TSA hails lobbying success as Government extends CCA scheme
Commercial laundries encouraged to sign up as industry receives massive rebates.
The TSA has welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the CCA (Climate Change Agreement) scheme for another two years. The decision follows timely consultation responses to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) by the TSA and its CCA sector partners. The Association argued that funding the investment in technology to help reduce energy consumption was increasingly difficult for commercial laundries, who had already been economically hard hit by Brexit and Covid, and that Government incentives were essential to help the industry meet net-zero commitments.
“As an industry, we have benefitted from millions of pounds worth of rebates of gas and electricity taxes thanks to the CCA,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “Over 140 sites have taken part. However, we are aware of several sites that have missed out on the last application deadline. With the current cost pressures on energy, this extension is welcome news and we encourage all TSA members – and indeed, all commercial laundries – to make use of the scheme.”
The new CCA entrant application window opened on 1 May 2023. This is a short window and laundries have until September 2023 to register and prepare for the scheme.
The TSA entered into an umbrella agreement under the CCA on behalf of the laundry industry in 2012. “This scheme has been a great incentive and motivation for industrial laundries to measure and optimise their energy usage,” says Stevens.
The laundry industry set itself an ambitious target of 25% energy savings in the CCA’s first four target periods, which ended in 2021. The industry’s overall performance was well on its way to meeting that target. Sadly, the inefficiencies caused by the Covid years, along with associated higher temperature requirements, put a dent in the figures.
Having said that, as a result of being part of the CCA, each participating site has several years’ worth of primary energy data available to them. With all the new carbon emissions commitments, this data gives the laundry industry a vital resource and an advantage to help build on the energy efficiency measures it has undertaken already.
However, as the TSA points out, at the start of the process improving energy efficiency was relatively easy, as industry operators picked the ‘low hanging fruit.’ Now laundries will need to aim for tougher, ‘higher branches’ of efficiencies to meet the current 4.5% targets – which is a key reason why the TSA urged the Government for the extension. Indeed, the TSA has been actively contributing to the Government strategy, to ensure the scheme is relevant to the laundry industry, and has succeeded in opening new entrant application windows and negotiating industry targets. Next, the Association will further engage with Government to negotiate targets and the terms of the umbrella agreement.
“Not everything in the CCA garden is rosy,” says Stevens. “We have raised several issues with DESNZ, such as the scheme only tracks comparative performance targets and does not factor in improvements in actual carbon emissions which is a key measurement when it comes to energy efficiency measures. Additional to addressing these concerns in the mid-long term, we are looking to the Government for guidance on future energy options. We are also asking for serious capital funding opportunities to plan future energy optimisation demands.”
For more information on the CCA scheme visit cclevy.com. For help and advice on the scheme, contact the TSA.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
TSA continues to develop strategy for recruiting new laundry employees
International Laundry Day is part of pan-European co-operation to raise profile of the industry
How does the laundry industry tackle staff shortages? It’s not just a UK problem, our European colleagues are dealing with the same issue. Not surprisingly, it was one of the key discussion points when the TSA attended the European Textile Services Association’s annual National Associations meeting on 26th-28th April in Bern, Switzerland.
The aim of the discussion around recruitment was to discover commonalities between the campaigns different national associations had been running to promote the laundry sector as an attractive employment prospect for potential recruits.
The TSA shared its recruitment strategy from working with its People Steering Group, including a recruitment information flyer for members to use at careers fairs. The flyer demonstrates the opportunities within the industry, and the vital role the industry plays in the UK economy. It was designed to answer the questions of young people moving into employment, showing that the laundry industry is committed to sustainability and environmental friendliness as well as providing a financially and professionally rewarding career with fantastic opportunities for progression.
The German Association (DTV) had also put together a portfolio of support material to help laundries recruit younger people and the Belgian Association (FBT) has started an education programme within schools. The meeting also heard about the successes of open days organised by the French Association (GEIST). Consequently, the Associations agreed to hold “International Laundry Day 2024” and will encourage members to host an open day to help educate potential employees about the industry.
“Our industry is a real hidden gem, and it can be a great career for many people,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “This meeting has really shown the work all the National Associations do to increase awareness of the industry and help their members showcase the opportunities it offers.”
As part of this campaign to raise awareness, recently the TSA met with Derek Thomas MP to discuss the concerns of the industry regarding labour shortages. They talked about the problems caused by Brexit and the pandemic, emphasising the need to attract local labour and school leavers in particular in order to mitigate these issues.
The TSA will continue to work with its People Steering Group to further develop this outreach scheme, as well as continuing with its apprenticeship scheme and the “Giving People a Second Chance” initiative which can also play a key role in attracting new staff.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600