Speaking to MBStv at November’s BESA Conference head of REFCOM Graeme Fox warned that training and competence are crucial factors in the successful move away from domestic fossil-fuel heating systems.

The latest sector-wide Building Engineering Business Survey shows that sector growth remained steady in the third quarter of 2019.

The Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA) has gained sponsorship from two of the largest organisations in commissioning for its Conference in March.

CIBSE has announced the winners of the Society of Digital Engineering Awards 2019 with BuroHappold Engineering winning three out of eight categories and the best of the Best award.

The ECA has announced that nominations for the 2020 ECA awards are now open. The awards aim to recognise top performing businesses and individuals across the electrotechnical and engineering industry.

A new report by the Heat Pump Association has identified an undeveloped installer base and consumer acceptability as the main problems for heat pumps going forward.

The SEC Group is driving a campaign to introduce new legislation on late payments. The Group has said that it will contact all political parties on 13th December to seek support for a change in the law.

Lord Rupert Redesdale, chief executive of the Energy Managers Association, warned of an “environmental catastrophe” at the 2019 EMEX event.

Baroness Brown, deputy chair of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has warned that action needs to be taken towards reaching net zero and that there are “significant risks” if the UK fails to act.

Following the launch of its report Industrial Strategy for decarbonising oil heated homes, OFTEC has criticised the government and industry focus on shifting oil-heated homes towards heat pumps.

The Conservative Party won the December 12th 2019 General Election with 364 seats in the House of Commons, and Boris Johnson remains UK Prime Minister. The result gave the Conservatives a comfortable majority in Parliament and the power to continue the process of taking the UK out of the European Union.

A new report showing the latest trends for HVAC has been published by Wakefield Research.

A survey has found that 90% of business owners across construction suffer mental health issues due to payment and other business pressures.

CIBSE has announced its shortlist for the 2020 Building Performance Awards which aim to recognise and reward engineering excellence.

Building services J S Wright is to help start the residential phase of a £4 million regeneration scheme in Wimbledon.

A survey from commercial property services firm Cushman & Wakefield shows that the popularity of co-working office space continues to grow, with greater use predicted over the next five years.

The Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group has launched a campaign to obtain a commitment from all parliamentary candidates in the general election on some of the industry’s most pressing issues.

Television architect and presenter George Clarke called for state intervention to solve “the biggest housing crisis the country has ever seen,” as he was made a visiting professor at Birmingham City University.

The 2019 BRSIA Briefing focused on climate change as speakers warned of the dangers rising global temperatures pose. BSRIA CEO, Julia Evans OBE, summarised the challenges that lie ahead: “We don’t know everything, but we know that we’re in trouble.”

Experts in the heating and cooling sectors have predicted a convergence of heating and cooling technologies with the drive to greater use of clean electricity.

The ECA has warned that the risk of major fire remains despite the publication of the Hackitt Report and Raising the Bar publication.

Rudi Klein, chief executive of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group highlighted the potential benefits of a regulatory body for the construction sector.

The 2019 BESA National Conference called on the building services sector to make changes in its practices before they are imposed by government.

As the election draws closer MBS has looked through the party manifestos for our area from the Conservatives, Labour party, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party of England and Wales.