SMART HEATING
Training
Heating controls have been given a
class to indicate how well they are
rated for energy efficiency.
When considering a move into
the smart market, product training
should be number one on the list.
Manufacturer training courses are
a good starting point, as they will
know the product range inside
out and be best placed to answer
any questions.
Leading manufacturers offer
courses specifically on smart
heating controls, both face-to-face
and via online modules, meaning
that there is an option to suit
even the busiest schedule. Either
way of course, training means
time away from paid work, but
given that upskilling in this area
will open doors to new business
opportunities, it’s something that’s
worth investing in.
Most smart heating control
installations need both a qualified
electrician and a gas installer to
complete, opening valuable routes
to new business. As a result,
partnership working should be
another cornerstone of the strategy.
Choosing one partner or a group
of companies to partner with can
help to make sure you have access
to the right resources when you
need them, and will equally provide
helpful pipelines of work.
If you don’t have any links
with local installers as yet, come
up with a list of criteria before
researching nearby companies. As
well as being Gas Safe Registered,
consider criteria such as whether
they are already advertising
themselves as a smart installer, and
which brands they use. Consider
setting up a meeting with potential
partners to talk through subjects
like customer service, turnaround
times and charging structures,
which can all shed light on a
company’s working practices.
Reading material
Alongside training, keeping up to
date with the latest legislation will
make you a more valuable partner in
an increasingly competitive space.
Reading the trade press and signing
up to news bulletins will help you
to keep on top of the news agenda
and abreast of the relevant issues.
Good examples here are the
European Union’s Energy-related
Products Directive (otherwise known
as ErP) legislation which came into
force in September last year, and the
Chancellor’s latest Budget.
Under ErP, heating controls
have been given a class to indicate
how well they are rated for energy
efficiency. Legally, if a heating
control and boiler are installed at the
same time, a package label showing
the system’s overall efficiency must
be produced. While you might
assume that such a responsibility
would sit with the installer, the
guidance is unclear, and so
electricians working on heating
systems should be equally aware of
the requirements if they are to guard
against potential fines.
Meanwhile, the government
announced in its recent Budget that
it will implement recommendations
from the Infrastructure Committee
on Smart Power, which include
helping to reduce the overall
demand for electricity on the grid. In
practice, that means products that
can better control energy use – of
which smart heating controls are
one – will become even more of a
focus for consumers.
Networking
It can be tough keeping up with
such detail during the busy working
week, so another tip would be to
consider joining a manufacturer’s
network. These groups are often
characterised by regular news
briefings alongside opportunities
to get involved with research and
development, giving professionals
the chance to shape the products
on the shelf.
Becoming a member can be
a useful marketing tool, as it will
tend to include the ability to list
your details on the manufacturer’s
website, making it easier for
consumers to find you. In fact,
positioning yourself as a smart
electrician is a vital step in moving
into the smart heating controls
market. Even using the term on
your website and van livery will
help customers to identify you as
a relevant and trusted contact for
such work.
Ultimately the smart controls
market represents an exciting
opportunity for professional
electricians to extend their service
offering and capture new business
that would otherwise have been
out of reach. By taking the relevant
steps to position themselves as
smart electric