Mike Lawrence, Chairman of the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA), expressed concerns about BIM and the availability and appropriateness of training, when he spoke at the Federation’s annual lunch in London on April 16th.
He told guests: “All the Associations have been working to try to understand what is required of them for BIM and preparing to be in a position to supply it.
“All the Associations have concerns about the recruitment of people into their industries and about the availability and appropriateness of training available for their recruits.”
He said he was pleased that the RACHP industries have received Government endorsement for their Trailblazer Apprenticeship Course and that ADCAS and B&ES are working together on a Trailblazer scheme for the ductwork sector, aiming for approval in the next round.
Continued Lawrence: This is important because Industry will be in control of the syllabus development. We will get the training that we, as employers, want our future employees to have had.”
It had been a busy year for FETA, he added. “Last July we had the 30-year celebration of FETA at the Savoy, attended by the Home Secretary, Theresa May, and many of our friends from government and the press; we have said goodbye to Cedric Sloan at the end of 18 years dedicated service as Director General during which FETA has grown in size and influence; and we have said hello to Russell Beattie as our Chief Executive.”
The external event that has been, and is, causing work for many members is the new legislation regarding replacement refrigerants, he commented.
“BRA has a Working Group, which has the title PURR – Putting into Use Replacement Refrigerants. This Group will issue its report in the next month. In the past our efforts have been to try to ensure that the legislation would be workable and achieve its declared objective. Now, and for the next ten years or so, we have to take the necessary actions to comply. This will not be easy but it is technically possible.”
The new Ecodesign Directive will also place considerable demands on the industry, he added. “Any product group can get caught up in this. The European Commission can decide that any group of products needs investigating and having maximum energy performance criteria applied to it. About nine product groups that affect our members are entwined in this system.”
The EU has recently announced that it is going to study the system with a view to revising it.
Continued Lawrence: “FETA will be acting, with our friends and the multinational groups of which we are members, to improve the basic methodology of this Directive. I must make it clear that the intention of this Directive is good and its correct use should be beneficial.”