SPED – February 2012 - SPED in the UK & Ireland
UK SPED News
This month the message of the new modularised Piper Boot Camp has been rolled out to all our UK piping contacts. You will be aware from previous newsletters that in the UK, the ECITB, a government backed training body, can levy construction engineering firms and the firms get some of their levy back as they train. Understandably this is stern competition, but we keep pushing our advantages of quality, international acceptance and of independent accreditation.
Our second message seeks accreditation only, asking the reader if they know that the piper on their work has the skills needed?
UK Process News
Recruitment firms are finally beginning to forecast more jobs coming out of the pipeline this year. Certainly the equipment suppliers of valve, pumps and compressors are sounding ever more optimistic. Against this 2 refineries have gone into receivership, with no effect yet on supply or the price at the pump.
My research for presenters of evening lectures at the headquarters of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers reveals just how many potential sources of energy are available. Electricity is after all, merely a by-product of a chemical process. That was so with coal, but perhaps we do not notice the fact as we are so familiar with it, but waste and biomass as fuel sources drives the message home. These are all now vying for attention of European Governments as they try to ensure that the lights do not go out and carbon emissions come down. All the alternatives have anti campaigns, often on flimsy technical or environmental grounds. Although UK land slips after fracking are more serious. It is a policy circle that can be squared but not by the present policy courses. If you wish more detail, please look at
http://normanharris20cc.squarespace.com/energy/
So fracking continues to get a poor press and CCS in this financial climate gets little support. But that said the same financials restrictions seem to mean that the days of excessive subsidy to solar and wind seems to be coming to an end. Perhaps we will at last develop energy sources on a primarily best techno-economic basis
Norman Harris - 20CC
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