMI industry to come together to support householders from all tenures during these unprecedented and uncertain times. After all, we are all #inittogether 

COVID 19 RESOURCES https://nhic.org.uk/covid-19-resources/ | https://nhic.org.uk/member_support/

NHIC Presidents

• RT Hon Baroness Maddock
• Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP
• Lord Peter Brooke
• Rt Hon Lord Ezra

NHIC Board

• Paul Everall CBE FCIOB Chair
• Barrie Smith-Wright (QANW) Vice-Chair
• Chris Yates (Corgi) Finance
• Brian Smith (RetrofitWorks)
• Frank Bertie (Napit)
• Adrian Simpson (QASSS)
• Yvonne Orgill (NHIC Educational Trust Chair)
• Mike Smith (CIOB)
• John Robinson (BMA)
• Shauna Purdey (EnviroVent)
• Phil Hammond (LABC)
• Paul Simpson (Recticel)

NHIC Members

Further information is available by contacting the NHIC on marketing@nhic.org.uk or by telephoning 0333 022 0387

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The new Guide has integrated the most recent and relevant Government Guidance and includes direct links to the Government Risk Assessment Toolkit.

Though several parts of the most recent Government Guidance issued were queried by GGF Members, the GGF, on behalf of its Members, sought and gained clarification from the Department of Business & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) before publishing this new Guide.

This new publication has been produced in collaboration with a diverse cross-section of Members, GGF Staff and Government officials, to ensure this Safe Guide is the most comprehensive and authoritative in the industry.

James Lee, Director of External Affairs commented on the new guide, “The GGF focus has always been on delivering high-quality information that can be trusted by the industry and consumers alike. Both Safe Guides reflect the expected GGF high standards.”

The new GGF Safe Guide for Home Improvement Companies during the COVID-19 Crisis is available to all companies in the industry, for free download and viewing from the GGF website www.ggf.org.uk.

Or click here:
GGF The Safe Guide for Home Improvement Companies during COVID-19

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NAPIT have spent many years campaigning to improve electrical safety standards in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) so we were delighted at the beginning of the year when the draft Regulations were laid before Parliament to ensure all PRS properties meet minimum Electrical Safety Standards. We now await the Regulations coming into force for new tenancies from the 1^st July 2020 and for any existing tenancies from 1^st April 2021 as they have now been debated in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

As the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, it is particularly satisfying to be instrumental in making a change in this area. The recent publication of the updated Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS), which has introduced minimum technical competence criteria required for carrying out Periodic Electrical Inspection and Testing will be a huge support to The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations and enhance industry standards.

Despite the challenging times, we find ourselves in, with much uncertainty and extreme social distancing measures in place due to COVID-19, the Government has issued Guidance which makes it clear that landlords are still required to ensure the electrical safety of their properties. However, the Government acknowledge the restrictions placed on them under the current situation, and on compliance states:

“If a landlord can show they have taken all reasonable steps to comply with their duty under the regulations, they are not in breach of the duty. …  A landlord could show reasonable steps by keeping copies of all communications they have had with their tenants and with electricians as they tried to arrange the work, including any replies they have had. Landlords may also want to provide other evidence they have that the installation is in a good condition while they attempt to arrange works.”

The new Regulations require private landlords to ensure their properties are subject to electrical inspection and testing, resulting in a satisfactory report, by a qualified, competent person at intervals not exceeding 5 years. Local Authorities will be responsible for enforcing the new Regulations and can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 if they find a landlord is in breach of their duty. Local Authorities also have the power to arrange remedial work to be carried out, with consent from the tenant, if the landlord fails to comply with the remedial notice and then recover the costs from the landlord. The powers that have been given to Local Authorities to enable effective enforcement are strong and show the Government’s commitment to supporting these Regulations. We appreciate that many Local Authorities are under resource pressure, but the ability to impose fines of up to £30,000, which can be retained by the Local Authority to support their enforcement activity will be a great support for them.

It is estimated that there are over 4.8 million privately rented properties that will be covered by these Regulations, and at least 22% of them do not have a valid electrical safety report.  In addition to increasing demand for Electrical Installation Condition Report’s expected over the next 18 months, we also envisage a proportion of these properties will require remedial works to ensure the electrical installation within the property is in a satisfactory condition.

We are in the process of adapting our website to make it easier for Landlords to find those who have been assessed on-site as being competent to undertake electrical inspection and testing in dwellings. Those registered with NAPIT’s Electrical Inspector Scheme already meet the Inspection and Testing requirements set out in the EAS and we will be actively publicising this list to provide landlords with confidence when instructing an inspector and tester. We will be publishing our own guidance which will explain clearly to Landlords how to meet the new Regulation, and guidance to our members on how to demonstrate their competence and what Landlords need from them to make this new Regulation as easy to understand as possible, given the short timescales between publication and implementation.

Moving forward we know the work here is not over. NAPIT will continue to remain committed to educating the industry and improving electrical safety standards and will focus on making these new Regulations as clear for those affected to understand, whilst also pushing for mandatory electrical safety checks in the PRS to be introduced in Wales.

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GQA Qualifications is an Awarding Body for specialist sectors and occupational roles with its roots firmly in the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration sector. GQAs current qualifications also cover Construction and Print, expanding into Polymers, Nuclear, Laboratory and Meteorology with the recent acquisition of PAA\VQ-SET.

Their mission is to work only with industries where they have access to “in-house” knowledge which gives them the ability to discuss specific qualifications with both training centres/providers and employers.

GQA’s qualification development is carried out in accordance with Regulatory and Sector Skill Council requirements, using industry experts throughout the development and consultation processes.

The GGF’s working relationship with GQA goes back many years as the Federation endeavoured to deliver accredited and meaningful training for the industry. GQA has worked with the GGF and its commercial subsidiaries on numerous projects over the last decade, from GGF Training to MTC (Minimal Technical Competency), Building
Our Skills initiatives through to support and demonstration at major industry exhibitions such as Fensterbau Frontale in Nuremberg and The FIT Show in Birmingham.

On becoming a GGF Member, Mick Clayton, GQA CEO commented, “We are delighted to join the GGF at a time when we both share real concerns and goals around training, skills, and qualifications for our industry.”

James Lee, GGF Director of External Affairs added, “We are pleased that GQA has joined the Federation and we very much look forward to working with GQA on future projects starting with Fensterbau Frontale and the UK Pavilion where with GQA we will be highlighting the importance of training, skills, and qualifications for the glass and fenestration industries.”

To find out more about GQA please visit: https://gqaqualifications.com/

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The new regulations (ECO3: improving consumer protection) now includes NHIC Member, TrustMark as the only Government Endorsed Quality scheme.

It means any contractors operating within the ECO environment, completing energy improvements on homes need to be registered with TrustMark and working under the requirements of the TrustMark Framework Operating Requirement (FOR), providing householders with high levels of confidence and protection.

Simon Ayers, CEO of TrustMark, said: “We are looking forward to working with the energy sector, alongside our current TrustMark Scheme Providers, to support the Government’s Energy Company Obligation and the delivery of the new energy efficiency retrofit standards.

“The industry across many sectors is in a significant period of change, not just in the energy sector. Our role is to work with and collaborate with, organisations and businesses to help consumers make improvements to their homes and enhance the protection they can depend on when making such decisions. We are keen to support the many innovative ideas for compliance and the new technologies that will be developed to help smooth the route for businesses to deliver these new requirements.”

Lynn Hugo, Non-Executive Director of the new, independent TrustMark board, said: “Improving the energy efficiency of people’s homes is key to helping the UK reduce its contribution to global warming. TrustMark is driven by several factors, including helping consumers make improvements to the energy efficiency of their homes and enhancing the protection they can depend on when making such decisions.”

The revisions of the ECO regulations were laid in parliament on Thursday 31 October 2019, coming into force on 1 January 2020. All contractors carrying out ECO energy improvement works should be registered with TrustMark by the new year. The regulations also require contractors carrying out work to input information about the job into TrustMark’s Data Warehouse, that will act as a repository of information about work undertaken in and around
the property.

Anna Scothern, NHIC Chief Executive said “As valued members of the NHIC we are extremely proud to see TrustMark, the only government endorsed quality scheme, linked intrinsically with the delivery of new ECO regulations. Like us, TrustMark is passionate about improving standards for householders. Everyone has a right to live in a safe, healthy and efficient home.”

It has been proven that people who live in a safe and efficient environment are mentally and physically healthier, so we would like to congratulate TrustMark for working hard on behalf of the home improvement industry to improve the quality and surety of delivery around energy-efficient home improvements.

The NHIC advocates home modernisation in line with energy efficiency and climate emergency targets and plays a major role in raising the standard and quality of the home improvement industry.

For more information about the National Home Improvement Council please visit www.nhic.org.uk

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