The GGF hosted a Spring media event recently, highlighting how the federation is implementing ‘root and branch’ changes that are designed to deliver faster, more joined up support for members in a more demanding regulatory and commercial environment.

Central to these latest changes are two new senior roles, with Dave Mechem appointed as managing director of FENSA and RISA and Lauren Mawford appointed as director of the GGF.

Speaking at the briefing, Dave Mechem said FENSA needed to evolve from being seen purely as a back‑end compliance scheme to becoming a front‑end value generator for installers.

Having worked as an installer in a family business at the start of his career, Dave said that he wanted to make working with FENSA easier through better connection between its customer service, inspections and approvals processes so that installers dealt with fewer touchpoints and got faster answers.

This he said would be driven through the upgrade of its digital systems as part of a major Group‑wide transformation programme and developing FENSA as a trusted platform to help homeowners find the right specialist installer, “not just a self‑certification logo at the end of the job.”

On the Federation side, Lauren explained that the GGF was working to deliver better day‑to‑day value to members so that GGF membership became a “commercially rational decision, not just a badge of affiliation.”

She explained:

“One of the big changes we are making is moving away from a one‑size‑fits‑all benefits package. A small installer, a regional fabricator and a major systems business simply do not need the same things in the same way. We are tailoring benefits so they are realistic, usable and directly relevant to each part of the industry.”

She added that for many installers, membership was effectively “cost‑neutral or better”, once you factor in discounts, particularly on insurance‑backed guarantees through InstallSure, alongside access to technical guidance and HR and health and safety support.

“We are seeing companies who have sat on the sidelines for years now coming to us and saying, ‘We want to be part of this.’

“They can see the increased focus on technical support, training and advocacy, and they want their voice in the room when we are shaping guidance and responding to new regulation,” said Lauren.

Speaking at the briefing, Tim Simmons, CEO, GGF Group, said:

“Our members now operate in an environment defined by tighter regulation, higher expectations on competence and traceability, intense margin pressure and a chronic skills challenge.

“My job is to make sure the Group is structurally and culturally capable of helping them navigate that reality.

“We are putting in proper succession planning, clearer roles and responsibilities, and a more open, member‑focused culture.”