NIA is supporting its members during challenging times

There are currently serious concerns across the insulation industry about future activity levels from Government related schemes including ECO, the Green Deal and GDHIF.  We are therefore working hard on behalf of our members with Government and other key stakeholders to influence the shape and design of future policies and schemes to increase activity levels and provide a longer term sustainable policy landscape for the industry.  This work includes:

• Calling on Government to make Energy Efficiency Retrofit of the UK Housing Stock a National Infrastructure Priority supported by appropriate levels of capital expenditure and a long term delivery plan.
• Seeking early decisions from Government Ministers on the future of the Energy Company Obligation after the current obligation ends in April 2017 and a longer term ECO, preferably five years.
• Working with DECC, Ofgem and Energy Companies to review and revise the compliance requirements for ECO in order to simplify these and reduce compliance costs for future schemes.
• Seeking urgent clarification from Government Ministers on their future intentions for the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund and Green Deal Communities scheme as well as putting forward proposals to make these or alternatives even more effective.
• Submitting proposals on changes that could be made to the Green Deal to make it simpler and more attractive to householders.
• Contributing to the Chief Construction Advisers current review of the Solid Wall Insulation (SWI) market including recommendation on how to most effectively tackle the 7m homes that still require SWI.

Whilst this work in influencing Government policy and programmes is extremely important in securing a long term sustainable future for the industry, we are also committed to helping our member’s access additional business opportunities outside of the ECO and Green Deal right now.

To this end we have undertaken a range of activities designed to stimulate additional insulation work and clearly position our members as the preferred choice to carry out work among specifiers and householders.  This includes:

• Launching a new consumer website www.nia-uk.org/consumer with an installer postcode locator which is receiving around 50,000 searches a year and providing free leads and referrals to our members.
• Working with leading consumer groups including the Energy Saving Trust and Money Saving Expert to promote the benefits of insulation and referring householders to our members.
• Undertaking a major PR Campaign to promote insulation and our members
• Creating new business opportunities in the new build and commercial markets by providing our members with market intelligence and information and promoting insulation to key specifiers in these sectors.  In addition we introduced a new Code of Professional Practice for NIA members operating in the New Build and Commercial markets to differentiate them and provide competitive advantage vs. non NIA members.
• Introduced a new free service for Local Authorities, Housing Associatons and Procurement Framework Operators to access and specify our members via expressions of interest and tender requests.

“Our activities to support our members during these challenging times is having a positive impact on the NIA’s reputation and benefits of membership among insulation companies and we have seen a 20% increase in membership so far this year.”

The NIA is the leading trade association for insulation in the UK and represents the manufacturers, system suppliers and installers of cavity wall, external wall, internal wall, roof, loft and floor insulation plus draught-proofing.    

If you are interested in membership of the NIA or working with our members please contact Neil Marshall neil.marshall@nia-uk.org or call 01525 383313