The Vaillant Podcast

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing.

In this episode of The Vaillant Podcast we tackle the topic of the Internet of Things (IOT), how we can define it, and how the IOT and connected devices are enabling installers to work smarter not harder.

In this episode, host Simon Whysall is joined by guests Grant Gundelfinger and Karen Matthews from the Mayfly Group Ltd, together with Kenny Virdee, IOT partnership manager at Vaillant, to explore the ways in which connected devices are becoming increasingly popular within the home and how those working in the plumbing and heating industry can utilise this technology to introduce new business services and models.

Since joining Vaillant more than 20 years ago as a service engineer, Kenny Virdee is now responsible for the successful implementation and delivery of Vaillant’s own IOT strategy. Working with a skilled team Kenny manages the integration of Vaillant’s own technology to support the day-to-day lives of installers.

Heating Installer of the Year 2021 winner, Grant Gundelfinger is a co-founder and director at the Mayfly Group Ltd, which is based in Leeds. With more than 15 years experience, Grant is familiar with the role connected devices can have on the way he runs his business.

Since starting her career in the industry in 2008, Karen Matthews, who is Grant’s business partner, and director & co-founder at the Mayfly Group Ltd, has championed the way she and her business can utilise technology to deliver the very best in service for customers.

Want to find out more?

To learn more about MyVAILLANT Pro, and how it can allow installers to offer customers extra levels of service, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/business-support/support-tools/myvaillant-pro/

For Vaillant Advance installers interested in signing up to the current free trial of myVAILLANT Pro, which runs until April 2022, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/advance-loyalty-scheme/

For more on the vSMART control and Vaillant’s existing range of smart heating controls, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/products/controls-and-thermostats/smart-controls/

For information on the training courses from Vaillant on its portfolio of smart controls, visit www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/

Finally, to listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupport and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

In this episode of The Vaillant Podcast, Mark Wilkins is joined by Paul Honeyman, Vaillant’s Head of Product Management in the UK, and Mike Lacey, Vaillant’s Head of Digital Technology, to take a deep dive into the brand new ecoTEC plus boiler, which launched in June.

Our new ecoTEC plus is our first product range, incorporating new technology, which has been independently certified to operate with up to 20% hydrogen and other blended gas mixtures, preparing the product should the UK Government decide that these fuels have a role to play in our future energy mix.Paul talks about the extensive research and development that went into the new boiler and explains what’s changed compared with the original and why.

He also reveals some of the hidden functions and features that you may not be aware of, and tackles a few technical installation queries.

And Mike goes into more detail about the connectivity aspect of the ecoTEC plus and Vaillant’s new internet-enabled products.

He discusses why it’s simpler than ever to set up a connected Vaillant heating system, why data is key, and what the future holds for smart home heating.

Produced by Ed Adams, First Touch

Want to know more?

Learn more about the remastered ecoTEC plus boiler

See the technical specifications and installation manuals for the new ecoTEC plus models

Discover the myVAILLANT connect internet gateway

Solving connectivity issues with myVAILLANT connect

Find out about the sensoROOM wireless thermostat

Monitor your customers’ heating systems with myVAILLANT Pro

For industry hot topics, stories and more about how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit our In The Know installer hub

Follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram or Facebook , and check out our YouTube channel

About The Vaillant Podcast

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, and from fitness to finances, installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing.

Listen to more episodes of The Vaillant Podcast

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives: from mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their learning, earnings and wellbeing.

In this episode, installer and mental health advocate Gary Bedford speaks to expert Lauretta Wilson about how tradespeople can manage their mental health and support those around them.

Lauretta is a HCPC and BPS-registered counselling psychologist with more than 20 years' experience working with children and young adults, adults, couples and families in the NHS, voluntary and charity sectors. At her private practice, The London Psychologist Centre, Lauretta uses solution-focused therapies which empower people to learn better ways to manage their stresses and strains.

Gary is a Gas Safe registered engineer with more than two decades of experience in the trade, and has his own company, GRB Plumbing & Heating Limited. Gary is an advocate for mental health in the trade, and has led a number of discussions around the topic on social media and in the press.

Need more guidance on managing mental health issues?

NHS resources for stress, anxiety and depression

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/

MIND, the mental health charity

www.mind.org.uk

Mates in Mind, a charity addressing the stigma of poor mental health and promoting positive mental wellbeing across workplaces

www.matesinmind.org

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a movement against suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45

https://www.thecalmzone.net/

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit www.vaillant.co.uk/businesssupportand follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing.

In this episode of The Vaillant Podcast we asked installers on social media what they wanted to know about the heating industry’s low carbon future. From questions on MCS accreditation, to homeowner incentives such as the recently launched Boiler Upgrade Scheme and having those initial conversations with homeowner, this podcast covers the questions that matter the most to you.

Joining host Mark Wilkins on this episode of The Vaillant Podcast is Ian Rippin CEO at MCS and Peter Carruthers, owner of PA Carruthers Ltd.

As CEO at MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), Ian is responsible for leading the charge when it comes to the growth of the installation of renewables in homes and small businesses. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme has certified over a million installations since it was launched in 2007 and has nearly 2,000 installers currently registered.

Meanwhile, Peter, is the owner of PA Carruthers Ltd, which has been established since 1994. Predominantly working in off-mains gas areas, PA Carruthers Ltd provides a range of heating and plumbing services across west Wales. MCS Certified, Peter and his team have a strong reputation for installing renewable and low carbon technologies in both domestic and commercial markets.

Looking at the low carbon landscape, both Ian and Peter offer their first-hand support and expertise on how installers can successfully navigate a low carbon future.

Want to find out more about going green?

To learn more about Part L visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conservation-of-fuel-and-power-approved-document-l

You can find out more about the MCS and how you start your journey to certification here: https://mcscertified.com/installers-manufacturers/becoming-certified/

To learn more about the UK Government’s commitment to a net zero future, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy

For more information on the Low Temperature Heating Systems training course, visit: XX

More information on Vaillant’s training, including blended learning courses, which are designed to take you from heat pump zero to hero, can be found here: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/course-information/

Details on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and how installers / homeowners can access this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-may-be-eligible-for-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-from-april-2022

Low carbon technology training courses available from Vaillant can be found at https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/online-training/

Finally, to listen to other episodes of both The Vaillant Podcast and the Technical Series visit: www.buzzsprout.com/840097

For more information on how Vaillant is proudly supporting installers, please visit

The Vaillant Podcast is a heating industry podcast designed to support installers with every aspect of their working lives. From mental health to marketing, fitness to finances; installers can tune in to learn how to enhance their earnings, learning and wellbeing.

In this episode of The Vaillant Podcast installers will learn more about how ‘going green’ can have a positive impact on both the planet and their business.

Joining host Simon Whysall on The Vaillant Podcast is Martin McTague from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and James Lacey owner of JLN Plumbing and Heating.

Martin is the chair of policy and advocacy at the FSB which represent more than 150,000 small businesses across the UK. The FSB works closely with the government to provide the best possible environment for these businesses to thrive in.

Meanwhile, James started off as a one-man-band and grew his company, JLN Plumbing, to a limited business with more than 14 employees. In this episode, James offers his own first-hand insight on some of the ways in which his business has been able to successfully adopt greener ways of working which have also helped improve business efficiencies too.

Want to find out more about going green?

To calculate your business’ carbon footprint visit: https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/how-to-calculate-your-carbon-footprint-as-a-small-business.html

To learn more about the UK Government’s commitment to a net zero future, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy

Information on Green bonds, and other financing options currently available to businesses exploring sustainable options can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-government-green-financing

To read the research report from the FSB exploring the attitudes and challenges faced by small businesses in relation to sustainability, head on over to: https://www.fsb.org.uk/resource-report/accelerating-progress.html

If you’d like to find out more about MyVAILLANT Pro, or sign up to the free trial, which runs until April 2022, visit: https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/business-support/support-tools/myvaillant-pro/

Training to help SME business leaders increase productivity via the Government’s Help to Grow scheme can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support/help-to-grow-management-uk

Commusoft is a scalable job management software for field service engineers, learn more about the platform here https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support/help-to-grow-management-uk

Discover how you and your business can be recognised for responsible business practices through the Good Business Charter, here https://www.goodbusinesscharter.com/

Renewable Technology training courses available from Vaillant can be found at https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/training/online-training/&