Trade and industry: business update

The Industrial Associates Development Group (IADG) provides an opportunity to learn more about the CIPHE’s industry strategy and approach to raising the standards of plumbing and heating engineering. It’s also an opportunity to provide thoughts and feedback and to become more involved with the Institute’s work.

The group includes leading manufacturers, merchants, publishers, consultants and trade associations.

At the end of last year, the group met at the Polypipe Professional Development Centre in Doncaster to look at solutions to issues such as developing a younger workforce. It’s a critical issue if we are to plug the skills gap.

Just to put that in perspective for the CIPHE, our membership has increased year on year since 2016. The main reason for non-renewal of membership is due to people retiring from or leaving the industry. The average age of those leaving the Institute is 50, while the average age of people joining the CIPHE is 27. So, whilst there is progress, there is more work to do.

Licence to practise

During 2019, the Institute will continue its support for recognised registration for plumbing and heating industry professionals in the UK, with a view to installers being required to hold a licence to practise. This message is being shared with and by many of the other organisations that we work for and with, and that is a huge boost for us.

The CIPHE water safety technical working group is currently collaborating with SoPHE and manufacturers to develop a series of tools for members to carry out the correct design and selection of pipework for heating and hot water systems. Manufacturers have kindly been offering financial support to the development and a really valuable member benefit is now coming to fruition.

The group is also leading the creation of a Legionella risk assessment online course in collaboration with SoPHE. The content is going to be utilised by specifiers and consultants in the wider industry sector and will be reviewed at a SoPHE forum.

Another big issue for us in 2019 is going to be improving standards in the building and construction industry. We’re pushing on despite the delays in the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.

Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety has warned that, without changes to the regulatory system, another tragedy like Grenfell cannot be ruled out. With 12 competency groups focusing on all aspects related to the Grenfell incident, the CIPHE continues to support the work on competencies required by engineers, but it could be many years before the benefits of the ongoing consultation process are felt.

If you haven’t guessed it already, 2019 is going to be a very busy year.

Licence to lobby Want a licence to practise? Write to Minister for Small Business and Consumers, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.