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MAXTOP QUARTZ TAKES HOME TRAINING AWARD

CITY HEATING SPARES INCREASES STOCK TO MINIMISE TURNAROUND

Maxtop Quartz has been named the winner of the Training Excellence category at the On The Tools Awards 2017, at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.

According to Maxtop, it won the award following a national roll-out of its training programme earlier this year, and for demonstrating “a sustained commitment to training and development” said Maxtop Quartz Managing Director Stephen Moss, “Even as a young company, we’ve prioritised training early on, encouraging everyone, from installers to interior designers, to ‘have a go’ and ‘get hands-on’ with the product.” training. Though the training programme is all about delegate and consumer satisfaction, it’s amazing to be recognised by such a well-known, trade-specific social community for our efforts.”

“This all stems from the uniqueness of our product and wanting to show just how easy it is to work with and the range of benefits it offers,” he added. “We’re strong believers of in-depth product knowledge and Pictured left to right: Maxtop Quartz’s Robert Sherratt, Claire Dunscombe, Ian Howarth and awards presenter Harriet Chamberlain, Direct Line for Business digital head.

City Heating Spares, which is part of Travis Perkins, has increased its in-store parts stock by 35% to better support its trade customers by aiming to offer faster turnaround times.

The brand, which has 288 counters across City Plumbing Supplies stores in the UK, has added up to 150 new heating and shower spares, customised according to existing local demand.

“We’re always looking for ways to save installers valuable time and increasing our stock will inevitably mean they spend less time sourcing, and waiting when collecting parts, this will increase customer satisfaction levels.” said Commercial Director Ian Caufield.

The company has also expanded its specialist distribution centre in Chorley, which supplies all of its stores in addition to fulfilling customer orders directly.

City Heating Spares contact centre call handlers are available seven days a week to answer questions and dispatch products from a 20,000-strong catalogue.

IMPEY RELEASES BEHIND-THESCENES ‘WE ARE WETROOMS’ VIDEO

Impey has released a new behind-the-scenes video for its ‘We Are Wetrooms’ installer training tour, the 2018 edition of which kicks off in March 2018, with booking now open.

The third annual ‘We Are Wetrooms’ tour will visit eight locations across the UK to allow installers to learn essential wetroom fitting skills. The company’s new video shows behind-the-scenes access to its recent Liverpool training date.

The 2018 ‘We Are Wetrooms’ tour dates are as follows:

Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow: Wed 21st March 2018 The Villa at North End, Preston: Wed 28th March 2018 Pride Park Stadium, Derby: Wed 18th April 2018 Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle Upon Tyne:Wed 20th June 2018 AMEX Stadium, Brighton: Wed 18th July 2018 Madejski Stadium, Reading: Wed19th September 2018 The SSE Swalec, Cardiff: Wed 3rd October 2018 Carrow Road Stadium, Norwich: Wed 17th October 2018 Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol: Wed 31st October 2018

CIPHE BACKS DAME HACKITT REVIEW ON FIRE SAFETY

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering – CIPHE – has backed the independent review of building regulations and fire safety, led by Dame Judith Hackitt, by adding its industry’s “professional input” through both the Construction Industry Council – CIC – and the Royal Academy of Engineering – RAE .

According to the CIPHE, it has been “involved in the specialism of residential fire sprinkler systems for the last 20 years”. The organisation noted that many professional plumbers “have diversified into this area”, and added that it is also backing formal accreditation and regulation of installers.

“With regards to the findings of Dame Hackitt’s interim report, I agree wholeheartedly that the current regulatory system for ensuring fire safety in high-rise and complex buildings is not fit for purpose and that the prime focus over recent years has been on energy efficiency and the deregulatory agenda rather than on fire safety and of the importance of the regulations,” said CIPHE CEO Kevin Wellman.

“It is particularly pertinent, in my opinion, to call into question the competence of those involved in the design, construction, on-going operational management and maintenance of complex and high-risk buildings.” He added, “Installing active fire protection systems is just the start. The need to ensure product compliance will be essential, together with regular maintenance to ensure these systems work as expected when they are required. As we have seen within our own and other industries, there will be untrained and unskilled individuals and companies taking advantage of a sudden leap in demand for sprinkler systems.”

IMPEY RELEASES NEW WETROOM FITTING VIDEO

Wetroom manufacturer Impey has launched a new instructional video, designed to illustrate how quickly and easily a wetroom can be waterproofed with its WaterGuard tanking membrane.

According to Impey, the process of waterproofing or tanking is “a failsafe way of guaranteeing a leakfree wetroom installation” and is one of the “hottest topics” on the company’s ‘We Are Wetrooms’ training tour.

The company recently released a behind-the-scenes video for its ‘We Are Wetrooms’ installer training tour, the third edition of which kicks off in March.

SANIFLO SPONSORS CIPHE APPRENTICE AWARDS

Saniflo UK recently sponsored the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering CIPHE Apprentice Awards 2017.

According to Saniflo, it has “long acknowledged the need to encourage the next generation to enter the plumbing sector, and was happy to become a sponsor for the awards”, which were won by Daniel Martins for the heating category, James Boyle for the plumbing category and Robbie McNeil for the vulnerability category.

“It is vital for the sector in the UK that we encourage young blood to come through,” said Saniflo Managing Director Tim Pestell, (pictured alongside winner James Boyle), he added, “The age profile of CIPHE members is over 50 so these talented apprentices are fundamental to the future of the profession, including us as manufacturers. The CIPHE is creating innovative solutions to attract more people, including the development of a distance learning degree in Building Services and Water Management and the offer of bursaries from the Worshipful Company of Plumbers. It is in our interests as suppliers to the sector to support these initiatives as much as we can.”