News

Dangers Of Confined Spaces Highlighted At Safety Event Hosted By DTL

The dangers of working in confined spaces were highlighted at a meeting of the international risk and safety body IIRSM, hosted by Develop Training Limited (DTL).

DTL consultant Steve Smith introduced delegates at the East Midlands annual meeting to the particular risks posed by working in confined spaces and how to train operatives to cope with them. He explained that working in confined spaces is more common than people generally suppose, with examples occurring in many industries from marine to construction.

To train people for the experience, DTL operates fixed and mobile confined spaces training units, providing practical experience for delegates from its customers, which include household names in construction, utilities and energy.

5 tax entitlements you could be missing out on

Whether you’re self-employed or an employee in the plumbing industry, you may be surprised at what expenses you can claim back and the money you can save in your pay packet each month.

Here’s a simple guide to what tax relief you could be missing out on and how to claim:

Professional memberships

Not only can signing up to a professional membership help you move quicker up the career ladder – and get paid more - you may also be due money back on any fees.

If you’re a member of a professional body and pay the subscription fees yourself, you can make a claim…worth 20 percent to a basic rate taxpayer.

Big Changes in Financial Services will make your life easier

When it comes to managing the business, never have plumbers had as many reporting obligations and demands for their time. Getting your finances right is no laughing matter when you’re self employed or a contractor working for a single or multiple employers, when you’re being paid electronically, by BACS, direct debit and of course in cash. An average plumber processing scores of invoices a week can take a couple of hours, usually on the weekend, to format and mail invoices, file receipts and expenses, reconcile bank accounts and prepare material for the accountant. Sound familiar?

Top tips for selling your van

You may love your van, but sooner or later the time will come to sell it. When that day eventually arrives, there are a number of things worth thinking about to ensure you get the best deal.

Here are our top tips on getting the best price for your old van so you can put some extra towards that upgrade you have your eye on…

Don’t underestimate

First things first, you need to know how much your van is worth. You’ll need to know the following information to determine its value:

Make and model

Mileage

Year of manufacture

Valuable features i.e. low mileage, long wheel base and high roof.

OSO HOTWATER WINNER DONATES CYLINDER TO HEROES OF HEAT

When Darren Bairstow of LMB Mechanical Services, found he had won an OSO Hotwater cylinder in a recent Twitter competition, rather than pocket the prize himself, he selflessly decided to donate it to plumbing charity, Heroes of Heat.

Darren scooped the top prize of an award-winning Delta Coil DC cylinder in June, and had no hesitation in offering it to the Heroes of Heat to use in one of its forthcoming schemes.

Heroes of Heat aims to reduce the impact of fuel poverty and is manned nationwide by volunteers from across the heating industry, carrying out projects in their own time. As the Delta is the only indirect cylinder to be A-rated from 120lt right through to 300lt, whichever model is chosen it will have a positive impact on the efficiency of the project.

SHORTLIST REVEALED FOR THE UK PLUMBER OF THE YEAR 2018 COMPETITION

The UK Plumber of the Year 2018 competition (@UKPOTY), launched by JT, Bristan and Wolseley, has revealed the 18 finalists shortlisted for the prestigious competition.

With over double the amount of entries than the previous year, Watersafe, the official judging partner of the competition, had the tricky task of selecting three finalists from each of the six chosen regions (North England, South England, Midlands and West, London, Wales and Scotland) to go into the next stage of the competition.

The public will now vote for who they believe deserves the title in each region, with the six regional finalists going through to the grand final to be crowned Plumber of the Year 2018.

The final 18, in no particular order, are:

UK businesses are still not fully GDPR compliant

DESPITE GDPR now being in full effect, new research has revealed how many businesses are still not fully GDPR compliant.

A survey of 1,021 UK workers carried out by leading digital marketing agency, MarketingSignals.com, revealed that more than 1 in 3 businesses (37%) confess they are still not following the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

When quizzed on the ways businesses are not following this regulation, 35% said they are still sending marketing emails without the expressed consent.

31% revealed they still have the data of those who haven’t agreed to opt in to having their data stored. GDPR regulations

Methven extends black collection to include AIO handset

A popular, limited edition collection by Methven, the designer and manufacturer of premium showers and tapware, has been expanded.

The award-winning Aio handset, featuring patented Aurajet® technology, has now been launched in matte black and added to the Methven Black collection. Paired with the Krome 120mm Rail Shower, with adjustable mounting brackets for easy retrofit installation, the Aio Black Rail Shower introduces the unparalleled Aurajet showering experience with the stunning new matte black aesthetic.

Neomitis welcome new regional sales manager for the South

Neomitis new regional sales manager Mark Osborne

Neomitis, a specialist in controls and heating products for residential and small office environments, have welcomed a new regional sales manager with 20 years of experience in the trade.

Neomitis’s product range covers thermostats, programmers, timers, radiant heaters, hydraulic radiators, electric and hydronic heating towel rails and hydro-electrical heating devices for new build or renovation applications. Neomitis products are designed and developed by us in France and the UK.

New Retail Account Manager appointed as Amber Underfloor Heating grows

Underfloor heating specialist, Amber, has appointed a new Retail Account Manager for the north of the UK.

Aaron Bevis previously worked for Fassa Bortolo, an Italian building materials manufacturer, specialising in several areas across retail, contract, specification and distribution.

Aaron has also worked for Raychem Underfloor Heating so his experience will be invaluable to the team at Amber.

In his new role at Amber, Aaron will be responsible for developing the retail channel in the north to drive new business ac Amber ross Amber’s underfloor heating brands.

Aaron comments:

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