Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium provided a backdrop to the Glass & Glazing Federation members’ day, which returned in September after an absence of three years.

Whilst reflecting on key events of the past year, the programme focused on how the GGF plans to move forward following management revisions that took place in early 2022 and also featured a new format to deliver practical ‘take away’ solutions for delegates.

Through addresses made by the current president Tony Smith, managing director John Agnew and chief development officer Anda Gregory, the GGF was optimistic that significant management and staff revisions made at the turn of the year, are delivering positive outcomes.

The atmosphere amongst delegates was said to be ‘upbeat’ despite the difficulties faced by the market, with the GGF and its Group organisations ‘well placed’ to provide tangible services to members.

These include the GGF/Fensa/BFRC PVC-U frame recycling service that began in summer of 2021, and which has recently been supplemented by a similar scheme for aluminium frames. Deglazed PVC-U frames are collected from members’ premises or from site, free of charge, with volumes now hitting 50 tonnes monthly.

The Skills Pathway Scheme, which has been designed to deliver a comprehensive training programme to the industry, was also highlighted.

John Mannell, GGF technical officer, offered an impassioned overview of the scheme which is now said to be providing opportunities and funding for member companies who are training their staff.

Chris Beedel, now leading the GGF’s lobbying activities as head of advocacy & stakeholder relations, reported on the complexities of the UK government’s complicated departmentalisation, offering an overview of a task that brings with it ‘extraordinary challenges’.

Dave Mechem, director of assessment and inspection, delivered an update on Fensa, including a report of a record 52.9% failure rate for inspections carried out in August 2022, which followed the imposition of the new Building Regulations at the end of June.

Compared with a normal failure rate for the time of year of 25%, the surge was caused largely by breaches of Parts L and F of the Building Regulations, a situation that is expected to improve significantly as the industry adjusts.

Dave also confirmed that the pulse testing service that has been trialled by the GGF, will now go live. The test allows the accurate assessment of whether replacement windows proposed for a home will require trickle vents or is exempt, based upon assessment and physical testing of the property. The service is now widely available to all, with discounts for GGF and Fensa member companies.

John Agnew commented: “We passed a milestone this year with the GGF marking 45-years as a trade federation since its creation in 1977 from the various disparate bodies that had previously represented various aspects of the glass and glazing industries,” said John. “It was important, therefore, that this year’s event presented the GGF as a powerful, unified and progressive organisation that is delivering positive and tangible benefits to its members, and of course for the industry that it represents.”