KENT: PTS welcomed a local MP to its specialist renewables branch and training suite in Aylesford on 1 July to showcase low-carbon solutions that support the Government's green agenda.

Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch visited her local branch to hear how PTS is investing extensively in energy-efficient and water-saving solutions to help her constituents choose a greener way of life.

Welcoming Ms Crouch on the day was branch manager, Paul Johnson and area director Andy Brook, who toured the site with the MP to demonstrate the facilities that PTS offers to installers interested in green energy.

The tour, which was organised by the Builders’ Merchants Federation to foster relationships between builders’ merchants and government, also discussed how the PTS training theatre is used for staff as well as for educating customers on new products and the latest legislation. The branch is also used to support students at Mid Kent College who come for assistance with their coursework.

Ian Stares PTS group manager for renewable energy products, said: "PTS is proud to welcome anyone who is as enthusiastic about renewables as we are. It's encouraging to see government representatives that are passionate about the uptake of renewables and the continued growth of the heating and plumbing industry.

“This constituency visit was the perfect opportunity for us to express our belief in the importance of taking emitted and embedded carbon out of buildings whilst communicating the concerns felt by the installers that we talk to every day."

Ms Crouch added: "I was delighted with the chance to visit this thriving business in my constituency. Paul Johnson and his team are to be congratulated on their efforts, despite difficult economic times. PTS show that low-carbon living is not only good for environmental reasons, but is good for jobs and growth as well.

"MPs ought to take the time to persuade constituents to carry out energy-saving work. With ever-increasing gas and electricity prices, efforts to improve their property, cut bills, and save money are indisputable.”

Miss Crouch's visit was timed to coincide with legislation being taken through Parliament by her Conservative Party colleague, Greg Barker MP, the Energy & Climate Change Minister.

The BMF believes the policy relies too heavily on big corporates - and favours vertically integrated businesses that will dominate the marketplace from the outset with a 'one-stop-shop' approach.

Visit organiser and BMF policy manager, Brett Amphlett, explained: "Our message to Tracey is the legislation must create a wider, deeper and longer market to allow merchants and their SME customers to participate in improving the energy performance of buildings. If not, it is unlikely there will be a wide range of providers in the market that ministers say they want - meaning little or no scope for merchants and SME firms to participate".

"The Green Deal is predicated on routine work, done locally by trained and competent people, delivered in large volumes, every day of the week, often by word of mouth recommendation, in places like the Medway towns and Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks".

"Successful firms, like PTS, are typical of an established supply chain that stands ready to respond - sales, jobs and growth depend on it becoming a successful industrial policy".

PTS has been an advocate of renewable energy technology for a number of years and opened its dedicated renewables branch in Aylesford in 2008, the first facility to use working displays to educate installers.

Since the launch, the facility has gone from strength-to-strength, with installers from all over the country travelling to its training auditorium to improve their renewables skill set and gain advice on the very latest renewable products.

In February 2011, PTS also took MPs around its Brighton and Hove branches to discuss the energy-efficient options available.