2006/07 MILESTONES AT A GLANCE

Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Ltd (BESCA) established a Competent Persons scheme under the Building Regulations in England and Wales.

Association members were automatically registered with the Contractor Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS).

The Construction Licensing Executive in Scotland and Northern Ireland pronounced as “second to none” the
HVCA’s independent member inspection and assessment regime.

An updated Strategic Plan – covering 2007 to 2010 – was published, setting out the HVCA’s strategic objectives and key areas for action.

HVCA signed the Construction Commitments charter developed by the Strategic Forum for Construction in relation to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

A total of 185 MPs from all the main parties supported an HVCA-inspired House of Commons Early Day Motion calling for improved payment practices across construction. The success of the EDM was due largely to the lobbying efforts of HVCA members.

Former Liberal Democrat leader the Right Hon Charles Kennedy MP was the guest speaker at the HVCA Annual Dinner, which was hosted by incoming president Mike McCloskey at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London W1, on the evening of 13 July 2006.

HVCA finalised an agreement with Scottish Enterprise whereby members could recoup 30% of the cost
of industry-recognised training.

HVCA, the Electrical Contractors' Association and the Health and Safety Executive launched Core Criteria for Assessing Contractor Safety.

The HVCA and the Electrical Contractors' Association made a formal commitment to work together on all issues relating to sustainability.

Engineering Services SKILLcard – the registration scheme for the mechanical sector – issued its 50,000th card. It was presented to Jake Nazha of HVCA member firm Michael J Lonsdale Ltd by skills minister Phil Hope MP at the annual luncheon of the All Party Parliamentary Building Services Engineering Group, which took place in the House of Commons in July 2006.

The HVCA Service and Facilities Group and the British Institute of Facilities Management signed a Partners in FM Excellence agreement.

More than 400 HVCA members took advantage of the HVCA’s appointment as a TrustMark operator to register with the Government-inspired scheme.

The HVCA Service and Facilities Group and the British Institute of Facilities Management signed a Partners in FM Excellence agreement.

HVCA Scotland became the first trade organisation to hold an event within the Scottish Parliament building

A series of energy-saving initiatives were implemented to improve the carbon footprint of Esca House, the Association’s head office.

HVCA publications launched during the year included:

Guide to Employment
Guide to Good Practice:Heat Pumps
Guide to Good Practice: Site Pressure Testing of Pipework
Sustainability A-Z for H+V
Worksafe Guide to Site Safety
Safety Facts
Guide to Good Practice: Mothballing and Re-commissioning of Buildings

Industry events in which HVCA took part included:

Combined Heat and Power Conference
Electrical Industry Awards
GCI-UICP General Assembly
H&V 07 Seminars
H&V News Awards
HEVAR Seminars
Workforce Safety Conference
International Alliance of
Mechanical Contracting
Associations Annual Meeting
Major Projects Conference
Mechanical Contractors Association
of America Annual Convention
M&E Event Seminars
National Training Awards
RAC 07 Seminars
Refrigerants and the Law Conference
Scottish Craft Apprentice Awards
Sustainabilitylive Seminars