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UKLPG Planning to Add Value

LP Gas talked to UKLPG chief executive Rob Shuttleworth to find out more about the association’s move to new premises and its raft of ongoing initiatives.

UKLPG has announced several changes and initiatives for the coming year. The trade association has also moved into new premises in Kenilworth with the SBGI and its Heating & Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC) division.

Rob Shuttleworth, UKLPG’s chief executive, says this improves the association’s sustainability and effectiveness in two ways.

He said: “It lowers our cost base by combining business support within a lower cost rental agreement and, by moving into a building with a number of other trade associations, including HHIC, this enables us to establish closer relations with them and keep abreast of developments in other energy related policy. We remain centrally located, in a newly refurbished building with adequate parking and shared use of meeting rooms with the latest facilities.”

The association has taken the decision not to replace the position of office coordinator after the departure of Samantha Tolley-Debruyne.

Rob said: “It’s very sad to see Sam go, but we are charged with both delivering effective trade association work and keeping costs at an acceptable level, which requires us to reduce our administrative support. This will be a challenge for all of us. For example, to run a trade association in a cost effective way will need members to declare and pay subscriptions promptly, so that we can focus our time and efforts on more value adding activities.”

UKLPG is carrying out a review of its membership offering in order to identify areas where it can add value for its members, particularly equipment suppliers. Proposals, including how members pay their fees, will be sent out to equipment members for their final views and comments, and changes will be rolled out throughout 2010 and into 2011.

Rob said: “The second phase is examining new membership and how to ensure that we are attracting new and existing businesses into the UKLPG fold.” The association will also update its website to include the World LP Gas Association’s generic Exceptional Energy lpg brand.

“The revamp of the UKLPG website is to help position the new global branding of Exceptional Energy, whilst providing an opportunity to better emphasise the work of UKLPG,” said Rob. “The work will take place during this summer and will be incorporating elements that are envisaged to add value to UKLPG members, as well as ensure as much helpful information is available online to support the move away from a full public telephone helpline.”

This year, UKLPG will focus on lobbying government and the EU to protect the industry’s interests in proposed initiatives and policies, as well as liaising with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and other government bodies on current projects and legislation changes. “The impact of the Gill Inquiry is still with us, with the Department for Work & Pensions now having published its recommendation, which will require UKLPG, on behalf of the industry, to work closely with the HSE in implementing the measures,” said Rob.

“We are responding to the Renewable Heat Incentive consultation with the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), and also will be studying the Treasury announcements on funding. A new consultation on energy performance certificates complements the work that we are doing with DECC on SAP, which are both critical areas for lpg supply to domestic households. I am seeking meetings with Treasury officials in conjunction with the AEGPL with regards to the European Energy Taxation Directive, and keeping a close eye on other directives coming from Europe, such as those on building regulations.”

The association has been consulting the industry on a centralised cylinder retrieval scheme since the idea was raised two years ago, and is now ready to present its recommended route forward to the industry.

“The board and the working group have agreed a Code of Conduct that we will ask all cylinder members to sign up to,” said Rob. “This will be framed around maximum collection times from civic amenity sites, whether by using a company’s own transport or a contractor. “We will be offering a tender for a single contact point so that local authorities need only contact one place to make a collection. We will be talking to the compressed gas industry regarding this to gauge their interest. The threat of classifying lpg cylinders as waste hasn’t gone away, so it’s important we get this up and running this year.”

UKLPG was also considering investing in its own branded training certification scheme, but has since rejected the idea as it was considered too much of a financial risk. Rob said: “There was considerable risk in investing members’ reserves in entering a new marketplace, and whilst, if all had gone well, there would have been a return, a small variation in the business case showed too much risk. The board are still interested in using the UKLPG brand within the training and competency environment in a way that does not involve upfront capital.

“The current E&U Skills national qualification framework offers the ideal opportunity, if we get it right, to provide a basis for future training market opportunities.”

www.uklpg.org

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