Test Owner
H&V News Awards 2017
SER would like to wish everyone who has been shortlisted for the H&V awards 2017 good luck.
The awards night will take place on the 20th April at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The shortlist for the awards can be found here: https://awards.hvnplus.co.uk/hv-news-awards-shortlist-2017
A to Z of Recruitment - D is for Details
D is for Details
In 2016, there was a RSA conference and at the conference it was stated that it was more important than ever that engineering recruitment consultants gave accurate details at the start of the process about remuneration and benefits packages of available positions.
At SER, we work closely with our clients and understand the full details of the package before we advertise, from starting salary to vehicle allowance and overtime rates to what the companies' expectations are.
Making it clear on key factors such as:
- Starting Salary
- Salary review timeframe
- Benefits package
- Overtime rates and average amounts
- Vehicle or car allowance
- Start and finishing times
- What the company actually expect
This allows our consultants to give you the details that you need right at the start, the details that allow us to know if a position is right for you and you to know if the position is the best fit for you, before we submit your application – we don't want to waste your time by submitting you for a job that isn't right for you.
If there are any details that you need to know, SER are able to find these out for you. We want to submit the right candidates for the right job.
Call: 01254 781300
Web: www.serlimited.com
Article 50 has been triggered today, but what impact will this have on the environment
Today (29th March) the government has triggered Article50 to commence proceedings to leave the European Union (EU).
EDIE has taken an in-depth look at how Brexit could affect Britain's green business community, which includes looking at things like:
• Brexit & the Paris Agreement
• Brexit & the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
• Brexit & the Environment
• Brexit & Waste
• Brexit & Air Quality
• Brexit & Environmental Product Laws
• Brexit & Water
• Brexit & Green Jobs/Skills
• Brexit & Human Rights
Entries are now open for the AV awards 2017
The annual global AV awards which will take place on Friday 29th September are now accepting entries.
Entries are open until 26th May
These awards are there to recognise best practice, reward innovation and celebrate excellence across the global audio visual industry.
They are looking for the best products, companies, projects and people.
Some of the categories include:
• Projector of the year – 4999 lumens and under
• Projector of the year – 5000 lumens and over
• Display product of the year
• Audio product of the year
• Breakthrough / start-up company of the year
• AV staging & rental company of the year
You can find more of the categories and the awards in general here.
Avaya has filed for Chapter 11 restructuring
It is reported that Avaya who nets $1 billion per year, owes seven years profits to repay the leverage heaped on the otherwise healthy company in a $8.2 billion private equity buyout in 2007.
In a recent Network World article, John Sullivan, vice president and corporate treasurer at Avaya, wrote about the Chapter 11 filing:
"After looking at the multiple options of how to deal with our debt, we decided it was a critical next step in our transformation from a hardware company to a software and services company and the best path forward for our customers, partners and employees. [The company faced] two choices: refinance at ever-increasing interest rates, creating an unsustainable expense burden, or restructure our debt."
With the company's announcement began an outward flow of energy. For some, the news presented opportunity. For others, the news created uncertainty. The balance will be determined by, as Sullivan wrote, "a legal system that allows companies to restructure their balance sheets and continue to operate as healthy businesses, providing jobs, technology innovation and value to customers."
UK solar up 19% in 2016
Latest government data has shown an increase of 19% in installed solar PV capacity to 11.46GW in the year up to December 2016.
Approximately 50% of that increase arrived in March 2016, as investors in ground mounted schemes rushed to beat the closure of the renewables obligation (RO) subsidy scheme.
To date:
~50% of UK solar PV capacity comes from large schemes.
1/5 of UK solar PV capacity comes from domestic applications.
There is still about 14.526GW of solar PV either operation or in the planning stage according to the Government's renewable energy planning database.
To see all the latest PV data, click here.
Government Report finds that Asbestos in schools is a serious problem
The Government report that has found that Asbestos in schools is a "Serious" problem that could threaten the health of children, has concluded that thousands of schools are failing to follow safety guidelines.
A voluntary survey was sent to schools by the Government between January and March last year, but only a quarter of schools responded. 1/5 of the schools which responded were found to be "not fully compliant" with asbestos procedures, leaving over a million children potentially exposed to dangerous fibres.
In a report published recently by the Education Funding Agency (EFA), found that around 20 per cent of schools were "not fully compliant" with asbestos procedures "in that they did not have fully documented plans, processes and procedures in place at the time of the data collection, or did not know if asbestos was present."
The EFA is part of the Department of Education and oversees funding for all schools, academies and colleges in England.
Also recently, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) found that "asbestos is a significant, and potentially dangerous, issue in many buildings, including most schools". The NAO report also noted that "the department does not collate information on the number of school buildings affected".
A report on asbestos in schools by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Health and Safety in 2012 recommended that the Government set up programme to remove asbestos from all schools.
It concluded: "It is clear that, at present, there are serious deficiencies in the way that asbestos is managed in schools."
A DofE spokesperson said: "The health and safety of children and staff in our schools is vital – that's why we are investing £23 billion in school buildings by 2021. This will help ensure asbestos is managed safely and that the amount in school buildings continues to reduce over time.
"We have published updated guidance for schools on how to manage asbestos and the results of a survey which showed the majority of respondents have procedures in place. We have followed up with the schools which responded and did not have these procedures in place, and they have all provided assurances they are now compliant with Health and Safety Executive regulations."
New Fire & Security Apprenticeship Launches in September 2017
At a major event held at the UBM offices in London in February 2017, the fire, emergency and security systems apprenticeship was officially launched with candidates expected to formally start their apprenticeships in September 2017.
The event was jointly organised by the apprenticeship employers group, alongside the Fire and Security Association (FSA), the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
Pat Allen, who leads the apprenticeship employers group, commented:
“The entire industry was able to collaborate and create a clear standard that will give apprentices the core skills and experience they require to become the engineers of tomorrow.
"The new apprenticeship will now provide an opportunity for employers within the fire, emergency and security sectors to work together and influence the future of our industry.”
At a major event held at the UBM offices in London in February 2017, the fire, emergency and security systems apprenticeship was officially launched with candidates expected to formally start their apprenticeships in September 2017.
The event was jointly organised by the apprenticeship employers group, alongside the Fire and Security Association (FSA), the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
Pat Allen, who leads the apprenticeship employers group, commented:
“The entire industry was able to collaborate and create a clear standard that will give apprentices the core skills and experience they require to become the engineers of tomorrow.
"The new apprenticeship will now provide an opportunity for employers within the fire, emergency and security sectors to work together and influence the future of our industry.”
Society of Light and Lighting – 2017 Jean Heap Bursary applications
The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers is encouraging people to apply for the Society of Light and Lighting – 2017 Jean Heap Bursary applications, where there is the opportunity to be awarded £4000 funding for lighting projects.
The panel looks for a specific piece of lighting study or research designed for the benefit of the industry and SLL members. The call for applications is open to everyone with an interest in lighting.
Applicants are asked to outline their proposed research project, including the specific topic to be researched, the methodology, the timescale and the clearly stated aims and objectives of the research. The successful proposal will also include an outline of why the applicant needs further funding and how the additional funds will be used in carrying out their research.
Deadline for entries is 30th April 2017.
If you would like to register your interest in applying for the 2017 bursary, please email sll@cibse.org
You can read more about the opportunity here: http://www.cibse.org/society-of-light-and-lighting-sll/education/the-jean-heap-bursary
CIBSE Technical Director says Brexit will “change nothing” about EU Regulations
The CIBSE technical director, Hywel Davies, has said that the building services industry should assume that European regulations that currently affect the UK will still be in force immediately after Britain leaves the European Union (EU) in 2019.
In his annual legislation briefing to the CIBSE Patrons last month, Davies said the government's Brexit White Paper, which paves the way for its Great Repeal Bill, clearly states that UK law on the day we leave the EU 'would still be UK law the day after'.
'Leaving the EU will change nothing immediately – at least in terms of legislation that affects our industry,' said Davies, who supplied a list of regulations that would initially remain in force, including: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs); minimum energy efficiency standards; the F-Gas Regulation; the Energy-related Products (ErP); Building Regulations; and the Climate Change Act.
'Several are a mixture of UK and EU law, which would be extremely tricky and counterproductive to unpick. The government has recognised this and provided welcome clarity on the way forward,' Davies added.
He pointed out that the government had also committed to carbon-reduction targets beyond 2032 and that the UK Climate Change Act remains in force, with the aim of a 57% reduction in emissions by 2030. 'Dismantling policies that are already contributing to these reductions would be illogical,' said Davies. 'And scrapping things because they are European would just create unnecessary work.'
Original Article: http://www.cibsejournal.com/news/brexit-will-change-nothing-about-eu-regulations/
