Tag Archives: Government

BCF calls for government support for paint recycling ccheme

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The British Coatings Federation has urged the Government to support its PaintCare initiative, launched this month. PaintCare UK is the UK’s first voluntary, industry‑led takeback scheme for leftover decorative paint and packaging, delivered by the BCF on behalf of paint manufacturers in partnership with participating retail and trade outlets. The …

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Pump it up and plug it in

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Keep your face always toward the sunshine — and shadows will fall behind you. Those of us with longish memories will recall the step-change in the way homes are heated that was the net result of the changes to Part L of the Building Regulations in 2005. That was the …

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The Apprentice

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No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else It was National Apprenticeship Week last week. How do I know this? I know this because my email inbox was awash with news releases highlighting it. There were case studies galore, comment, news pieces, …

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Traitors? Or Faithfuls to the cause?

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How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child Alas, poor Jenrick. I knew him; a fellow who likes the spotlight. Having been bested by Kemi Badenoch in the race for leadership of the Conservative Party – doing rather better than many predicted – Robert Jenrick …

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Warming to the mammoth task

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I yearned for warmth and colour, Which I found in Lancelot Heat pumps, solar panels and gas boilers 1: Insulation: 0. The Warm Homes Plan has been released, finally. At its heart, the Warm Homes Plan is about future-proofing the UK’s housing stock: making homes warmer, cheaper to run and …

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Warm Homes plan to boost heat pumps and solar, but insulation loses out

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The Government unveiled the long-awaited Warm Homes Plan today (January 21), pledging £15bn over five years to help households cut energy bills, boost renewable heating and expand renters’ rights. First announced in 2024, the plan aims to lift one million people out of fuel poverty and spark a “rooftop revolution” …

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BMF shares ideas for growth with Chancellor

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  In the lead-up to the Autumn Budget, the Builders Merchants Federation has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, asking her and fellow Ministers to consider five policy topics with ideas for economic growth. The BMF had previously welcomed the Labour Government’s ambitions to build 1.5 …

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Ministerial merry-go-rounds

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I have been here before, But when, or how, I cannot tell Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. What has an average lifespan of eight months, nine months, or 10 months, depending on whether you are looking back, respectively, over last past five years, 10 years or 20 …

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NI and wage rises hit apprenticeship numbers, say Wavin

NI and wage rises hit apprenticeship numbers, say Wavin

More than half (55%) of plumbers are struggling to hire apprentices due to wage costs and national insurance contributions, according to new research from plumbing and drainage manufacturer Wavin. Whilst wages and national insurance contributions was the most common difficulty cited by plumbers, half also find it difficult to find …

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Water mess

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Once more upon the waters, yet once more! It’s been a while since I last dived into this topic (sorry), but I thought it was about time to revisit the wretched question: how the heck do we sort out the mess our water sector has found itself in? I’m not …

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