The Crown Imperial Rialto collection has eight new colour additions including high gloss light grey and dark grey, lilac, blackberry and finishes in copper, red white and black.
The Rialto high gloss kitchen collection is available in 19 different colours including 11 high gloss colours and eight high gloss metallic finishes.
In the wake of recent media coverage over the latest round of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) degression, NAPIT is encouraging long-term thinking for installers looking to expand their business to install solar PV.
On October 31, Ofgem announced the new rates that will be available for solar PV installations from January 1, 2015 as part of the planned degression of the FiTs [1].
The new rates will be 3.5% lower (going from 14.38p/kWh to 13.88p/kWh for example) than the current tariffs and, in response, a number of news reports have urged homeowners and installers to take advantage of the current rates by carrying out installation before the new tariffs come into force [2].
However, these kinds of reports may be putting people off from becoming involved in the scheme in 2015 when in fact, the typical reduction in savings and income generated will only be around £16 a year [3]. Bearing in mind that UK solar PV capacity surpassed 5GW earlier this year [4], it seems unlikely that a £16 a year difference on savings will put people off having solar PV panels installed on their home in 2015, given the popularity of the technology at the moment.
Managing director of NAPIT Certification, David Cowburn, said:
“At NAPIT, we would urge installers not to be put off by the planned degression in terms of offering solar PV installations. The difference in rates is very small and PV is still very profitable over the 20-year period covered by the tariffs. There is still a fantastic business opportunity for installers who are looking to take a longer term approach to offering solar PV installations.”
NAPIT offers Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certification for installers working in the renewables industry, as well as training courses that cover everything you need to install solar PV panels. In order to expand your business today, find out about NAPIT’s MCS scheme at http://www.napit.org.uk/microgeneration.asp or view the wide range of renewables courses available from NAPIT Training at www.napittraining.co.uk
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For home owners, architects and kitchen designers who favour clean lines, symmetry and a minimal look, the new BLANCO JARON XL 6 S-IF sink is the ultimate in cutting-edge design, says the company.
Part of the BLANCO SteelArt series, it features angular lines and a square main bowl and drainer with wide tap ledge in the centre.
BLANCO’s new JARON sink design also creates a new look for the IF flat rim, which has the appearance of being flush-mounted into the worktop. With JARON, the contours have been matched precisely to the gently rounded corners of the food board that was designed specifically for the new JARON sink series.
The optional food board fits perfectly over the 190mm deep main bowl and drainer with concealed C-overflow and can be moved into different positions depending on use. The food board has a high-quality walnut finish that will complement high-end kitchen design.
Another element of the new design is the SteelArt 10mm corner radius, which adds to its distinctive look. Designed for the 60cm base unit, JARON comes in the SteelArt satin polish finish with a CapFlow cover that makes water spray flow more softly enhancing the elegant finish.
Momentum is continuing to gather behind the Gas Access Campaign, which is calling for changes to the current system available to local landlords who need to carry out gas safety checks in rented properties.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, as well as Shadow Housing Minister Emma Reynolds, have both pledged their support to the campaign, adding their name to the list of over 150 housing associations, local authorities, MPs, Peers and industry leaders. The campaign has also won backing from London Councils, a cross-party organisation that represents London’s 32 borough councils and the City of London.
The campaign is being spearheaded by Home Group with the Association of Gas Safety Managers and CORGI Technical Services. It aims to simplify the legal process used to gain power of entry once landlords have exhausted all other options. The issue is estimated to cost the sector £50m each year. Currently, local authorities are able to apply to a court to gain lawful entry into homes within 24 hours of refusal by a tenant.
Housing associations can take as long as four months to legally gain entry to a property.
The Law rightly requires all landlords to carry out annual safety checks on any properties they own which have gas supplies. If tenants refuse entry for these checks to be carried out, they put their own lives and the lives of their neighbours at risk. But, while Local Authorities can get same-day court orders to force entry to properties where tenants refuse access to gas engineers, it can take up to four months for social housing providers to gain access. The gas access campaign calls for a change in the law to give regulated landlords the same timely access as their local authority counterparts, specifically through an amendment to the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations.
Ms Reynolds said:
“I support the campaign to make it easier for social landlords to conduct essential gas safety checks. There are serious risks to the health of residents if gas appliances go unchecked and it can’t be right that social landlords are spending so much money to ensure their tenants are safe. But any new powers must be used as a last resort and clear guidance will be needed following any change. Any changes to the law must be balanced to protect the interests and privacy of tenants.”
Mark Henderson, Home Group chief executive, said:
“We’re beginning to see true cross party support for this campaign. Politicians across the spectrum recognise the current system of gas access simply can’t continue. It’s costly financially and it has great potential to be costly in terms of lives. We’re delighted Ms Reynolds has backed the campaign and we agree with her view that any new power of entry should be balanced. We’re pushing for a very simple change in legislation which would speed up the court process once every other avenue has been exhausted.”
To sign the Gas Access petition visit: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/68910.
WaterSafe has pledged its full support to helping cut confusion within the current curriculum, after recent research by City & Guilds discovered that a high number of employees do not understand today’s qualifications.
The robust study looked at more than 1,000 SMEs and large companies in relation to their responses to CVs and knowledge on the current curricular. Fifty-seven percent of employers stated that they found acronyms on CVs to be confusing and 64% admitted they have had to look up abbreviated qualifications on the internet to discover their meaning.
Meanwhile, 95% of employers were unable to identify which was the most advanced qualification from a list of acronyms.
Following the research, City & Guilds has created an online ‘Education Jargon Buster’ in a bid to lift confusion around qualification abbreviations and help employers to understand the level of each qualification and to be better informed when next recruiting.
Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said:
“While it is very concerning to see many of today’s employers are confused regarding qualifications and what they mean, it isn’t surprising given the abundance of courses and qualifications within the trade sector alone. It is therefore great to see that City & Guilds are seeking to address the issue with their ‘Education Jargon Buster’, among other initiatives.
“In a similar vein, WaterSafe has been specifically designed to make entry to our scheme as simple and clear as possible. If an employer with suitable insurance takes on a plumber with an NVQ Level 2 in Mechanical Engineer Services (plumbing), and the individual also has a Water Fittings Regulations qualification, the prospective employee will, in most cases, be eligible for WaterSafe membership.
“In effect, looking for these entry requirements helps simplify the selection process for a company employing a plumber and, in turn, it’s easier for customers to find them once listed as WaterSafe acts as a hub for qualified, recognised plumbers.”
The Education Jargon Buster from City & Guilds can be found at TechBac.com, where there is a list of the most commonly misunderstood education abbreviations.
