UK businesses urged to plan for extreme heat and winter cooling

Rising summer temperatures are driving a sustained increase in cooling demand across UK organisations, from offices and data centres to retail and hospitals. The higher use of air‑conditioning and refrigeration is adding pressure to the electricity grid, which has already faced near‑overload during recent heatwaves. Industry experts argue that cooling should be treated as critical infrastructure to protect productivity, assets and patient care while keeping net‑zero ambitions on track.

At the same time, the Met Office’s State of the UK Climate report warns that extreme cold spells are becoming the new normal. HSS ProService Marketplace is urging companies to review heating, insulation and environmental‑control plans ahead of winter, citing risks to workforce welfare, equipment performance and supply‑chain continuity. Supply Chain Director Sam Davies stresses that treating weather as a board‑room planning issue is essential for resilience and profitability.