14
OCTOBER 2013 PRO INSTALLER
PRO NEWS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
‘Regulate And
Incentivise’ For Better
Energy Efficiency
More than half of small building
firms back a requirement by government on homeowners to make
energy-efficiency improvements
when they extend their home. This
would result in more work for their
business, as long as any regulation
was introduced alongside financial
incentives to help pay for the work.
‘Simply not attractive’
Brian Berry, the Chief Executive of the
Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said:
“Following a thorough consultation with
FMB member firms, we believe the Government should re-evaluate the need for a
consequential improvements regulation, but
only alongside a significant financial incentive for energy efficiency. This could take
the form of a reduction in VAT on home
renovation and repair, variable stamp duty
or variable council tax.”
Berry continued: “We still want to see
government introduce financial incentives
to increase uptake of the Green Deal. At
present, the Green Deal is simply not attractive to most people. The Green Deal must
not be left to fail, which is why additional
incentives are needed.”
Berry added: “Further to that, government must invest the money collected via
carbon taxes in a publicly funded retrofit
programme. Low-income households cannot
afford to retrofit their own home and are
unlikely to sign up to a scheme like the
Green Deal. Therefore government must
commit to a public spending programme to
lift significantly more households out of fuel
poverty and support those who are unable
to pay for this work.”
2014
INTERNATIONAL
SAFETY AWARDS
The British Safety Council has formally launched its
2014 International Safety Awards, which are designed to
recognise an organisation’s commitment to good health
and safety management during the 2013 calendar year.
2014 will mark the 56th year of the
International Safety Awards, which
have made a significant contribution
over that time to promoting and celebrating the benefits that well-managed and proportionate workplace
health and safety bring.
‘Applicants can revisit the
online questions as many
times as they like before
they decide to submit’
The awards are open to organisations of
all sizes and sectors, both members of the
British Safety Council and non-members
in the UK and overseas. Applications are
welcome both from past winners and first
time entrants; there is nothing to stop a first
time entrant being successful if they can
demonstrate clearly their commitment to
good health and safety management in the
application process.
Applications are completed online, and applicants answer a series of questions about
their organisation’s approach to health and
safety. The online system is easy to use, and
applicants can revisit the online questions
as many times as they like before they
decide to submit, which is done with a click
of a button.
The closing date for applications is 21st
February 2014 and the results will be announced on 13th March 2014.
The International Safety Awards Gala Dinner, held at the famous Grosvenor House
Hotel in London on 25th April 2014, will
celebrate the success of the winners and
can be attended by anyone in the health
and safety sector.
Details can be found at:
www.britsafe.org/isa.
GET MORE
HOMEOWNER
LEADS
Synseal has partnered with specialist online
developers All Craftsmen to help secure a stronger
digital presence and more homeowner leads
for approved Synseal Registered Installers.
Synseal Registered
Installers will receive
a free priority listing in
the All Checked online
home improvement
directory managed by
Synseal partners All
Craftsmen.
This includes a quality rating review function, which
will enable homeowners to
feedback endorsements of
their installer’s completed
handiwork and share their
positive experience with
other homeowners and potential future customers.
Listings and customer
feedback scores will build
an informed picture for
homeowners who invariably
will choose an All Checked
listed supplier over a competitor with no history.
Additional business support options are also available for Synseal Registered
Insta