Join the Eco Challenge at Installer Live 2011

SummitSkills is sponsoring Installer Live 2011, the national plumbing, heating and renewables show which will help current and potential installers of renewable technologies learn more about the skills they will need to meet growing demand. This year's event is being held at the NEC in Birmingham from 16-19 October.

The sector skills council for building services engineering (BSE), SummitSkills is encouraging domestic and commercial installers or potential installers to attend, so they can take advantage of opportunities to learn through demonstrations and seminars with leading organisations and figures in the plumbing and heating industry. The event will also provide opportunities to meet training providers who can help sole traders and employers to identify the skills they will need.

A dedicated area at this year's Installer Live, called the Eco Challenge, will feature demonstrations of environmental technologies being installed, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, heat pumps and, rainwater harvesting equipment. Interactive exhibits will allow installers to get hands on with new products and technologies and those who take part could win up to £300 worth of training vouchers from the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies. The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies, a network of accredited training providers set up on behalf of the BSE sector by SummitSkills earlier this year, is sponsoring the Eco Challenge area.

Head of environmental technologies at SummitSkills Nigel Hollett will be speaking about certification and qualifications for installers on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 October in the Eco Challenge area.

Hollett said: "The UK is committed to reducing its carbon output and our own research shows that demand from both consumers and business for environmental technologies will continue to increase rapidly. The BSE sector will need to expand its traditional skills to embrace these technologies and there are business opportunities here that many are just starting to see. SummitSkills wants to help the workforce to engage with this growing market."

Tickets to the event are free and complementary coaches to the NEC are being provided from 18 locations in conjunction with the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies. For more details and to register your place, please visit www.installerlive.com.