PCA Weekly News - 30th January 2021
In your weekly PCA update this week:
- Consultation on Ventilation in Existing Buildings
- Learning the Lessons of the Past
- Be Inspired with an Apprenticeship this Spring
- New Homeowner Guidance from Flood Re
- No Self Assessment Late Filing Penalty
- Free Training Opportunity
- Missed the Webinar? View the Recording!
- Coronavirus Support: VAT Deferrals
- HSE’s Health & Safety App
Consultation on Ventilation in Existing Buildings
For our PCA members who are involved in ventilation, you will be aware that the Government finally published its long-awaited response to Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations Consultation.
The PCA will naturally be reviewing the draft in greater detail and responding accordingly, and we would encourage all of our members with an interest in dampness in buildings to do so too. For now, PCA’s Technical Manager James Berry discusses the notable responses which members can read by clicking on the button below…
Click to read more >>
Learning the Lessons of the Past
In his 2nd blog of the week, PCA’s Technical Manager James Berry’s refers to an article from our Convention Records Archive on “The Environmental Use of Timber: A Study and Assessment of Water Penetration into Buildings”. This article is from the 1969 British Wood Protection Association (BWPA) Conference and it seems is just as relevant today as it was 50+ years ago….
Our online Convention Records Archives is a free online resource for any of our members who want to broaden their knowledge of dampness and timber preservation.
To read the full blog, members can click on the button below.
Click to read more >>
Be Inspired with an Apprenticeship this Spring
We are determined to continue to provide our members with the opportunity to sign up to our Specialist Apprenticeship Programme. This Spring we will be enrolling our next cohort of apprentices onto both our Damp & Timber and Structural Waterproofing programmes. While the induction will be completed remotely with CITB, we are planning to hold the first week of training sessions during March and April, as follows:
To grab this opportunity and sign your technicians up to ‘earn while they learn’, get in touch to discuss what’s involved and to find out if you could receive over £5,000 funding!!
Click to Contact Us >>
New Homeowner Guidance from Flood Re
Images of flooding in the news and across social media channels continues. With the addition of melting snow and all the extra water that brings, this is certainly an issue which is gaining attention and your Association is continuing to help support and promote our PCA members involved in flood protection and resilience.
Published this week, Flood Re’s updated ‘Homeowners guide to property flood resilience: a living document’, is another important document and includes real life case studies of property flood resilience in action. Members can access it by clicking on the button below.
Click to View >>
No Self Assessment Late Filing Penalty
HMRC has announced that for those PCA members and many other who cannot afford to pay their tax bill by 31st January, can apply to spread the bill over up to 12 months. The 2020 tax return will need to be filed before a time to pay arrangement can be set up and applications for this can be made via Gov.uk.
Deadline extension: HMRC has also confirmed that there will be no late filing penalty as long as self assessment tax returns are filed online by 28th February, giving an additional month to file. The payment deadline remains at 31st January and HMRC will charge interest on any outstanding liabilities.
In the meantime, click on the button below for more information.
Click for More Info >>
Free Training Opportunity
There are only a few days left to apply for The Retrofit Academy’s 3-day ‘Understanding Domestic Retrofit’ eLearning course.
With government funding to train 1,000 people interested in working in the domestic retrofit sector, through installing insulation, building services or renewable technologies, the course is available from February to April 2021 and is 100% funded!
Members must apply no later than 31st January. Click on the button below for more information.
Click for More Info >>
Missed the Webinar? View the Recording!
Thanks to all who joined our first webinar for 2021 yesterday on “Wall Tie Evolution & Corrosion: 3 Decades of Change”. It was our second biggest audience since we started our webinar programme, with over 300 live attendees!
If you missed it, don’t panic! You can still watch presenter Bryan Hindle discuss how wall tie inspection/replacement has evolved & the diverse approaches to wall tie remedial work. Simply click on the button below…
View the Recording >>
Coronavirus Support: VAT Deferrals
As part of their Coronavirus business support, the Government allowed businesses to defer the VAT due 20th March-30th June 2020. If this applies to any of our members and you still have payments to make, you can:
- pay the deferred VAT in full on, or before, 31st March 2021
- opt in to the NEW payment scheme when it launches in 2021
- contact HMRC if you need more help to pay
To remind members, the Vat Deferral scheme will allow you to:
- pay your deferred VAT in instalments without adding interest
- select the number of instalments from 2 to 11 equal payments
The new payment scheme is not yet available, but we will keep members informed. In the meantime, for more information click on the button below.
Click for More Info >>
HSE’s Health & Safety App
Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has recently released a mobile app designed to help our members understand the law, their health and safety rights, and their responsibilities.
The app contains three main sections:
- The Health and Safety Toolbox (HSG268)
- A Guide to Managing Risk
- Work-Related Stress
Members can access more information and download the app, by clicking on the button below.
Click for More Info >>
Remember to keep in the loop…
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