Groundbreaking Eco Pod Build in Huddersfield
A fantastic new eco classroom space designed and built in SEND school, using cutting-edge technology to create a unique space for students to learn about sustainable living.
The team in Kirklees, where Pinnacle provides total FM services to three Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) schools in a 25 year contract on behalf of Kirklees Council, has completed a new standalone eco-building at Castle Hill School.
The SEND school is for students ages 3 to 19, supporting and educating children with complex special needs. This new impressive space will allow for a teaching space that is suitable for students to learn about green objectives and the value of recycling.
Led by Michael Cooper, Lifecycle and Variation Manager at Pinnacle Group, the collaborative team worked with architects, William Saunders, and specialist builders, BlokBuild, to build the new classroom structure using sustainable modern methods of construction (MMC), environmentally friendly construction techniques.
The build was designed using a Passivhaus methodology, which is a performance-based set of design criteria which create very low energy buildings. Some of the environmentally friendly features of the new space include; solar panels, a living roof, a heat recovery system, and a unique multi-faceted curved lattice wall with thermal wood cladding.
The mechanical and electrical installations have been designed to provide an energy-efficient building and to include reducing loads, selecting systems that make the most effective use of ambient energy sources and using efficient equipment and effective control strategies. An integrated design approach has been adopted to ensure that the architectural elements and the engineering systems work effectively together.
Electrical systems installed:
- High efficiency LED light fittings with intelligent automatic controls.
- Photovoltaic electricity generation.
Mechanical systems installed:
- Eco water heater with smart technology giving high energy efficiency.
- Electric LST fan heaters with intelligent low energy consuming EC motors.
- High efficiency energy recovery ventilation unit with night time summer building heat purge facility.
The building project, which was featured on the latest series of Channel 4’s Grand Design, was delivered on time and within budget, with the installation being under two weeks during term-time, without disrupting staff or students at the live SEND school site. The school and the students are delighted with their new classroom space.
Michael Cooper said of the project, “School are delighted with the completed project, this will be their flagship building proudly situated at the front of the school site, the students are further overjoyed as the building also includes superb views over the ancient Castle Hill monument.”
Steve Perren, Principal at Castle Hill School commented, “We are also grateful to Pinnacle for collaborating towards success.”
The innovative project has been recently shortlisted for three categories at the Structural Timber Awards for:
- Project of the Year
- Installer of the Year (Blokbuild)
- Product Innovation award (Blokbuild)
The project has also shortlisted on one of the awards for Education Estates:
- Client of the year
Pinnacle Group launches new market rent offering for property investors
Pinnacle Group has launched a new end-to-end property management service for investors and developers looking to deliver long-term growth within the UK’s emerging Build to Rent (BTR) and market rent sectors. Place by Pinnacle expands the Group’s existing market rent offering, providing services direct to investor clients for the first time.
A nationwide provider of urban and suburban property solutions, Place by Pinnacle offers a fully integrated range of market rent services. This includes investor consultancy and insights, property and lettings management, as well as active management of single and multi-family occupancies for the sector, and marketing and brand support.
With an existing management portfolio of over 2,000 homes, Place by Pinnacle responds to clients’ emerging needs for data-led decision making, bespoke reporting and flexible management. Place by Pinnacle embeds market analysis within the service, using its large database of information on market trends and consumer behaviour to help clients make better decisions about their investments. It provides best in class services at competitive prices, whilst protecting both brand and returns.
Place by Pinnacle’s team is made up of letting and management specialists, with combined expertise across private rental housing services. They are complemented by the capacity and capability of the wider Pinnacle Group and nearly 30 years of property management experience.
"Demand within the UK’s rental sector – whether that be BTR or market rent more generally – is growing and we are seeing more people seeking high-quality rental accommodation which offers them flexibility as well as affordability. Naturally that means that investment into the sector is growing too.
“Place by Pinnacle offer investors and developers the support they need to maximise their investment into the sector by leveraging the expertise of our specialist team. We have decades of experience as well as the wider resource available within Pinnacle Group. This allows us to support investors looking to enter or make the most of their position within the BTR and market rent space and achieve attractive returns and long-term growth.
“Our dedicated team takes a holistic, integrated approach to service and scheme delivery. Place by Pinnacle’s bespoke approach is driven by ensuring best value for our clients and protecting their reputation. It is also tailored to each client’s needs, integrating seamlessly with their business objectives and underpinning a wider portfolio offer.”
Ollie Miller
Director of Rental
Place by Pinnacle has extensive experience in the residential marketplace with clients including Legal & General, CBRE IM and Pictet Group – supported by the expertise of the wider Pinnacle Group.
For more information about Place by Pinnacle visit www.placebypinnacle.co.uk.
Pinnacle Group Sets Path to Reach Net Zero Targets
An ambitious ‘Plan to Net Zero’ report has been published by Pinnacle Group, which announces its blueprint for achieving Net Zero on direct emissions in 2025 and total emissions in 2035.
Several sustainable operational and service refinements – for the business and its roster of private and public sector clients, across buildings and facilities, utilities, residential and commercial property management – have already resulted in significant carbon reductions.
By introducing changes such as downsizing offices to promote hybrid working and a partnership with sustainability expert Greenstone to record emissions more accurately, Pinnacle has seen a reduction of 21% on tonnes of CO2 emitted per £1m of revenue – a drop of seven per cent year-on-year. This has been achieved despite Pinnacle increasing its revenue by 43% since its 2020 baseline, representing a 25% year-on-year growth.
Paul de Kock, Head of Projects at Pinnacle Group, said: “Our Plan to Net Zero is an important step for the business. It takes accountability not just for our own carbon emissions, but also for reducing the environmental impact of our private and public sector clients, as well as our dedicated partners throughout our supply chains.
“We’re already making great progress toward our short-term goal of Net Zero in our own direct emissions in 2025, and we are moving closer to reducing our indirect Scope 3 impact in line with our long-term 2035 target.”
Ongoing initiatives in Pinnacle’s plan include a responsible cleaning procurement policy to end the use of environmentally harmful substances in collaboration with supplier BUNZL. Pinnacle is switching its fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles – 41 of which have already been upgraded. Also, a partnership has been struck with Planet First Energy, a social value enterprise and green energy broker, to manage Pinnacle’s transition to green energy.
To date, the operational changes have led to a 38% reduction in Pinnacle’s Scope 1 – its direct greenhouse gas emissions from its own sources – and an 82% decrease in Scope 2, covering direct emissions from purchased electricity or heat.
This has been achieved despite Pinnacle’s acquisition of two operational businesses and a major contract win, leading to significant increases in the company’s numbers of full-time employees and fleet.
Peregrine Lloyd, Group Chief Executive at Pinnacle Group, said: “At Pinnacle, we’re dedicated to delivering services that make a positive difference to people’s lives. We believe our responsibility to communities across the UK includes protecting our environment and ensuring we leave our planet in the best possible shape for future generations. It is a responsibility we take seriously and one which drives our operations, partnerships and strategy forwards to ensure we deliver on our commitment to Net Zero.”
The Plan to Net Zero follows on from Pinnacle’s Carbon Reduction Plan announced earlier this year, which set the parameters for the company’s approach to achieving Net Zero and ensuring it aligned with the internationally recognised Science Based Targets.
For more information about Pinnacle Group and to download Plan to Net Zero, visit here.
Claire Kober: The nation acts locally to mark the passing of our head of state
I’m penning this month’s column as the latest inflation figures are published showing an unexpected fall from August’s 40-year high. On the back of lower petrol prices, the Office for National Statistics has revealed consumer price inflation fell to 9.9 per cent last month, down from 10.1 per cent in July. While undoubtedly welcome news, the fall offers little comfort to millions of families who are facing the winter ahead with a growing sense of trepidation. Further inflationary pressures are a given.
It’s not just households looking nervously to the future. After two years of pandemic, many in the sector had hoped for better times ahead, but as 2022 progresses even the most optimistic observers are concerned about the breadth, scale and complexity of the challenges ahead. The worst cost of living crisis in decades, climate change becoming a reality with the hottest summer on record and volatile national politics resulting in Liz Truss becoming our fourth Prime Minister in six years. On top of it all the conflict in Ukraine continues bringing instability to Europe.
The terribly sad news about the death of the Queen was always going to be a watershed. In a lifetime of service she stood with the nation as it went through many and profound changes. In a crisis she reassured us and during the pandemic her dignity inspired us all. Across the country people are still taking in what a huge turning-point this is in all our lives.
It is striking that even at a time of the greatest national significance, the nation acts locally to mark the passing of our head of state. Across the country we have looked to councils to provide an important focal point for communities to come together and grieve, as well as to mark our Queen’s lifetime of public service. For boroughs that have a particular connection to the Royal Family the levels of organisation have been phenomenal. In London a complex logistical exercise has been stood up to facilitate huge numbers queueing to pay their respects in Westminster Hall at the lying in state. Against a backdrop of severe budgetary and demand pressures it’s testament to the commitment of council members and officers alike that the sector has risen to the challenge of supporting the nation through a solemn and historic moment.
Claire Kober, Managing Director (Homes), Pinnacle Group
This article was originally featured in The MJ.
Yorkshire Three Peaks Success
Recently, a team of colleagues from our Facilities Management (FM) division who are based in Leeds, took on the Yorkshire Three Peak challenge to raise money for Fairfield School in Batley, where Pinnacle Group provide hard and soft FM.
On Friday 17th June a team of 15, including 11 Pinnacle colleagues and staff and Governors from Fairfield set off at 6am to tackle 26-mile trek. A classic trekking challenge, the route took in summits of Pen-y-ghent (694m), Whernside (736m) and Ingleborough (723m).
Assisted by the Pinnacle Group support vehicle, providing sandwiches, energy drinks and much needed pep talks, team members each burned in excess of 4,000 calories taking on some extremely difficult terrain. Over the course of many thousands of steps, and much blood, sweat and tears, the team successfully conquered the challenge in just over 12 hours.
Thanks to their efforts, the team have now raised over £1,000 for Fairfield school. The money raised will go towards developing the school playground. Currently a large open concrete space, the playground will be transformed into four separate smaller areas with a safer soft crumb ground and artificial grass. These will consist of:
-
- A 'bike zone' to resemble a miniature formula one racetrack for bikes and trikes, complete with shed storage space;
- An ‘Active Zone’ with a roundabout, swing, climbing frame, sunken trampoline, bridge, tunnel, and den;
- A 'Gymnasium Zone' for our more active pupils to burn off some energy; and,
- A ‘Relaxation Zone’ with a sensory gazebo, seating area with planters and focal feature, interactive pathway with a sensory tambour tunnel.
Steve Walsh, Business Manager at Fairfield School said: “Thank you again to everyone involved. The day was a fantastic team build event and I hope this may be the first of many joint adventures we can do together.”
Congratulations to all involved on an enormous achievement! If you would like to donate to the cause, please click here.
Pinnacle embarks on landmark £141m MOD accommodation services contract
TODAY marks the official start of Pinnacle Group’s £141M contract to deliver National Accommodation Management Services (NAMS) for 49,000 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) homes across the UK, on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). The high-quality customer services will be delivered by a specialist division – known as Pinnacle Service Families. The contract is for seven years, with an option to extend for up to three years.
The landmark NAMS contract, which was awarded to Pinnacle Group in 2021 due, in recognition of its extensive housing services expertise, is now operational. As of 1 April 2022, Service Personnel and their families will benefit from an enhanced customer journey and experience. Whether moving in or out of properties, raising a repair, or planning scheduled housing maintenance, the customer-facing Pinnacle Service Families team is now the dedicated single point of contact for all Service families' housing management needs.
The go live also marks the start of a new partnership with Sopra Steria as the digital partner, supported by Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL), which is providing its contact centre expertise to Pinnacle Group.
Throughout the process of mobilsation and contract start, Pinnacle has worked closely with DIO and the Regional Accommodation Management Service (RAMS) partners – Amey and VIVO. Military personnel and their families have been represented by the Service Families Federations to ensure their needs are fully considered when developing the service offer. This includes the modernisation of communication methods, with the introduction of a new digital platform to log requests and receive progress updates.
“This significant and essential contract, designed to improve the way Service families access and receive housing accommodation support and services, has been carefully planned in collaboration with all our delivery partners. We are now proud to be acting as the single point of customer contact and reassurance for the management of 49,000 Service Family Accommodation homes across the UK.
“We understand the importance of high-quality housing services and the impact this has on the wellbeing of Armed Forces personnel and their families. With over 25 years of service delivery experience, we are well positioned to deliver best in class services and are deeply committed to the success of this contract. We have invested substantially in the new National Service Centre in Liverpool, where we will deliver the digital platform designed to integrate all housing management and repair aspects of our work. We will also maintain our focus on customer responsive from our nationwide network of service hubs.”
Peregrine Lloyd
Group Chief Executive, Pinnacle Group
“We are excited to launch the new service today which follows months of hard work to mobilise the contract. Over the coming weeks, Service families will begin to see how we are building on our commitment to innovate and modernise, with improvements due to evolve, which will make a big difference to how they access support.
“We have a comprehensive website to keep service families up to date, with new service features being added. We also look forward to working with customers to help shape the service as we move forward.”
Claire Kober
Managing Director, Homes, Pinnacle Group
Air Commodore James Savage
Head of Accommodation, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) “We truly value the service of those in the Armed Forces and are dedicated to ensuring they and their families have the best experience possible when managing housing and accommodation. Winning this contract will allow us to do just that; providing military families with more digital touchpoints to enhance their experience of living in service family accommodation, accelerate resolutions and proactively minimise any potential disruption to their lives. “Estate integration is a growing market for Sopra Steria, and we’re delighted to have been selected by the MOD to provide data-led insight for improved customer service, proactive intervention, and a ‘future of work’ style estates transformation as part of its new FDIS contracts.”
Sue-Ellen Wright
Managing Director, Aerospace, Defence and Security, Sopra Steria
“I’m delighted that we can support Pinnacle to deliver our award-winning contact centre services to all Armed Forces serving personnel and their families. We not only pride ourselves on our enhanced digital capabilities, expertise, and knowledge in contact centre service delivery, but also on the excellent customer experience we extend to all our customers.”
Kenny Morris
Managing Director, SSCL Government
Pinnacle Group Appoints Ark to Strengthen Digital Offer
Pinnacle Group has committed to strengthening its digital offer for customers across its residential management portfolio, signing a three-year deal with Prop Tech start-up Ark.
The move will see Pinnacle use Ark’s cutting-edge platform across thousands of its homes; Ark launched in 2021 to partner with developers, investors and social housing providers to harness communities via a lifestyle app for tenants. Pinnacle, a large-scale property manager overseeing a national portfolio of 80,000 homes across a range of tenures, will pilot the software across its PRS and leasehold management portfolios before rolling out more widely later in the year.
Claire Kober, Managing Director of Pinnacle Group’s Homes business said of the news: “Pinnacle exists to deliver residential management solutions across a range of tenures, portfolios and geographies. We pride ourselves on the highest standards of customer service and are committed to providing a market leading digital service to compliment residents’ lifestyles.
“Ark is a natural partner in our endeavour; the team has created an innovative platform which allows us to better engage with residents across our portfolios using cutting-edge technology. It will mean customers can access our services, connect with their property manager and report a repair from the app on their smartphone. It will also support the drive to build strong, cohesive communities across our sites.
“This is an ambitious partnership. Working together, Ark and Pinnacle Group will transform the quality and accessibility of our service to customers ”
The announcement comes just weeks after Ark announced that award-winning regeneration company Urban Splash would implement its software across its entire, nationwide portfolio in places like Sheffield, Manchester and Birmingham. In late 2021, Runcorn-based Halton Housing also appointed the company to use the Ark platform for residents’ complimentary use in one of its communities.
Angus Reid of Ark explained: “We are just one year into our journey and are thoroughly enjoying partnering with renowned names in the housing sector.
“It is our goal to harness better relationships between landlords, portfolio managers and the people living in their homes, while simultaneously enhancing the living experiences of residents. We’re already seeing early successes of that with Urban Splash and look forward to reaching even more people through this new relationship with Pinnacle; we are delighted to be working with such a prominent property manager.”
Pinnacle Group Launches New Sustainability Commitment
A SUSTAINABILITY pledge has been announced by Pinnacle Group. The published Carbon Reduction Plan details how the business plans to minimise direct and indirect emissions across each of its services and extensive property portfolio over the next decade.
In the plan, Pinnacle Group pledges to achieve net zero on direct emissions as a result of the businesses’ own operations by 2025, and full emissions that account for waste disposal, purchased goods and services, as well as employee commuting by 2035. These goals align with the Science Based Targets definition of achieving net zero.
While the business has already taken several steps to reduce its carbon footprint - including investing in a fleet of electric vehicles and committing to a new sustainable procurement policy for its soft facilities management (FM) cleaning services - the latest plan has developed a clear roadmap to net zero.
To achieve targets, the document outlines Pinnacle Group’s plans to scrutinise current emissions and take action to reduce carbon emission levels via various schemes and behavioral changes. Reducing the environmental impact of business travel, for example, will be delivered via a new Green Business Travel programme. A large-scale review of utility provision across the entire Pinnacle Group estate will also be completed in Spring, with aims to make a complete transition to ‘green energy’.
“Our Carbon Reduction Plan is the result of science backed data analysis and strategy building, so that we can best tackle the sustainability challenge across our facilities management services, homes, utilities and community wellbeing work. We want to create lasting change, so formalising our approach in this new plan holds us accountable and allows for a more measurable journey to net zero against our goals.”
Peregrine Lloyd
Group Chief Executive of Pinnacle Group
“Sustainability is a core pillar of what we champion at Pinnacle Group, so we are proud to push forward on our promises to help protect our planet. This is an exciting step in our net zero journey, which makes our mission clearer in all the strides we’re making to reduce emissions, right across Pinnacle Group services. We look forward to supporting the team in reaching our 2025 and 2035 targets as we strive to become a more sustainable business.”
Paul de Kock
Head of Projects at Pinnacle Group
Pinnacle Group will also launch its “Plan to Net Zero” in the coming months, which aims to drive forward environmental best practice with a focus on employee education.
Pinnacle Group Reports Kickstart Scheme Success During National Careers Week
PINNACLE GROUP has revealed that 30 young people in total have been provided with six-month paid work experience placements through the government’s Kickstart Scheme. Announcing this success during National Careers Week (7-11 March 2022), Pinnacle Group has also reported that this has led to full-time employment for eight young people so far.
The last intake of the government-backed Kickstart scheme, which was aimed at 16-to-24-year-olds receiving Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment, happened in December 2021. Pinnacle Group is now supporting the final cohort through the scheme, which involves them working with a dedicated Kickstart coach to provide regular reviews and feedback.
In addition, Pinnacle Group has further invested in the young people on the Kickstart Scheme by supporting them all with Group Employability Workshops, designed to build confidence and understanding of their role at Pinnacle. Alongside this, the Kickstarters have been supported with other job skills - including how to develop a CV, writing cover letters, completion of application forms, interview techniques and job searching.
Reporting on the success of the Kickstart Scheme, Ben Leahy at Pinnacle Group said: “Supporting the community through engaging with young people and providing job opportunities is very important to us. We are therefore delighted to have taken part in the government’s Kickstart Scheme, which aligned with our people focused values. Although applications are now closed, the positive impact the scheme has had on the young people involved and the Pinnacle team has been tremendous. The fact that this has also led to full-time employment for eight young people so far is further testament to how valuable the scheme has been.”
Sajan Raja, who joined Pinnacle Group through the Kickstart Scheme and is now a full-time Junior Data Analyst, said: “I have found the experience to be really rewarding and I am so pleased to be doing something that challenges me and that I enjoy. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I joined the Kickstart Scheme but it has helped me to discover my strengths and open the door to a career I never thought I was able to have. I am grateful to the team at Pinnacle for taking a chance on me and helping me to thrive.”
New National Standard to Drive Sustainability in New Hygiene Procurement Management Partnership
Pinnacle Group, together with Bunzl Cleaning and Hygiene Services (BCHS) have launched Project Switch – a new national sustainability standard for commercial cleaning and hygiene supplies.
The new Project Switch procurement policy, designed by Pinnacle Group and BCHS, utilises Pinnacle Group’s strategic position in the upward supply chain via its buying behaviours. It will prioritise sustainably sourced cleaning chemicals and hygiene consumables, for use across Pinnacle Group’s soft facilities services portfolio in homes, educational facilities, and public buildings.
As part of the partnership, BCHS has committed to offsetting carbon emissions associated with Pinnacle Group deliveries, so they are carbon neutral, resulting in reduction of Scope 3 Emissions. The ‘Responsible Procurement Policy’ also feeds into Pinnacle Group’s ESG framework. It includes a new supply chain management system and set of supply chain values to develop meaningful socio-economic partnerships. As part of this, 10 per cent of Project Switch’s annual spend will be allocated with approved local SME, VCSE and micro suppliers.
Furthermore, ongoing measurement of the policy will be used to keep reducing the number of post-consumer recycled (PCR) bottles being put back into the circular supply chain, working towards 100 per cent by 2025.
“Over the next two years, Pinnacle Group and BCHS intend to roll out and embed the new purchasing practices outlined within the policy, in order to reduce our carbon emissions and improve the impact we have on the communities we work within as well as the wider environment.
“Sustainable procurement requires a high degree of accountability between buyers and suppliers, and this is at the heart of our supply chain management relationship with BCHS. Taking visible and accountable steps like this is important, as while we recognise it is not always possible to have products meet the requirements of this standard, we are striving towards this by ensuring that there are no products in use that fall below our minimum product standard, which goes above and beyond compliance. A number of reporting systems and metrics have also been developed internally that will allow us to measure our performance and identify areas of opportunity as we move towards 100 per cent use of sustainable procurement.”
Sarah Russell
Procurement Manager, Pinnacle Group
“BCHS is proud to work collaboratively with Pinnacle Group on improving the impact we both have on local communities and the wider environment. Supported by the BCHS Sustainable Solutions initiative, the sustainability procurement policy and carbon offsetting commitment together ensure products are sourced sustainably and have a limited impact on the environment.”
Anna McArdle
Sustainability Manager, BCHS
To find out more about our ESG Framework, made up of the four pillars Protect Our Planet, Our People, Community Impact and Responsible Business, visit.
Proud sponsor of the British Army’s World Record breaking team who rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in aid of the Royal British Legion
Congratulations to the British Army’s Force Atlantic team who recently conquered the “World’s toughest row”. The crew rowed 3,000 miles in 40 days, 23 hours and 57 seconds in record time to become World Record holders for the fastest mixed fours crew to row across the Atlantic Ocean!
At Pinnacle Group we are proud to be advocates for those who protect our nation and to support the wider Armed Forces Community. We are pleased to demonstrate our loyalty to the British Army and The Royal British Legion by sponsoring Force Atlantic, the British Army’s official Mixed Team entry for the 2021 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
The crew, made up of four Instructors from the Royal Army Physical Training Corps: Captain Scott Pollock, Warrant Officer Victoria Blackburn, Staff Sergeant Phillip Welch and Sergeant Laura Barrigan, set off in December to row over 3,000 miles crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
During the gruelling challenge the team faced the ultimate test of physical and mental endurance. Rowing for 12-hours a day in two hours shifts, day and night, the team was faced with an onslaught of waves, sleep deprivation and salt sores.
Back on dry land, the team took some time to rediscover their land legs, eat proper meals, and to fully absorb the extent of their achievement, Captain Scott Pollock took the time to thank all of their sponsors: “A huge, huge thank you to all these very special businesses - your belief and support is what created the spectacle we have seen unfold over the last few weeks”.
Congratulations to the team on their incredible achievement. If you wish to donate to the Royal British Legion click here.
Pinnacle Power’s Apprenticeship for Heat Network Maintenance Technician Announced
PINNACLE POWER, part of Pinnacle Group, is proud to have received approval from the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education for a first-of-its-kind Heat Network Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship. By developing this apprenticeship, Pinnacle Power is actively contributing to boosting the next generation of skilled technicians needed as the UK transitions to a greener economy.
The 36-month apprenticeship is open to those over the age of 16 and will focus on a core Science Technology Engineering & Math (STEM) foundation module, including mechanical, electrical and controls principles, maintenance strategies, as well as safe working practices of heat networks. This core module will be complemented with options to specialise in Heat Interface Units (HIUs), Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) distribution systems, or heat generation plant and equipment.
Heat networks, which are distribution systems that can take heat from a central single source to heat a network of properties, form an important part of the government’s 2050 Net Zero strategy. This is because the energy they provide can be supplied by a range of low/zero carbon heating sources, and ultimately removes the need for individual high carbon heating systems, such as gas boilers.
As more properties in the future will need to reduce carbon emissions to help meet sustainability targets, heat networks and the professionals who install and service them will also need to increase. This is why over the coming months, Toby Powell, Pinnacle Power’s Head of Operations and Chair of the Trailblazer group, will be focusing on the successful roll out the apprenticeship programme.
Toby said: "This is an extremely important initiative that will support the future of heat networks being developed to meet the legally binding targets of NetZero by 2050.
As an industry we are well aware of the current skills gap and I hope that this apprenticeship, alongside other fantastic initiatives being worked on in the sector, will draw in a diverse, new and enthusiastic talent pool to help us drive forward what is expected to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK.
I am excited to begin this journey with the Trailblazer group and continue to build the valuable course structure, before rolling it out more widely and connecting with schools and colleges to partner with, which is our ambition to do.”
This Trailblazer group will be formed of a team of industry representatives, government representatives and associations, working with the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
For more information about the Heat Network Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship programme, please contact: [email protected].