WITHIN GRANT AIDED SCHEMES
The Grant Aided Heating Installers’ Network (GAIN) has
been established to support heating installers involved in grant-aided
schemes and specifically the Government Warm Front Scheme in England, HEES
in Wales, Warm Deal in Scotland and Warm Homes in Northern Ireland; also the
Energy Efficiency Commitment as managed by energy suppliers.
GAIN provides a united voice, with the specific
objectives of advancing the working partnership with scheme managers;
presenting the heating installers’ collective viewpoint to Government, its
agencies, local authorities, fuel suppliers and the Press; providing an
opportunity to discuss the specification and technical issues with the
scheme managers, particularly where new legislation, such as compliance with
Building Regulations and gas safety regulations arises; and communicating
with members, encouraging networking to share knowledge and resolve
problems.
The Association also promotes its members to local
authorities and housing associations, and has upgraded its membership
criteria and qualifications.
The elected Chairman is Paul Cooper, a professional
director with Home Insulation Services (NW) Ltd, Preston, with fifteen years’
experience in the energy efficiency field, including as a Warm Front
installer. The Vice Chairman is Paul Richardson, managing director of Fenham
Contracts, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who has spent 20 years in the heating
industry. Our marketing chairman is Bryan Glendinning, of UK Quality
Solutions Ltd, and our Technical Chairman is Dave Wills, of Premier Energy
Solutions.
Council members are Stuart Illingworth, Gavin Ward Ltd, Burnley; John Gallagher, Joatrad Services
Ltd, West Bromwich; Fergus Comiskey, Kershaw Contracting Services Ltd,
Cottenham; John Stephenson, Iguana Services Ltd; and Monique Purdy,
The Insulation Company Ltd, Darlington.
GAIN has a professional Secretariat, familiar with
government liaison and the provision of public relations services to
contractors in the energy efficiency field.
Open meetings are held quarterly for all members at a
central venue and Newcastle. The address for the Grant Aided Heating Installers’
Network is P O Box 12, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH (tel: 01428 654011; fax:
01428 651401; e-mail: gainassociation@aol.com; with website at:
www.gainassociation.org.uk).
Warm Front, HEES in Wales, Warm Deal in Scotland, and
Warm Homes in Northern Ireland and Energy Efficiency Commitment heating
installers are currently being invited to join GAIN. The annual subscription
for full members (heating contractors) is £500 + VAT; with manufacturers,
suppliers and managing agents @ £1000 + VAT.
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OUR MISSION:
Through our members we aim to deliver cost effective and energy
efficient heating solutions throughout the UK, working with government,
agencies and RSLs to address future challenges. GAIN members aim to
deliver the highest levels of technical and safety performance, whilst
embracing customer and service excellence.
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OUR POSITION & REMIT:
Fuel Poverty & the 2010 Deadline: We fully support the government’s
commitment to eradicate fuel poverty within the vulnerable sector by
2010, and in all sectors by 2016. We will actively campaign to ensure
adequate and appropriate resources are made available to deliver this
programme and will be mindful of our own costs to ensure optimum use of
government and other funds available.
Impact on Social & Environmental Issues: As part of the Members’
drive to continuous qualitative improvement, social and environmental
issues figure significantly within the delivery of the scheme. Several
companies have achieved or are working towards ISO 14001 – the
international environmental management system.
Renewables: We
aim to be at the forefront of renewable technologies and actively
encourage government and RSLs to embrace new technologies where a
sufficiently robust economic and social argument can be made for their
deployment.
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About GAIN
