News

HomeServe taps into talent of the future with its largest ever apprenticeship recruitment drive

Leading national home assistance provider to recruit 30 apprentices – ten new gas engineers and 20 new plumbing and drainage engineers as it grows its UK engineer network

Apprenticeship drive is the biggest in company’s history

One of the UK’s leading home assistance providers, HomeServe, is recruiting 30 new apprentices over the next six weeks – ten new gas engineers and 20 new plumbing and drainage engineers.

The Walsall-based company, named in the UK’s top three places to work by one of the world’s largest job sites Glassdoor earlier this year, is embarking on its biggest ever apprentice recruitment drive to support an increasing number of Customers based across the UK.

Industry leaders back new tradespeople comparison service

HaMuch, a new, pioneering comparison service for tradespeople, has partnered with a group of industry’s leading companies as it prepares its official launch.

The London-headquartered company has received support from 11 manufacturers and companies, which serve the various trades, including Grundfos, Danfoss, Fernox, Franke, Polypipe and WAGO.

Representatives from HaMuch, as well as a number of its partners, gathered at Grundfos’ Leighton Buzzard head office for a pre-launch event for HaMuch’s sponsors, as well as an introduction to the service.

HaMuch is set to be launched throughout the UK to the general public in October.

Focal Point Fires appoints new managing director

Focal Point Fires, the UK’s largest manufacturer of fuel effect fires, has appointed Phillip Wicks as its new managing director.

Phillip (pictured), who has been working with Focal Point Fires for over sixteen years, will oversee all aspects of the company’s operations including sales, design, research and development, finance, production, quality control, and personnel and customer service.

Ladders and swings top creativity table for #FlexYourPex competition

Ladders, swings, mug holders, and dumbbells are just a few of the creative uses plumbers and merchants have found for Speedfit connections, as part of JG Speedfit’s ‘Flex Your Pex’ competition.

The initiative, which ran from March to June 2017, challenged plumbers, installers and Speedfit stockists to make a video showing how many Speedfit connections they could make in under 60 seconds, with extra prizes awarded for the most creative ideas. Whilst Peter Booth, owner at Peter Booth Plumbing and Heating, won the overall challenge for his mug holder made from Speedfit connections, this was just one of many creative entries which included all manner of items from models of football pitches, to bikes.

The smart way to talk technical

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) has launched two new websites, which will not only help members keep up-to-date with the very latest technical developments in the industry, but also boost their business knowledge on legal, marketing and financial issues.

Named Techtalk and Smarttalk, the respective websites hold webinars and other materials, which have been developed by the CIPHE in conjunction with leading industry manufactures and business advisors.

The Techtalk website features webinars covering: techtalk website

● Water safety

● Renewables

'Scorching' year for Flame Heating Spares

Flame Heating Spares is set for continued growth and expansion after more than doubling its turnover to record another successful year in business.

The North East’s fastest growing Heating & Plumbing merchant recorded sales of £14.5m up from £6.4m in 2016, and has seen its employee count rise to 42 members of staff.

Flame has now reported year-on-year growth since it was established in 2011 by entrepreneur John Savage, with a single branch in Gateshead.

Flame currently operates seven trade counters across the region, having launched outlets in Ashington and Newcastle over the last 12 months, and has invested a further £200,000 to launch three branches in Scotland this summer.

APHC reminds employers of their legal duties regarding workplace pensions

Under the Pensions Act 2008, every employer in the UK must put certain staff into a workplace pension and contribute towards it. This is called automatic enrolment.

The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors, the leading employer trade association for plumbing and heating businesses in England and Wales, is reminding industry employers that they need to understand what their legal responsibilities are, what they need to do, and by when.

Engage with customers through social media

With Quality Plumber Week fast approaching, the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors is urging more plumbing and heating engineers to use social media.

John Thompson the CEO of APHC explained; “Over the past decade, companies have embraced social media as a valuable marketing tool. Right now, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are at the forefront and can be very impactful marketing tools giving plumbing and heating businesses the ability to communicate with customers and potential customers directly.

Bond It wins Inspiring Business Award

Bond It is celebrating its success after winning a coveted business accolade.

The company, which ranks as one of the UK’s fastest growing manufacturers of sealants, adhesives and building chemicals, recently picked up an Inspiring Business Award at a ceremony held in late June at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Warwickshire.

The Inspiring Business Awards are staged by Datel – the country’s largest Sage partner and a specialist provider of Sage ERP business management software and CRM solutions.

They are designed to acknowledge outstanding and inspirational success stories from across Datel’s customer community of over 1000 businesses – ranging from SMEs to large, multi-national corporations.

£300k investment to 'spark the Flame' in Scotland

Flame Heating Spares is gearing up for further growth with the launch of three trade counters in Scotland, following a £300,000 investment.

The fast growing Heating & Plumbing merchant has secured two sites in Glasgow and another in Edinburgh, as it prepares to expand outside of its traditional North East roots.

Flame expects to create up to 25 jobs with the expansion, including directorship roles, branch management and supervisory positions at the trade counters.

The Gateshead-headquartered company currently operates throughout the North East of England from seven trade counters, having launched with a single branch in 2011.

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