Government Re-Shuffle as Angela Rayner Resigns

  • Angela Rayner resigns as deputy prime minister and housing secretary over failing to pay enough tax on a flat in Hove, East Sussex

  • She also resigns as deputy leader of the Labour Party, and a government reshuffle is now under way (BBC NEWS)

COMMENTS

Lawrence Turner, Director of Boyer said:

“Angela Rayner’s planning reforms rightly acknowledged the scale of the Housing Crisis and the urgent need for bold, decisive action. Her resignation must not become an excuse for delay. The new Secretary of State now bears the responsibility to continue to unlock delivery and work to win the support of local authorities to provide the homes and infrastructure communities desperately need.

For plan-making, continuity here is critical. Local authorities must receive clear assurance from Government that the 30-month local plan timetable remains in place and better guidance on when and how to prepare their new Plans. Without this, plan-making risks stalling at the precise moment when momentum is most needed.

Secondly, the new SoS must act swiftly to remove two major barriers to housing delivery: nutrient neutrality and water scarcity. While the Nature Restoration Fund announcements were a welcome start, they must be accelerated to provide certainty for developers and local authorities and to have any real impact.

Thirdly, Planning departments need proper resourcing. Councils should be allowed to retain 100% of planning fees, enabling investment in staffing and the recruitment of new planners to speed up decision-making. In addition, greater urgency is needed behind the delivery of new towns and major growth areas. These strategic projects offer the scale of housing and infrastructure that piecemeal development cannot achieve, but they require more work to increase momentum through direct government support, infrastructure investment, and clear direction to unlock land quickly.

The new Secretary of State will be judged not by words, but by outcomes. If they can build consensus across local authorities and drive real progress on housing delivery, there remains a genuine opportunity to “turbo-charge” house building

William Nichols, Regional Director of Lanpro said:

Angela Rayner’s resignation, after last night’s revelations, became inevitable. It is also regrettable: she had been at the forefront of some bold housing and planning policies.

The immediate question for the industry is who now carries the baton at MHCLG. Matthew Pennycook would be a logical choice – he has shown a strong grasp of the issues and would offer continuity. But continuity is not always what’s needed. This moment could be an opportunity to rethink aspects of policy that have been less successful, particularly the emphasis on local government reorganisation.

Local government reorganisation may be necessary, but it has distracted attention from housing delivery. In many councils, members and officers facing upheaval have been reluctant to press ahead with local plans when the future geography of their areas is so uncertain A pause here might free ministers to concentrate on what really matters: the growth agenda or local government reorganisation.

And growth cannot be achieved without better integration of housing and infrastructure. We saw the risks only weeks ago when funding was withdrawn for relocating Cambridge’s sewage works – a move that has already had consequences for the preparation of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which has been delayed.

Angela Rayner’s resignation also offers the opportunity to bring fresh thinking to the housing market, with a particular need for a government incentive scheme for new buyers, to boost demand and to introduce badly needed growth in the economy.

The second question is more political: should Keir Starmer retain the post of Deputy Prime Minister? The Starmer–Rayner partnership offered balance, but history suggests the role can be as divisive as it is useful.

There is a danger or extensive political uncertainty over the coming months, with the potentially torturous election process for a new Deputy Leader, which will bring pressure to bear on government policy from both the left and right, and could potentially damage economic confidence.

What is certain is that we are still at the beginning of the growth agenda. Much remains to be done, and the next appointment at MHCLG will be critical in deciding whether the early momentum is sustained or lost.

Colin Brown, Head of Planning & Development, Carter Jonas said:

I think the industry will want to know that the changes the Government has made to the planning system will remain the focus for the incoming Secretary of State, and that there will be no rowing back. There is no doubt that publication of the revised NPPF in December 2024 and the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill have been important moments, pointing to a clear change in direction to build the homes the country needs.

The resignation letter from the former Secretary of State and the response from the Prime Minister indicate this is still central to the Government’s thinking so reassurance can be derived from that.  What we would still like to see is the use of more tools to support the demand side for new housing especially with affordability remaining challenging and we hope the new Secretary of State will focus on that, together with continuing better resourcing for local planning authorities.

Finally, there is a need to ensure that infrastructure provision to support new housing is tackled earlier and at a more regional and national level to ensure that projects are not unnecessarily delayed.

 

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Autumn Budget must put infrastructure delivery front and centre

 

Global engineering consultancy Egis is urging the chancellor to put infrastructure delivery front and centre at her Budget on 26 November 2025 to continue building the confidence the sector needs to justify a significant investment in skills.

Claire Davies, Managing Director at Egis in the UK, says the Budget is an opportunity to build on the approaches outlined in June’s spending review and the subsequent 10-year infrastructure strategy, with an emphasis on delivery and more project-specific funding.

She argues that a shift of emphasis towards delivery has the potential to unlock several projects capable of transforming regions and stimulating economic growth against a background of acute skills shortages in the sector.

Claire Davies said:

“Through this continued focus on infrastructure, the government – one with a big majority and still early in its term – can boost investor confidence across the economy, and it seems to be working. Yet, to be able to deliver on these ambitions, we as an industry need to invest heavily in skills in a way that we have not had the confidence to for some time.

“To build this confidence, we must see as many projects as possible come to fruition as soon as possible, with detail, clarity and consistency. We need the government to build the trust needed for investment.”

 

If the government succeeds in these efforts, the engineering consultancy predicts the industry will gain the confidence to justify investing at the level required to deliver such plans.

“When that happens, it’s not just the investors who win – it’s the communities we serve and the economy as a whole that truly benefit,” added Claire.

Following June’s spending review, a consortium including Egis secured a contract extension to support in advancing Sizewell C, a nationally critical development set to offer a major boost to the UK’s energy security.

Once completed, it will generate enough electricity to power six million homes, equivalent to seven percent of the UK’s energy needs, and is expected to operate for 60 years.

Claire said:

“Sizewell C is a perfect example of how the government’s long-term infrastructure plans can attract meaningful private investment. Alongside strengthening our energy resilience, it also demonstrates the kind of investor confidence possible when strategy is clear and consistent.

“This is the exact kind of momentum we need to maintain. When the public and private sectors work together with a shared purpose, we can deliver infrastructure that transforms communities and drives sustainable economic growth.”

 

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Maldova: Claiming Self Sufficiency in Energy with Renewables

Prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moldova was ranked by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as among the least self sufficient countries in the world in terms of energy. The country imported nearly all of its natural gas from Russia, and gas provided to the Transnistrian region by Russia free of charge was used to generate about 75% of the country’s electricity. With the onset of the war, and Russia’s choice to spark multiple energy crises in Moldova as a tool of coercion, the country has had to make rapid changes.

In April 2025, an all-time record of 36% of the country’s total electricity consumption was provided by locally produced renewable energy. Right now, Moldova has more than 750 MW of installed renewables capacity – more than an 8x increase from 4 years ago. Of this, 529 MW is from photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, 212 MW is from wind energy and the rest is from biogas and hydroelectric. By far the fastest growing source of power generation in Moldova is PV panels.

The Complex Public-Private Mix Driving Investment

Since Moldova fully broke away from Russian supplied energy, consumer electricity prices have skyrocketed. This has led to a major push from the government to diversify energy sources and modernize the country’s energy market. In a situation where the country’s only major traditional power generation capability is two small scale Soviet-era thermoelectric plants, this has led to a major pivot towards renewables.

Carolina Novac, State Secretary of the newly created Ministry of Energy, explained that the government now has 3 priorities in the energy market – security, affordability and competition. Taken together these priorities mean Moldovan made energy, especially renewables. The Ministry recently approved the results of a series of tenders for the construction of new renewable energy installations, namely 105 MW of wind and 60 MW of solar.

According to Irina Apostol, Energy Manager at NGO Green City Lab in Chisinau, investments like these are attractive because the suppliers can benefit from 15 year fixed-rate supply contracts. But there are also options for smaller investors to get involved in Moldova’s energy transition. For “small producers” building photovoltaic plants up to 1 MW there is another program allowing for regulated fixed-rates for power production also on 15-year contracts. This program has limits though, equipment can’t be older than 36 months and there is a cap on the total capacity that can be licensed under this plan. The country’s existing power grid and regulatory framework mean that there are lots of new opportunities, but also lots of upgrades and reforms needed to build a modern, green energy system.

Energy Aggregators and Small Investors

Navitas Energy, a subsidiary of Moldova’s largest power company Premier Energy, is a major player in Moldova’s renewable energy market. The company operates on the unregulated market, buying and selling energy according to market prices without long term guaranteed contracts. They have constructed 5 photovoltaic parks of their own with a capacity of 18 MW, but also work with other small producers as an aggregator.

The small investors behind those 121 solar and wind power plants sell energy to Navitas which bundles this power and sells it forward – both to Moldovan customers and on the Romanian and Ukrainian markets. This allows small producers who might not be eligible for fixed contract government programs to invest and sell their energy to consumers. The average producer in Navitas’ network is relatively small scale, meaning that small investors that bring wind turbines from Germany or build PV parks can easily connect to the broader energy market even as Moldova works to build a national energy market of its own.

Prosumers – Making Pies with Solar Power

Brutăria Bardar is a bakery located around 20 minutes outside Chisinau. It specializes in cakes, cookies, and especially frozen traditional Moldovan pies called “plăcinte”. The company has seen rapid growth in recent years thanks to improved access to the European market and a line of products that has found buyers across Europe in Romania, Germany, France, Ireland and elsewhere. A big part of their growth story was CEO Victor Nistorica’s decision to invest in solar panels in 2022. Using a combination of loans and support programs provided at the time by Moldova’s Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA) he was able to install 110 kW of photovoltaic panels on the roof of his production facility.

Back in 2022 when they first installed the panels, the power produced was enough to cover around 70% of what was demanded by the host of industrial ovens, mixers, deep fryers, fridges and freezers required to produce their signature pies. After the company’s rapid expansion, the panels were only able to cover about a third of their 2024 needs. Victor Nistorica is actively looking for more roof space to expand his solar investments.

Brutăria Bardar is a “prosumer,” meaning both a producer and a consumer of electricity. According to Victor Nistorica the fact that he consumes around 90% of his own power is a benefit – for now. If he overproduces power he can sell it to the power company, but at a rate far less than it costs him to buy power back from them when the sun isn’t shining. If he expands his photovoltaic production, then he might choose to invest in battery storage to make sure he can consume as much of his own power as possible – but the return on investment (ROI) isn’t quite there with his current setup.

As a “prosumer” Brutăria Bardar is making the choices that the Ministry of Energy has sought to incentivize for small businesses and for personal households. Moldova’s energy grid is fragile and badly in need of modernization. If too many end users overinvest and sell energy into the network things will become unstable – a problem that has led to power failures in other countries. These infrastructure limits set up the next big challenge, and opportunity, in Moldova’s energy transition. Batteries and load balancing.

Batteries and a Modern Energy Market

The next big investment space in Moldova’s energy market is all around energy balancing. When the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing people still use power – and right now almost all of that power is imported. At a national level there are already major plans to invest in solutions for energy balancing and to meet peak energy needs.

According to Jose Luis Gomez Pascual, Country Manager for Premier Energy Moldova, batteries will be a major part of this effort. Navitas Energy is already preparing tenders in this area and large EU backed government tenders are expected to come this year. He sees a future where various solutions, including batteries, help solve the problems of peak consumption and balancing. Taken together, these solutions will allow for a much more robust Moldovan domestic energy system. But only after Moldova fully liberalized its energy market.

Batteries are expensive. Whether you are a bakery prosumer or a national power company the current ROI for private investment in batteries doesn’t quite add up. That’s because Moldova doesn’t have an hourly spot market allowing for buying and selling energy based on supply and demand. With such a mechanism, greater demand at night and on cloudy days would drive up prices and incentivize more investments in storage.

The Ministry of Energy is working on this problem now. They are in the process of setting up a National Energy Market Operator (OPEM – from the Romanian acronym) which will be responsible for “creating and operating a transparent, efficient and sustainable electricity market.” According to State Secretary Carolina Novac, OPEM should enter a testing phase in late 2025 and is planned to be operational in 2026. OPEM is a subsidiary of OPCOM, Romania’s experienced Energy and Natural Gas market operator.  Once this market is operational in Moldova, it is expected to unlock even more free-market investment into Moldova’s energy space.

The Ministry has announced that in October of this year they will launch a new tender for the purchase of additional renewable capacity and battery storage. Critically, this will involve large investments in batteries for load balancing and stabilizing the electric grid – something required for additional renewable investment, and to meet European interconnectivity standards. Storage investments like this will open up new scaling opportunities for the private sector and will contribute to Moldova’s energy security.

Looking Forward – A National March Towards Renewable Energy

Moldova’s renewable energy transition is being driven by security concerns and necessity in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The country’s long neglected infrastructure and legal framework has resulted in a situation where lots needs to be done – and quickly. In addition to the programs and investments mentioned already, the government is planning massive investments in modernizing public and private infrastructure. Homes, apartment buildings and schools will be renovated with modern insulation and offered opportunities to install photovoltaic panels and heat pumps. This national program, called “Green House,” is supported by EU funding and majorly expanded this summer.

Irina Apostol of Green City Lab described other programs aimed at incentivizing more private investments in the prosumer space. Right now the UNDP is helping pilot the creation of “Renewable Energy Communities” – a new legal structure that allows prosumers to pool energy resources and investments and share in the resulting production. In the future, additional legislation is planned to further simplify this process for apartment buildings, allowing residents to collectively invest in rooftop solar panels. Innovations like these are one example of what is possible under a new regulatory “sandbox” law designed to pilot innovative energy investments. The Ministry of Energy hopes that this lighter regulatory framework will allow Moldova to become a testbed for new renewable energy technology.

Back in September 2023 energy expert Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti wrote an op-ed for Time Magazine arguing that Moldova might become Europe’s “first truly green country.” In her piece she explained that the pressures of the war combined with Moldova’s lack of traditional energy infrastructure set the conditions for a rapid modernization and pivot to renewables. The idea is that compared to other European countries, the lack of legacy power plants becomes an advantage – “the counterintuitive luxury of being able to almost start from scratch.”

Now, more than 2 years later, the combination of government reforms, private investment and EU support are coming together to make this possible. The country’s currently installed solar capacity rivals or exceeds its regional neighbors as a percentage of national consumption. On September 19th, Moldova Business Week will feature the “Power Up Moldova” event dedicated to energy sector investment. It aims to bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss the country’s energy strategy and investment opportunities. With public sector focus, and powered by private investment, Moldova’s energy transition is gaining speed. While there is still a long way to go, it is becoming clear that renewable power will be the core of the country’s modern energy infrastructure.

 

 

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“A Future Engineer in the Making”: Seeing Security through a Child’s Eyes

   

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming 12-year-old technology enthusiast Harrison, to our headquarters in Telford. Harrison, who has a passion for innovation and engineering has been a DeterTech fanatic since he first encountered a PID360 near his house. Spending hours sketching, photographing, and even building his own PID360 (complete with audio!), Harrison told his parents when he grows up, he wants to be a DeterTech engineer.

 Impressed by his models, we sent Harrison a gift box filled with DeterTech goodies, craft supplies, and a letter from everyone at DeterTech to keep his creativity flowing. Harrison’s father, Richard, got in contact to say how much it meant to him.

 Everyone at DeterTech was extremely inspired by Harrison and eager to meet him, so we invited him to spend the day at DeterTech to learn what it would take to become an engineer in the future. During his visit, Harrison toured the facilities, met the team, and even spent some time grilling our CEO Baba Devani about the skills and subjects required to follow his dream career at DeterTech.

When asked about his day at DeterTech, Harrison explained that it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and that it was “better than all birthdays combined”.

 Harrison’s dad added:

“To put things further into context, Harrison has amongst other diagnoses, autism and learning difficulties. The entire team have all helped in our quest for our son to believe in himself and realise that he does have it in him to fulfil his dreams. Harrison loved speaking with everyone from admin and sales roles, engineering, manufacturing, and dispatch and has not stopped telling everyone about the day.”

 

Baba Devani, CEO at DeterTech said:

“It’s moments like this that remind us why it’s so important to engage with and inspire the next generation. Youngsters like Harrison are our future innovators, engineers, and problem-solvers. It’s the skill and enthusiasm of our people that drives the quality of the technology and services we deliver.

 “Thank you to Harrison for helping us to see our own business through a child’s eyes. It reminds us why we work so hard to bring peace of mind to people and communities every day. And who knows? Maybe we’ve just inspired a future engineer”.

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Powering the City of Zürich Using Recycled Waste Heat

Large-scale ammonia heat pump solution contributes to Switzerland’s sustainable heat transition with anticipated efficiency gains of up to 30% 
 
Johnson Controls, the leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced that it will provide green heat to the city of Zürich through a new waste incineration project spearheaded by the municipal utilities of Zürich ERZ (Entsorgung & Recycling Zurich). The project entails the expansion of the plant with a third process line and heat recovery from the flue gases. As part of the project, Johnson Controls’ heat pumps feed the recovered energy into the district heating network and provide additional heat to around 15,000 homes. Starting operations in 2027, the solution is one of the largest in Europe to use the zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant ammonia in a heat pump application on this scale.
According to the European Heat Pump Association, heat accounts for more than 60% of energy use in European industries and there is significant potential to meet this need using freely available ambient or waste heat sources (estimates suggest that wasted heat in the EU could meet the bloc’s entire energy demands for central heating and hot water). Heat pumps can harvest this heat – for example from land, water, air or industrial processes and are typically three to four times more efficient than conventional systems.
“As one of the largest untapped sources of energy, excess heat represents huge potential for businesses to reduce operating costs and become more resilient while meeting decarbonization targets,” said Richard Lek, Johnson Controls president, EMEA. “In 2024 alone, Johnson Controls helped cut customers’ expenses by 53% and reduce emissions by 60% compared to conventional natural gas boilers. We are proud to be partnering with ERZ on this innovative project and highlight the tremendous opportunity of waste heat sources – paving the way toward more energy-efficient and sustainable urban environments.”
For the city of Zürich, Johnson Controls will provide a custom-made heat pump solution with six high performance screw compressors, delivering a total system output of 42 MW. The heat pumps will extract low-temperature heat from the flue gas of a large waste-to-energy facility – raising the overall efficiency of the plant significantly. To maximize the waste heat extraction and further increase efficiency, the units will be applied as three pairs of heat pumps operating in series, reducing the lift required, and expected to boost efficiency by as much as 30%.
Furthermore, the operating conditions are ideal for the heat pumps as they are positioned first in a combination of multiple heat sources that raises the temperature before being supplied back to the grid. This ensures the optimum overall efficiency of the plant.
“The City of Zürich is actively committed to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2040 and a major part of this is the increase of carbon free supply of heat. By teaming up with Johnson Controls, we’re further driving momentum in the heat transition and paving the way toward a more sustainable future,” said Jürg Bruder, ERZ.
Johnson Controls was among the first providers of heat pumps and today offers one of the world’s most comprehensive portfolios for commercial, institutional and industrial organizations. Its industrial and commercial heat pumps are delivering competitive advantage to customers and partners across all industries – from global industrial and manufacturing organizations to hospitals, local municipalities, and utilities – while having a positive impact on the environment. The company is also helping to lead the transition to more sustainable refrigerants, offering heat pumps that use low and ultra-low global warming potential fluids.
Johnson Controls is working with a number of district municipalities to provide clean heating including Hamburg Energy, Stadtwerke Neustadt in Holstein, Energie Baden-Württemberg and Stadtwerke Rosenheim.
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Construction Optimism at its Lowest Since 2022

Business activity falls for eighth month in a row, but at slower pace than in July
Solid reductions in new work and employment Optimism drops to its lowest since December 2022
S&P Global PMI® survey data pointed to a decline in total industry activity for the eighth successive month, led by marked reductions in the housing and civil engineering segments.

At the same time, business activity projections for the year ahead were the least upbeat since December 2022.

The headline S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®) – a seasonally adjusted index tracking changes in total industry activity – registered 45.5 in August, up from 44.3 in July (which was the lowest reading for just over five years). However, the index was still well below the neutral 50.0 value and indicative of another solid decline in overall construction output.

August data indicated that a slower reduction in commercial building (index at 47.8) helped to offset steeper declines in residential (44.2) and civil engineering activity (38.1). The latest reduction in output across the house building category was the sharpest since February.

Civil engineering was the weakest-performing segment in August, with business activity decreasing at the fastest pace since October 2020. Survey respondents again commented on a lack of new projects to replace completed work.

Total new orders across the construction sector decreased for the eighth month running in August, although the rate of decline eased to the least marked since January. Construction companies widely commented on challenging market conditions, intense price competition and headwinds from sluggish UK economic activity.

Lower volumes of output and incoming new work led to hiring freezes and the non-replacement of departing staff in August. Employment numbers have fallen throughout 2025 to date and the latest reduction was the fastest since May. A number of firms commented on efforts to mitigate rising payroll costs by cutting back on recruitment. Subcontractor usage also decreased markedly in August and at one of the fastest rates seen over the past five years.

A lack of forthcoming project starts led to a solid reduction in purchasing activity across the construction sector. The latest decline in input buying was the sharpest for three months.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE DATA 

 

COMMENTS:

Tim Moore, Economics Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said:

“Construction activity has decreased throughout the year- to-date, which is the longest continuous downturn since early-2020. August data signalled only a partial easing in the speed of decline after output fell at the fastest pace for over five years in July.

“Sharply reduced levels of housing and civil engineering activity were again the main reasons for a weak overall construction sector performance. Commercial work showed some resilience in August, with the downturn the least marked for three months.

“There were some positive signals on the supply side as vendors’ delivery times shortened, subcontractor

availability improved and purchasing price inflation hit a ten-month low. However, easing supply conditions mostly reflected subdued demand and a lack of new projects.

“Elevated business uncertainty and worries about broader prospects for the UK economy meant that construction sector optimism weakened in August. The proportion of panel members expecting a rise in output over the year ahead was 34%, down from 37% in July and lower than at any time since December 2022.”

Gareth Belsham, director of Bloom Building Consultancy, commented:

“Things have gone from bad to worse for housebuilders, with residential construction output falling at its fastest rate since February.

“The rate of decline is more modest in commercial building construction, but this one bright note can’t mask the overall slowing in the industry.

“Official data from the ONS ranked construction as the fastest growing sector of the economy in the second quarter of 2025, but the PMI data suggests momentum is patchy at best.

“Most worrying of all is the slowing pipeline of new work. New orders have fallen for eight months in a row, and while contractors tend to book projects months in advance, even big names are starting to see their order books thinning out.

“Little wonder contractor sentiment is weak and many construction firms are either laying off payrolled staff or freezing recruitment. While some of this can be attributed to the increase in employer National Insurance contributions introduced earlier this year, the use of subcontractors also fell sharply in August.

“None of this speaks to an industry full of confidence. Just a third of the contractors interviewed for the PMI survey expect output to improve over the next year – a lower proportion than at any time since December 2022.

“Yet there are a few glimmers of hope. Last month’s reduction in the Bank of England base rate should bring some relief to contractors grappling with high levels of debt, and make finance more affordable for developers.

“And while Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s plan to get 1.5 million new homes built by 2029 is likely to join Whitehall’s growing list of Quixotic housebuilding targets, the stability of the commercial construction sector is welcome. Commercial schemes with a clear business case and robust costings are still being approved, but developers and investors are cautious, and value is key.”

Jordan Smith, Regional Director at Thomas & Adamson, part of Egis Group, said:

“Although August’s PMI reading shows a slightly slower pace of decline than July’s five-year low, the construction sector continues to contract rather than grow, meaning it is a challenging market for everyone to navigate through. Reductions in housing and civil engineering sectors continue to be experienced; however, commercial projects have offered some resilience as we have seen first-hand as we are actively engaged on a number of commercial and workplace schemes.

“With the Bank of England’s interest rate being cut to 4% in August, the cost of borrowing is at the lowest level for more than two years, so there is cause for optimism that signs of movement could be on the horizon as the cost of finance becomes slightly more attractive to developers. This all helps with viability of potential projects, together with other positive emerging signs such as steadying of purchase prices and shorter lead times for materials, which we hope to see sustained as activity picks up towards the end of 2025.

“Whilst the data also notes a freeze on new hires, this is not necessarily the case across the board. Thomas & Adamson and the wider Egis Group are committed to recruiting and developing the next generation of talent within our businesses, and have several new hires on the horizon.

“The Scottish Government has this week announced a fresh commitment to invest £4.9bn in new homes over the next four years. This should hopefully create new momentum north of the border, and be reflected in the data seen throughout the remainder of the year.”

 

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SFA Saniflo UK to Showcase Innovative Solutions at Screwfix Live 2025

   

SFA Saniflo UK will exhibit at Screwfix Live 2025, taking place at Farnborough International Exhibition Centre from 26–28 September.

On Stand T14 in Hall 1, Saniflo will present a selection of its products, including the Saniflo Up macerator, Sanivite+ for kitchens and utilities, and the robust Sanicom 1 for commercial settings.

For installers, the focus is on speed and ease of fitting, with solutions designed for projects where traditional plumbing may be complex. For homeowners, the products offer reliable, space-saving answers to everyday challenges, from adding new bathrooms to upgrading tired spaces.

Saniflo’s attendance underlines its strong partnership with Screwfix and ongoing commitment to supporting both trade professionals and consumers with innovative, practical solutions.

CLICK TO VISIT THE SANIFLO WEBSITE

 

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Sunlight Scattering Cement

 

by Rosemary Potter

In a significant advancement for sustainable construction, researchers in China have unveiled a novel cement capable of reducing urban heat by scattering sunlight, promising to revolutionize energy efficiency in buildings.

 

In a groundbreaking development, researchers from Southeast University in China have unveiled a new type of cement that has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. This innovative material, designed to scatter rather than absorb sunlight, promises substantial environmental benefits and enhanced durability. By achieving a significant temperature drop during peak sunlight exposure, this supercool cement could dramatically reduce urban heat and energy consumption in buildings. The research highlights the cement’s impressive mechanical robustness and adaptability, potentially setting a new standard for sustainable construction materials.

Innovative Cooling Properties

The newly developed supercool cement achieves its cooling effect through a unique photonic architecture. According to the research, this design allows the cement to lower its surface temperature by 9.72°F during midday conditions, even in intense sunlight. This temperature reduction is facilitated by a solar intensity of 850 watts per square meter.

Such a cooling capability is made possible through the engineering of meta surfaces within the cement. The material acts as a matrix-directed radiative cooling material, making it suitable for use in roofs and walls. This innovation not only cools surfaces but also serves as a structural component, providing a multifunctional solution for sustainable building design.

The meta surface engineering strategy offers a universal solution that can be applied even to conventional Portland cement, enhancing its cooling properties. This adaptability suggests that the new cement could be integrated into existing construction practices without significant changes, potentially leading to widespread adoption.

Advancements in Chemical Composition

The development of this cement involved precise adjustments to its chemical composition. Researchers focused on modifying the small particles, or clinkers, that form the base of the cement. By altering these particles, they created a structure capable of effectively scattering sunlight.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, outlines how the self-assembly of reflective ettringites as main hydration products contributes to this effect. These ettringites, combined with hierarchical pores, ensure a high solar reflectance of 96.2 percent. Additionally, raw materials rich in alumina and sulphur enhance the cement’s mid-infrared emissivity to 96 percent, further boosting its cooling properties.

This chemical innovation not only enhances the cement’s ability to reflect sunlight but also ensures its durability and mechanical strength, making it suitable for various environmental conditions.

Robust Performance Validated

Extensive performance tests have confirmed the high mechanical robustness of the supercool cement. The material demonstrates resilience under compressive, flexural, abrasive, and adhesive forces. Its amphiphobicity and plasticity allow it to be moulded into complex shapes, adding to its versatility.

The study emphasizes the cement’s cost-effectiveness and scalable fabrication processes, which provide significant advantages over other materials. These attributes make it an attractive option for coatings, structural roofs, and walls, even in severe environments.

Researchers have described the cement as a novel type with self-assembled reflective crystals on its light-interactive surfaces. By achieving high solar reflectance and blackbody-like emissivity in the long-wave infrared spectrum, this cement offers a promising solution for eco-friendly construction.

Potential Impact on Urban Environments

Applying this supercool cement to urban buildings could lead to significant energy savings. Guo Lu, the first author of the study, highlighted that the innovation transforms conventional cement, known for storing heat, into an eco-friendly material with solar heat reflection and emission capabilities.

Real-time performance measurements on actual building roofs demonstrated the cement’s effectiveness. During peak temperatures of 101.1°F, the supercool cement maintained a temperature 9.72°F lower than its surroundings. In contrast, conventional cement heated up to 59°F, illustrating the stark difference in performance.

These findings suggest that integrating supercool cement into urban planning could play a crucial role in climate response strategies, reducing the urban heat island effect and lowering energy demands for cooling.

This innovative development raises important questions about the future of construction materials. Could supercool cement become a standard component in building design, significantly impacting energy consumption and urban temperatures worldwide?

 

Source: Sustainability Times

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BACK TO SCHOOL – SAME OLD STORY ON FIRE SAFETY

 

Thomas Roche, Secretary of Business Sprinkler Alliance

We are about to start another school year and once again, we find ourselves having the same discussion about fire safety guidance for schools. The last attempt to revise Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) was back in 2021 but nothing came of it, with government sliding aspects into the generic design brief for schools. This leaves us with a gap to the guidance written in 2007. In the meantime, schools have continued to face serious fires, leaving communities to deal with avoidable consequences.

Recently, I was speaking with Terry McDermott, former Chief Fire Officer for Derbyshire and now part of the National Fire Sprinkler Network. The conversation turned to school fires, and he reminded me of three that happened in Derbyshire during a four-month period in 2020. Terry later spoke with the headteacher of one of those schools. The school has since been rebuilt and reopened. This time, thanks to a decision by Derbyshire County Council, the new building was fitted with sprinklers.

What struck me from their conversation wasn’t the rebuilding itself, but everything that happened in between.

The headteacher remembers the event vividly, from the moment she received a call from the alarm company asking if there was a fire (when she assumed they would be calling the fire service), to standing outside watching firefighters try, unsuccessfully, to stop the flames from destroying part of her school. She remembers being kept informed with what was happening, but the school burnt down in front of her.

In the immediate aftermath, she convened a meeting in the local church. The number one concern? Continuity of education.

Children began home schooling, then 200 pupils were split between four different schools. This meant buses every day, teaching assistants supervising travel, and anxious parents and pupils facing the disruption. Some children worried whether their temporary schools might also burn down. Fire drills became traumatic for the youngest.

Even lunch became an issue. The catering system had to be reworked with food prepared centrally, then distributed to four schools that didn’t have the space or capacity to handle the extra meals. Problems cropped up constantly, requiring staff to step in.

Those same staff faced longer commutes, fewer resources, heavier workloads, and mounting pressure. Staff retention became an issue with several leaving entirely.

Eventually, temporary buildings were brought in, and these stayed for nearly two years.

While the major rebuild decisions were handled by others, the headteacher and her staff were still drawn into discussions on school layout and design, all while trying to hold lessons together. The mental, logistical, and emotional toll was relentless.

Listening to Terry relay that conversation, it struck me how often the impact of a school fire is reduced to “things” or money. Consultations on fire safety requirements, including sprinklers, often focus on removing measures to cut costs. When asked why, the answer is usually about money.

But this story is a reminder that the real impact is human with the disruption to education, the distress to children and the relentless pressure placed on staff.

Just last week I saw a piece from the Department of Education1 championing the fact that they had reduced the level of non-attendance in schools. They estimated they had unlocked £2 billion in future earnings. Their point being a lost day in school is estimated to cost £750 in lost earning across the career of a typical student. It made me think about the school in Derbyshire which as a headline cost £6.9 million to rebuild but what was the true cost when we figure in all the impacts?

Do not get me wrong when we speak of schools, the immediate safety of those on site is always the priority. However, we also need to think of the longer-term impacts. I was heartened to hear that the new rebuilt school is fitted with sprinklers. I could not help but think if they had been fitted in the first place this would have significantly reduced the resultant damage, leading to minimal disruption to education. The focus could have remained where it belongs on learning, limiting future impact and not on surviving the aftermath of a fire.

Until the fire safety guidance reflects that reality, we will keep having this conversation every September.

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Transforming the Future of Plumbing & Heating Education

City & Guilds, a global leader in skills development, and the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (CIPHE), the professional body for the UK plumbing and heating industry, has announced a new strategic collaboration designed to transform the future of plumbing and heating education.

This landmark agreement brings together two recognised leaders in vocational training and professional standards to tackle critical workforce challenges facing the sector. The partnership will enhance training quality, expand educational access, and future-proof the workforce through innovative joint initiatives.

The collaboration responds to urgent industry needs highlighted in City & Guilds recent report  “Foundations for the Future: Building the Skills to deliver 1.5 million homes”, which found that 24% of Plumbing and heating training providers struggled to recruit learners.  The partnership aims to deliver impactful solutions that support learners, educators, and employers while closing the skills gap in this essential industry.

The CIPHE’s 2024 Education Survey identified issues with current plumbing standards, with 90% of respondents supporting a proposal to introduce both Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships. In addition, there was widespread support for an Experienced Worker Route to help upskill the industry.

The collaboration will deliver transformative benefits:

  • Accelerate capacity building in the education sector – by designing and delivering co-sponsored Train the Trainer programmes that strengthen the educator workforce and improve training standards across the industry.
  • Raise awareness of career opportunities – by educating learners and their parents about the economic prospects and professional pathways available in the plumbing and heating industry.
  • Future-proof the esteem and validity of recognised training routes – by developing and updating qualifications and assessments in line with industry-recognised competence frameworks, ensuring training remains relevant.
  • Recognise a skilled workforce and reward lifelong learning – by linking qualification achievement and Continuing Professional Development to the industry.
  • Support the bursaries and awards of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers whose ordinances date back to 1365.

The partnership recognises the urgent need to close the industry’s skills gap, by providing practical solutions that directly support learners, educators, and employers.

Both City & Guilds and CIPHE are long-established institutions with Royal Charters, with decades of experience within the education and training landscape. This collaboration cements a long-standing relationship – City & Guilds as the UK’s largest awarding organisation in plumbing and heating, and CIPHE as an educational charity promoting the science and engineering principles of plumbing and heating for the ultimate benefit of the public.

Together, they will harness industry insight, extensive networks, and educational expertise to drive meaningful change through innovation and excellence.

Kirstie Donnelly MBE, CEO of City & Guilds commented:
“This collaboration marks a significant step forward in filling urgent skills needs. It will empower learners and educators in the plumbing and heating sector with the support they need to succeed. By combining our expertise with CIPHE’s deep industry insight, we’re creating a powerful platform for innovation, excellence, and opportunity. Together, we’re not just responding to the needs of today’s workforce—we’re building strong foundations for a competent and thriving future talent pipeline.”

 

Kevin Wellman, CEO of CIPHE, added:
“We are delighted to formalise this strategic collaboration with City & Guilds. Our shared commitment to raising standards, supporting professional development, and promoting the value of skilled trades will have a lasting impact on the plumbing and heating sector. This will help ensure that our industry is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and professional standing it deserves to safeguard the safety, health and wellbeing of the public.”

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