News

Flame spreads to Boldon with investment in new head office

Flame Heating Group is laying down the foundations for continued growth and expansion after investing in a new head office.

The 2,821 sq.ft building, located on Boldon Business Park, will replace the heating and plumbing merchant’s existing head office in Team Valley, which will remain the firm’s lead branch.

Flame’s investment in the new head office building will support the company’s three-year expansion plan as it expects to launch new trade counters across the North East and into new regions. It is also expecting to create 60 new jobs over this period – doubling its current workforce.

Plumbing and your property value: What effects it most?

When considering selling a property most people assess the usual list of details that affect the homes value; the location, the decor, the views, crime rates, double glazing - all of which are important. But one thing that’s often overlooked is plumbing. The taps work and you have hot water. What more thought do you need to give to it?

Top Tips for Boosting Your Reputation

In today’s competitive environment, reputation is everything. In years gone by, word of mouth was enough to keep most traders afloat; one satisfied customer’s recommendations could keep a trader ticking over steadily. Today, it’s not as simple: increased competition between sole traders, general handymen and larger companies; a rise in legislation governing how and when plumbers work; and the rise of the internet as a sole source of information for most homeowners, mean that simple word of mouth is not enough to ensure a trader’s survival.

Central Heating – Controlled Properly Can Save You Money and Improve Your Health

It’s that time of year again. The months are getting considerably colder as we plough through autumn and winter is just around the corner. Candles and warm lighting are no longer fooling us into believing it’s warmer than it is, meaning that more and more of us are reaching towards the thermostat to indulge in a bath of warm air. However, we ought to be careful how soon and how often we’re reaching for our heating systems. Indeed, professionals advise the general public to be restrictive with their heating to prevent inflicting health related issues on themselves and costly energy bills.

Multipanel to launch Find an Installer Scheme

Multipanel®, the UK’s leading brand of waterproof decorative wall panels for bathrooms is launching a new initiative to reach out to installers and to make it easier for customers to find an installer in their area who fits Multipanel products.

Around 2,000 plumbers and installers are expected to sign up in the first year of the free-to-join Find an Installer scheme, which initially will include an online directory. Also planned are improved availability of product literature, samples and technical updates, together with a range of other incentives, which the company hopes will encourage installers to keep recommending Multipanel products to customers.

How to introduce a health and safety apprenticeship to the workplace

Plumbing in a sink - health & safety apprenticeship

With over 600,000 workplace injuries recorded in 2016/17, every business could benefit from employing a dedicated safety professional. Last year the safety, health and environment apprenticeship scheme launched and in this feature Chris Pendrey, SHEQ Manager at Actavo Direct, provides advice on introducing a successful health and safety apprenticeship to your business.

Find the right scheme

Outlining the steps to take before onboarding an apprentice, including finding a relevant scheme and a training providerto complete the assessment and certification.

Looking at key considerations like how to secure funding to run the scheme and how the candidate’s hours will be broken down between work and study.

Defining the course

How to increase the health and safety awareness of your employees

Female plumbing employee - health & safety

All workplaces have their safety requirements, from building sites to small offices. However, there is still some work to be done to increase employee awareness of workplace regulations.

In fact, in 2016/17, there were 1.3 million workplace illnesses and 609,000 injuries recorded in the UK alone.

While much of the responsibility falls on office managers and business directors to keep their staff protected, it’s important to educate employees on how they can manage their own workplace safety.

In this article, Chris Pendrey will discuss ways businesses can increase employee health and safety awareness:

Risk and reward

Conducting a workplace risk assessment helps you identify the right business training courses

Alternatives To HIVE Active Heating

Smart central heating systems are part of an emerging tech trend that is taking the world by storm. While HIVE may be one of the higher-profile brands in this fledgling market, it is not the only option for those looking to modernise the way in which they heat their home. Here are just a few of the alternatives.

Nest Learning Thermostat

Now in its third generation, this thermostat lives up to its name by learning the heating habits of its users and eventually gaining enough information to automatically adjust its own settings without the need for constant adjustment.

Purchasing attitudes remain intact post Brexit

76% of people surveyed think country of manufacture is an important factor when it comes to purchasing. A survey, carried out by Giacomini UK, explored attitudes toward manufacturing and revealed some interesting post-Brexit insights.

When asked if the country of origin was checked before purchasing building and HVAC supplies, just 19% said that they never check which demonstrates the importance of a products’ origin when making decisions about purchasing.

83.5% of respondents said they prefer to buy products from a European manufacturer with just 8% saying that they would not ever buy a product if they knew it was made in Europe.

Fernox Rebrands Inhibitor Packaging

Following the acquisition of BuildCert by NSF International, Fernox, the leading manufacturer of chemical water treatment products, will be changing the packaging of its inhibitors to incorporate the new NSF logo. Plumbing and heating professionals will start to see the new branding on its products from 2020.

Founded in 1998, BuildCert is a provider of mechanical and materials certification services for the plumbing and building industries, including the Chemical Inhibitor Approval Scheme (CIAS).

The phased rebrand of BuildCert to NSF International aims to expand the international recognition of products certified by the BuildCert team. While the BuildCert mark is well known in the UK, the NSF International mark has greater recognition across the globe.

In this article, Chris Pendrey will discuss ways businesses can increase employee health and safety awareness:

When asked if the country of origin was checked before purchasing building and HVAC supplies, just 19% said that they never check which demonstrates the importance of a products’ origin when making decisions about purchasing.

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