INDUSTRY NEWS CHECKATRADE INTRODUCES MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTION Checkatrade has announced a new membership structure that allows new and existing members to pay monthly instalments for the first time. Previously, trade membership was only available as a one-off fee or secured via an upfront deposit. From March, new members will be able to split their membership over 12 equal payments from £69.99 a month, and existing members will be offered the monthly payment option upon renewal. Checkatrade was acquired by HomeServe PLC in December last year, which has enabled the business to deliver more options for members, such as the new monthly payment offering. Gavin Dutton, managing director of Checkatrade, said, “Providing options and flexibility for our members has always been a priority for the business. Joining the HomeServe family has provided the financial backing to make monthly payments a possibility, and helped us grow to an average of 1,200 new trade members per month. “In the 20 years Checkatrade has been in business, we have continuously looked at ways to adapt and ensure our business model moves with the times. We know cashflow is vital for any business and hopefully we can help by giving this flexibility to both new and existing members.”
PRICES CONTINUE TO FALL FOR ULTRA-EFFICIENT SOLAR PANELS The price of solar power is continuing its downward trend, while the efficiency of solar panels continues to improve. That means that electrical contractors can now get their hands on ultra-efficient ‘mono crystalline’ solar panels that cost just 45¢/W; that’s a 37.5% drop when compared to previous prices, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Unfortunately, mono solar panels are still slightly more expensive than their less efficient poly crystalline counterparts. It’s estimated in some markets that they’re 6% more expensive, although the trade-off is that mono crystalline is 10% more efficient. That means that the price of the electricity produced can often be cheaper. Renewable energy is already on course to become the cheapest form of energy in 2018, according to engineering consultancy Arup. That includes energy created from both wind and solar farms. The historically low prices should
continue to fall, however. In fact, in the US the Department of Energy is aiming for a price of $0.05 per kWh. There are many factors contributing to the reduction in the price of solar energy. China is a key proponent of solar energy, and its ‘Top Runner Program’ has led to manufacturers investing heavily in mono crystalline solar panels thanks to financial incentives. The programme has also been penalising poly crystalline manufacturers. As more companies invest in mono crystalline solar panels, it should drive prices down even further. It requires the industry to change tact, however. Poly crystalline is still popular in the industry, with it said to have represented 70% of solar panel production, and many of the solar panels specified in projects still use the technology. With prices being driven down even further, it’s expected that mono crystalline could reach the price parity.
MORE THAN 60 TRADE BODIES SUPPORT ‘ALDOUS’ BILL In the wake of the Carillion collapse, an industry coalition of over 60 construction and maintenance trade bodies now back the ‘Aldous’ Bill, proposing cash retentions owed to the supply chain be held in trust. The large coalition was brought together by the issue of late and unfair payment, amid industry appetite for reform. There is also growing political support from MPs and Lords. Support for the bill covers a broad cross-section of the entire supply chain, including electrical, plumbing, heating, interiors, house building, roofing, scaffolding, and demolition. Major trade bodies in support include
the Federation of Master Builders and the Federation of Small Businesses. Peter Aldous MP said, “This coalition of support shows the urgent need for reform and unity in the industry following Carillion. Support covers so much of the industry that we now have a golden opportunity to change construction for the better. I hope the government gets behind the industry and this bill. We need action to protect SMEs before more millions are lost, and this bill is about ensuring people’s money is safe so businesses can grow and invest in their future.”
Awareness of the bill and support for Peter Aldous are being coordinated by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), and leading electrotechnical and engineering services body ECA. Carillion collapsing, six days after the bill’s first reading, has pushed payment abuse high up the political agenda. The bill seeks to ensure payment retentions are protected in special ring-fenced deposit schemes, to minimise damage to the supply chain in the event of insolvencies. The second reading of the bill is Friday 27 April.
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