November has come and gone incredibly quicky, leaving many parts of the UK with some glimpses of snow as the weather has hit below zero. It’s been a busy month here at HETAS and I hope you have been busy during the past few months. The HETAS website is on the cusp of hitting 100,000 sessions as I write this, marking our third busiest-ever month. We have also had a number of developments across industry, such as the U-turn from the Scottish Government, as well as a big month for HETAS following the official launch of Cleaner Safer Group. 

This month began with news from Scotland, as the Scottish Government published an addendum on 8 November, reversing the effective ban of solid fuel appliances in new-build homes. Scottish Government listened to the concerns of industry and representations from organisations like HETAS saying that modern, cleaner burning appliances and initiatives promoting only the cleanest fuels mean that the best stoves are still a viable and appropriate choice. They have accepted that wood-burning appliances can fulfill the needs of new homeowner, especially where a choice of heating methods, both primary and secondary solutions, supports rural and fuel poor communities. I’d like to thank the team at HETAS and everyone involved in demonstrating that a modern wood-burning stove has a place in new housing as long as standards are met. 

It is important that we continue to work with all UK governments and devolved administrations, maintaining our focus on improving air quality, cleaner burning, safety and sustainable practice. Read our announcement article to find out more information on the decision and insights from Calvin May, HETAS Head of Technical. 

Cleaner Safer Group – the new parent company consisting of HETAS and Woodsure – held its first annual conference earlier this month. Unfortunately, due to last-minute circumstances, I was unable to attend, but Kaye Welfare – Cleaner Safer Group Chair – stepped in on my behalf and I have heard some brilliant feedback from the team and attendees. Calvin May, HETAS Head of Technical, and Alan Young, HETAS Quality & Assurance Manager, spoke at the conference, generating engagement across registrants, local authorities, and key industry stakeholders. Read our summary article to find out more about Cleaner Safer Group and the recent conference. Complete this survey to give your input on how we should hold next year’s conference. 

As many of you will be aware of, a number of cities have consulted on smoke control area expansions recently. Most notably, Reading and Oxford will be implementing citywide smoke control areas on 1 December 2024. Misinformation is common when it comes to smoke control areas and wood burning restrictions, but we are always providing expert, trusted advice to ensure consumers are kept informed. We recently published an article on the HETAS Advice Hub detailing, in a straightforward manner, what these changes mean.  

There have been great responses to this information since it was published, and it is encouraging to see so much engagement across industry. If you’d like to share this information and help us educate consumers to combat common myths or misinformation, find our latest articles on the HETAS Advice Hub. 

November’s Spotlight highlights Dinak – a manufacturer of flue and chimney products with a number of HETAS Approved Products. Dinak’s new DW Design range of flues recently launched and are HETAS Approved, demonstrating their performance, reliability, and quality – attributes shared with all other HETAS Approved Products and Cleaner Choice certified appliances. Find out more about what Dinak offer, the company history, and their new DW Design range of flues in their Spotlight article. 

This month has also been a busy month for awareness, with Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, World Ventil8 Day, and Fuel Poverty Awareness Day taking place across November. HETAS is proud to support these campaigns and help raise awareness, highlighting recent progress, safety measures, and pointing our registrants towards informational resources. I hope you have a chance to read up on these campaigns and contribute, wherever possible, to spreading awareness. 

Labour also delivered their budget at the beginning of November, marking the first time we have seen a Labour budget in almost fifteen years. The budget included additional funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which includes the installation of biomass boilers. Read our full article to find out more about what this additional funding means. 

The Government announced a commitment to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan earlier this year; domestic and non-domestic burning will of course again come under scrutiny.  Every high-quality, safe, and environmentally responsible installation carried out by HETAS Installers contributes to the reputation of our sector and shows that we can contribute to reducing the negative impact of burning on the environment.