All posts tagged: takeup

DfE eases T-level work placement rules to boost take-up

DfE eases T-level work placement rules to boost take-up

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Government rules for T-level industry placements have been further relaxed in a bid to boost the number of students taking the flagship qualifications. Learners on nearly all courses will now be allowed to complete 20 per cent of their 315-hour total placement remotely instead of in a physical workplace – with this allowance increased to 50 per cent for students on digital T-levels. Officials will also allow placements to be carried out as “simulated activity” on the school or college’s own site, but only if this is overseen by their industry placement employer.  And placements will “no longer be restricted to the specific T-level subject being studied by students”. Baroness Smith Guidance detailing the changes will be published in January 2025 and will come into effect immediately. The reforms come amid lower-than-expected enrolments, high dropout rates, and long-held concern that there are not enough employers willing to offer enough work placements when T-levels are fully rolled out. Skills minister Jacqui Smith announced the move today at the start of the government’s …

UK scheme to spur take-up of heat pumps delayed after gas lobby pressure | Environment

UK scheme to spur take-up of heat pumps delayed after gas lobby pressure | Environment

Published by skeptic

The government has delayed by a year its scheme for spurring the take-up of heat pumps, under pressure from the gas boiler industry. The clean heat market mechanism is intended to force heating installers to fit more low-carbon heat pumps, to meet the UK’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions target and save energy. But the scheme – which requires companies to install a gradually increasing proportion of heat pumps compared with the number of gas boiler installations or face a financial penalty – was inaccurately described as a “boiler tax” by gas heating companies and their lobbyists. Some boiler companies put their prices up by £120, which they said was in reaction to the potential scheme, but which one government insider told the Guardian was unfair price “gouging”. The mechanism was due to come in this April but has been delayed to April 2025, the government said on Thursday. The energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, has also asked the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the boiler market. Reforms to the boiler upgrade scheme also announced …

Strong office takeup in Oxford driven by lab demand, finds Savills

Strong office takeup in Oxford driven by lab demand, finds Savills

Published by skeptic

Office takeup in Oxford reached 480,000 sq ft in 2023 – the second highest figure in the last five years, according to Savills. Of that total, 64 per cent (or 300,000 sq ft) was for laboratory space, representing the highest total the city has ever recorded. Notable transactions included Ryze Hydrogen’s acquisition of 24,000 sq ft at North Bailey House, as well as two lettings at ARC Oxford to Tripadvisor and Miro for a combined 28,154 sq ft. City centre transactions accounted for 63,144 sq ft of takeup in 2023, driven by new, purpose-built stock at Iverson Building, Barton House and Inventa which Savills says should be easily absorbed. Hear the latest insights from property experts on The Business Magazine’s new podcast The company also estimates current demand levels for office, laboratory and R&D accommodation at 1 million sq ft. This has supported significant rental growth, with new prime rents of £63.50 psf at North Bailey House and £90 psf for laboratory space in Oxford. Jan Losch, associate director at Savills Oxford’s commercial agency, said: “Following …

Heat pump grant boosted by 50% to improve slow take-up across England and Wales | Energy industry

Published by Sam

The government is increasing its air source heat pump grants for homeowners in England and Wales by 50% to £7,500 from Monday amid criticism about slow adoption of the low-carbon technology. The £2,500 in extra support – on top of £5,000 offered – aims to take the cost of installing an air source heat pump below that of the average gas boiler. Support for installing ground source heat pumps – which are not suitable for most homes in the UK as they require access to a large outdoor space – will increase from £6,000 to £7,500. The rise, which was announced by the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, last month alongside the watering down of a planned ban on new gas boilers by 2035, comes after the government faced criticism from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) on its home heating policies. Heat pumps are seen as critical to meeting the UK’s 2035 climate targets by halving the carbon emissions from heating buildings, which still accounts for almost one-quarter of the UK’s fossil fuel demand. But the …