Traditionally the heating, plumbing and construction industries have been seen as male dominated that fail to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Now momentum is growing to accelerate change, putting processes in place to inspire and support women to feel comfortable and thrive in the sector. The launch of the Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC), headed by 11 major organisations across the industry, could be a game changer. Backed by high profile organisations across the UK, it has an ambition to improve equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across the industry. Maxine Frost, National Sales Director at City Plumbing who sits on the CIC, and also chairs the new Women’s Forum for the Builders Merchant Federation, explains more: Q: From your perspective can you summarise why change is needed in the industry? A: “We all know that women are under-represented in this industry – whether that’s in heating, plumbing or construction – and there’s a big desire to address that issue. “So, the first reason to act is that it’s the right thing to do – for everyone. Having diverse teams is good for business, good for society, good for individuals. This is something we firmly believe right across the Highbourne Group. “For any businesses which haven’t woken up to that fact, I’d say they need to look at their customer base and see what’s happening around them. “Not everyone mentions this, but our customers are changing. They are becoming more diverse, and they have different needs. “Companies which don’t reflect that, or fail to meet those needs, are going to struggle to keep up. “But let’s be honest, we’re behind other sectors and we cannot continue that way. We shouldn’t be sitting here in 2023 with so few women in the industry and doing nothing about it.” Q: How do you think supporting diversity will change a business such as City Plumbing? A: “Our perspective is that diversity will bring different ideas and different perspectives into the business, help us grow and help us move forward together. “We want everyone in the business to be able to bring their real selves to work and feel welcome and supported. That should be a given. “Attracting more women at all levels, and supporting all types of diversity, is the only way we can be fit for the future. It’s really important from a moral and a business perspective.” Q: What are the fastest and most impactful ways to create change? A “I think you need to begin with recruitment. I’m not afraid to say that our industry has been quite closed around recruitment. A: “When it comes to middle management, for instance, the industry has tended to look at competitors to try and find the right recruits. There’s been a history of saying ‘we need people who already understand the industry and have done it before.’ As a result, we’ve employed people with the same skill set and same attributes as those who went before them. “Of course, those employees are vital to our business. But there are big advantages for everyone if there is greater diversity, different skill sets, different ways of thinking. We need a much broader talent pool. Our customers are changing, and we must too.” Q: Is the problem that women see the industry as male-dominated and therefore don’t want to join it? A: “It’s certainly one of the problems. If you don’t feel an industry is an inclusive place to work in and isn’t welcoming, then that’s a big issue. We need to change that perception – for customers and for colleagues.” Q: Women are not the only people under represented in the industry. Are you focusing on other groups too? A: “Absolutely. We need diversity in all its forms, whether that’s supporting LGBTQ+ colleagues or pushing for ethnic and social diversity. That’s hugely important to us. “But we made a decision when becoming a partner of the CIC to focus first on women in the opening year. It’s a good starting point and it’s an obvious one to anyone looking in from the outside. I can assure you we won’t be ignoring other communities. There’s a real desire to change the way this industry looks and to support all types of diversity.” Q: You mentioned that your customers are changing, can you expand on that? What are you seeing? A: “Our online sales are going up; our customers are getting more tech savvy and the type of customer is changing. As more customers move towards retirement age, then we’re going to see different installers, plumbers and electricians move into the market. We’re actively working and engaging with more and more female plumbers on social media. The industry is changing as younger groups move in and more people consider a career in construction. “We are also seeing more women helping to run subcontracting businesses and more ethnic diversity too. “If we don’t change and diversify with them then will they relate to us as a business in future? And that goes for the industry as a whole.”

Clean heating systems will replace polluting heating systems in Scotland’s homes and buildings by 2045 in new measures proposed by the Scottish Government Heat in Buildings Bill. Under legislation to be introduced in 2025, which will start taking effect later in the decade, those buying new homes or buildings would be asked to move to a “clean” heating system, such as a heat pump or connection to a heat network, within a fixed period of time following that purchase. Minimum energy efficiency standards for Scotland’s homes could also be introduced to make them warmer and less expensive to heat. The consultation also includes measures to encourage the development of heat networks – giving those constructing these systems the confidence they need to invest on the basis that there will be sufficient demand. The proposals follow this year’s introduction of a new build heat standard, which means that any buildings constructed under a new warrant from April 2024 must have a clean heating system. Zero carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie said: “Heat from our homes and buildings represents around 20% of Scotland’s carbon emissions. So there is no route to meeting our legal duty to be a net zero country by 2045 without making the heat transition. Making this transition can also liberate households and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices. There will be no ‘one size fits all’ approach to what we’re proposing – we recognise that different types of buildings in different areas need different solutions – but today we are giving certainty to households to plan and clarity for businesses to invest, with a pathway which recognises the cost pressures that so many of us are currently facing. “We’ve already passed regulations for new buildings, to apply from next year. If Parliament passes our Bill in 2025, then regulations will start to apply from 2028, with many more buildings moving away from fossil fuel through the 2030s. That will see Scotland on by far the most ambitious path within the UK, with a deployment of clean heating systems at a scale and pace very much faster than at present. The UK government has the opportunity to match our ambition by using its reserved powers to take urgent action to reduce the price gap between gas and electricity, and by regulating energy companies to play their full part in this transition.” The Scottish government is asking for views on proposals to form part of a Heat in Buildings Bill as set out in the Programme for Government. Proposals include: • That private rented homes will be required to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard no later than 2028; • That owner-occupied homes will be required to meet the same minimum energy efficiency standard by the end of 2033; • That all homes and non-domestic buildings will be required to end their use of polluting heating by the end of 2045; and • In order to create a smooth trajectory towards 2045, that those purchasing a home or non-domestic property before 2045 would be required to end their use of polluting heating systems within a specific period following that purchase. • Also published are proposals for a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard that would require social landlords to meet an energy efficiency standard between 2033 and 2040 and install clean heating across their stock by 2045 where it is technically feasible and cost-effective to do so.