SCOTLAND
SNIPEF has been working with a number of organisations during the last 12 months to develop an alternate to the UK Government MCS scheme for contractors who wish to carry out Microgeneration installations.

We have held a series of meeting with Scottish Government officials and with the Scottish Energy Minister, Jim Mather and we are now well advanced in setting up a scheme which will meet the demands of installers, customers and legislators. Full details of the scheme will be issued in due course, but we hope to have the scheme operational before the end of this year.

www.snipef.org/members/technical.htm

NORTHERN IRELAND
We have been working with Action Renewables and other partner organisations including the HVCA to set up an NI based MCS scheme. It is hoped that the new scheme will be available to firms within the next 2-3 months. Those firms who pay CITB levy will be able to access a one off grant to help offset the registration fees.

www.snipef.org/members/technical.htm

SNIPEF has made an application to the Scottish Building Division to operate an Approved Certifier scheme for plumbing, drainage and heating appliance installations. Once approved it will mean that businesses which employ “Approved Certifiers” will be able to self certify work, contained in the scheme, and which is subject to a Building Warrant. It is hoped that the scheme will be launched to members in autumn this year and will go live to customers before the end of 2009.

www.snipef.org/members/technical.htm

SCOTLAND
Despite the current difficult economic circumstances we are hopeful that employers will still consider recruiting a plumbing apprentice.  It is important for the future skills base of the industry that employers continue to recruit through difficult trading times to ensure sufficient skilled plumbers in future years and when the economic upturn takes effect.

www.becomeaplumber.org/apprenticeship.htm

NORTHERN IRELAND
PMST (Plumbing & Mechanical Services Training Ltd) is the Industry Led Training Body (ILTB) set up to deliver Modern Apprenticeships in plumbing, mechanical services, and Gas installation & maintenance to NVQ Level 3 in Northern Ireland. It represents the interests of companies, from small businesses to major contractors, in the plumbing, mechanical services, and Gas industries.

Employers wishing to employ apprentices should register with PMST at www.pmst.co.uk

The Scottish Government has announced a package of financial support for redundant apprentices to enable them to complete their training via an “Adopt and Apprentice Scheme”. Employers who are willing to take on a redundant apprentice are eligible to receive a one-off grant of £2,000 to assist with wage costs.

www.becomeaplumber.org/apprenticeship.htm

Those firms which are registered with Gas Safe Register (GSR) are reminded that it is no longer compulsory to register gas installations. We are aware that GSR is still offering this service to firms if they wish to use it. Please note that our sister organisation the APHC is offering such a service but as they are based in England and Wales they cannot offer this service to members in Scotland.

As members in N Ireland will be aware, CORGI is still operating as the body responsible for registering gas installers. A consultation was issued by the NI Government with a view to a change in the provider and we and NIMPA responded that a change from CORGI to GSR would be welcomed by the industry. Details of the outcome of the Consultation will be issued when they announced.

The World Plumbing Conference will take place in Edinburgh from the 7 – 11 September 2011. SNIPEF is the host organisation for the event and we hope that a large number of members will support this important global event. It is hoped that upwards of 500 plumbers and their partners will attend the event from all corners of the globe.

The JIB has introduced new test arrangements which offer employers more flexibility in accessing and controlling the health & safety test process. To obtain the appropriate JIB CSCS registration card individuals must now successfully pass the JIB (Plumbing) CSCS Health and Safety test. This is a paper based test. Employers can now apply to run the tests in their own premises at a date and time to suit all.

www.snipef.org/members/healthandsafety/jibtests.htm

SNIPEF has set up a scheme with Mann Island Finance to allow credit facilities to be offered to members at a special rate if they wish to purchase new or second-hand vehicles. Mann Island can also offer contract hire and short term lease arrangements for private cars or commercial vehicles.

We have not agreed specific rates with MI Finance as they use a large selection of finance companies to obtain credit and they will seek to get the best deal at the time a member is looking for a vehicle.

www.snipef.org/members/benefits.htm

Craig Robertson, who is employed by SNIPEF members, Greystone Plumbing, and who represented South Lanarkshire College has won the prestigious Scottish Regional SkillPlumb Competition. The competition was held in South Lanarkshire College on the 5th and 6th of June 2009. The competition which is organised by SNIPEF brings together apprentices from each of the Technical Colleges and Training Centres in Scotland who teach the Plumbing SVQ Level 3 Qualification.  Craig was one of 19 competitors who took part in the two day event.

www.becomeaplumber.org