Trade Organisations
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Ben Wallace, managing director of the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), looks at the value of learning from other people’s expertise and explains what all sectors of the industry have to gain from attending the industry’s Glass Conference this October. Any successful business will have an eye on the future and be thinking about how to drive the company forward...
As the industry navigates an era of unprecedented change, it’s clear that the landscape of construction is shifting. This evolution is driven not only by technological advancements and new materials but also by a significant cultural shift sweeping the sector. The recent activity of the new government underscores this momentum, with early term announcements indicating a strong commitment to transforming...
Ben Wallace, managing director of the Glass & Glazing Federation answers some key questions about October’s Glass Conference, which is being staged in partnership with FENSA and FIT Show. Q: What first prompted the idea of Glass Conference? Ben Wallace (BW): The GGF holds more than 100 technical meetings and events every year. In addition to the Members’ Day, every...
As Chair of Certass Trade Association, I have the privilege of engaging with professionals throughout the built environment. Our industry is vital in creating safe, energy-efficient, and aesthetically pleasing buildings. However, as we navigate the evolving landscape of building regulations and safety standards, one theme stands out above all: competence. The Grenfell Phase 2 Inquiry report is going to hit...
By Tom Butler, head of sales and marketing, Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF). We’ve spoken previously about how the glass and glazing industry has a big problem when it comes to awareness of our sector as a potential career for school leavers. That awareness is pitifully low currently and we are faced with a long-term battle to give the sector...
By Jon Vanstone, chair Certass TA. When I entered the BSR Conference 2024 at NEC Birmingham, I could feel the anticipation in the air. Over 1,800 delegates had gathered, and most were eager to explore the heart of what competence truly means in the building and glazing industries. It was a gathering of minds, all intent on exploring how we...
By Jon Vanstone, chair of Certass Trade association. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has long stood as a beacon of guidance and strategic planning for the UK's construction sector. In its latest Bi-Annual Review for 2023 and the Plan for 2024, the CLC recaps the year's achievements and challenges and also charts a course for future endeavours. This announcement comes...
By The Window Company (Contracts)’ chair, David Thornton. While supply issues right across the market are obviously having a serious impact on fabricators, lead times and operational efficiencies, in most cases it is installers, operating at the sharp end of the industry, who are actually bearing the brunt. In the commercial market, where there are sometimes penalties for late completion...
Ash Pearson, sales manager at Jack Aluminium Systems explains how modern aluminium systems are helping to deliver heritage-style aesthetics in industrial building restorations and refurbishments. There’s no escaping the trend for heritage style in homes. It’s all over the glossy home style magazines and you see it at most self-building and renovating exhibitions too. Influenced by home makeover television shows...
The 2017 FIT Show reflected the most significant transformation in the home improvement glazing sector for decades, with an estimated 35% of exhibitors showing aluminium products. Managing director Paul Godwin reflects on how the event bore witness to this almost seismic shift. Many in the window and door industry will not remember aluminium ever being a major element in the...
Glazerite UK group director Jason Thompson says installers are right to target the more prestigious jobs. It isn’t surprising that more and more installers are being tempted to tender for commercial work. The scale of each contract is attraction enough but when you add in other factors such as consistency of demand, repetition in manufacturing and the likelihood of getting...
Glazerite UK group director Jason Thompson says installers are right to target the more prestigious jobs. It isn’t surprising that more and more installers are being tempted to tender for commercial work. The scale of each contract is attraction enough but when you add in other factors such as consistency of demand, repetition in manufacturing and the likelihood of getting...
UK businesses are facing an increase in cost pressures after Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) jumped to 12% in June. Having doubled from 6% in October 2015, this is the third increase in just 18 months. The biggest concern over the tax increase is that businesses may be tempted to cut back on their policies, which is likely to increase the...
By Ben Brocklesby, director at Origin. The summer months, when we expect warmer, sunnier days, is when bifolding doors come into their own. This isn’t only the case for residential properties, but we see a growing trend of commercial sites – such as cafés, restaurants and bars – installing this style of door, giving them the competitive edge in attracting...
By Mo Panam, MD Barley Chalu. Quality means doing it right when no one is looking. I have long admired this statement from Henry Ford and it certainly is true for our architectural finishing industry. Today, to finish an aluminium profile is not a difficult task, as there are lots of automated plant available which will do the work for you, but to get it...