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CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY NEWS
Switch to renewable energy or shut down
U p to a third of small and medium-sized enterprises of electricity and gas, according to recent research from data analytics and credit reporting company Experian. Add to that the worsening supply chain issues and fall in consumer spending, and it’s plain to see the value that businesses will gain from moving (SMEs) in the UK will be unable to absorb the climbing costs to solar power, said Gareth Jones, Managing Director of FMB member Carbon Zero Renewables, based in Old Colwyn, St Asaph, Mochdre, Llandudno and Deeside. Jones, who is also Vice President of FMB Wales and Net Zero Ambassador for the North Wales and Mersey Dee Business Council, said: “From a financial and environmental perspective, moving away from traditional fuel and energy is the right path because we have already seen so many firms make difficult decisions and even close because the cost- of-living crisis has had such a rapid and detrimental impact, with gas and electricity bills being key factors.
CITB injects £100 million into skills funding The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has doubled grant rates for short courses for employers delivering core skills training to their teams, and increased grant rates for specific supervision and management qualifications. The decision was made to provide greater support to workers who have been affected by the Industry Accreditation card withdrawal, with grants for supervision and management qualifications rising from £600 to £1,250 and £1,500 respectively. The new rates come off the back of increases in 2022: An additional £2,000 for each dry lining apprentice Increase from £600 to £1,000 for rain screen cladding qualification grants. CITB Chief Executive Tim Balcon said: “This uplift in grants is our response to feedback from employers, who told us increased costs are making it more challenging to invest in the training they need. We know investing in training can bring a competitive advantage helping businesses to retain and attract more workers and to ensure they have an upskilled workforce to win new work.”
“Obviously, for any business, these bills are going up, and larger organisations such as manufacturers with multiple sites or huge premises are going to be hit hard. This is the time to get serious, because some will likely need planning permission, more solar panels and a bigger system – and that takes time; it doesn’t happen overnight.” Solar installation in larger projects can take up to a year while smaller commercial projects can be installed within three months. Jones said: “We are meeting with dozens of business owners a week, helping them navigate these tough times. We are not saying this to worry people, we see the repercussions every day and are here for them. There is assistance out there, so pick up the phone. We need to come together and avoid any more businesses disappearing because in this volatile market, the problem is not going away.” For those wondering about solar energy in a part of the world where the sun doesn’t shine a lot of the time, Jones has an answer: “Solar panels are reliable – it doesn’t have to be a bright,
sunny day for them to work – and we can forecast quite easily how much it’s going to generate and save per year, whatever the geographical location, giving customers peace of mind.”
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