Cross-Party Inquiries Must Stop Another Carillion And Shine A Light On Mis-Selling, Say Small Firms

Welcoming the launch of a BEIS Select Committee inquiry into supply chain bullying and small business productivity, and a Treasury Select Committee inquiry into access to finance for small firms, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry, said:  “It’s great to see parliament announcing new cross-party investigations to tackle the many issues facing small firms today.  

“The collapse of Carillion provides a mere glimpse of the pernicious supply chain bullying culture which is sadly rife among big corporations. Taking forward FSB recommendations for ending a late payment crisis that causes 50,000 business deaths a year should be the BEIS inquiry’s top priority. What we can’t have is another Carillion scenario in future.  

“Small firms account for 99 per cent of the UK business community. The solution to closing our productivity gap lies in incremental output gains among small firms and the self-employed, not headline-grabbing initiatives from big multinationals. We look forward to working with the BEIS committee on routes to upskilling small businesses and encouraging them to innovate and invest.

“From the staircase tax, to GRG, to cash machine cuts, the Treasury Committee has been vocal on the issues that matter to the small firms in recent months.

“As it launches this new inquiry, the Committee is right to flag the absence of regulatory reform around small business lending since the financial crash. That’s despite hundreds of entrepreneurs being driven to the wall by banking scandals during the downturn. The FCA’s most recent set of recommendations for increasing small business access to redress fall well short of the mark. We encourage the Treasury Committee to keep the pressure on regulators during this inquiry.  

“Only one in ten small firms currently applies for external finance. The majority of small businesses rely on traditional loan or overdraft facilities from banks, even though they may well not be the right products for them. We need to get more small firms thinking about all of their options while breaking down misconceptions around equity finance. We look forward to working with the Treasury Committee to scrutinise these issues in the weeks ahead.”  

www.fsb.org.uk

Boasting a number of industry accolades and an impressive BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’, Eastwood Health Centre in Glasgow has benefitted from the use of Senior Architectural Systems’ attractive Hybrid timber aluminium curtain walling and high-performance aluminium windows and doors.

The three-storey building, which incorporates a number of GP practices and community health facilities, has been constructed around two external courtyards and designed to make the most of the use of natural lighting and ventilation.  Installed by Marshall Brown, the design of the health centre’s glazing package has been enhanced through the addition of timber cladding, projecting timber panels and bespoke timber louvres which provide solar shading and add further contrast to the building’s brickwork façade.

Senior’s innovative Hybrid curtain walling system, which combines the durability of aluminium externally with the environmental benefits of timber internally, has been used to create a welcoming environment and connect the internal spaces to the outside by providing views of the external courtyard.  On the ground floor, Senior’s thermally-broken aluminium SPW600 aluminium windows have also been installed alongside Senior’s robust SPW500 aluminium door, which is ideally suited to high-traffic commercial applications.

The prestigious contract saw Senior work alongside main contractor Morgan Sindall, with whom the company has a long-standing supplier agreement, and Hoskins Architects.  Eastwood Health Centre has been recognised at a number of award schemes including the RIAS Awards 2017, Health Faculties Scotland Design Awards and European Healthcare Awards.

For more information about Senior, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

Crafted precision is set to be the buzz word for 2018 as Virtuoso Doors – previously known as WB Group – makes its rise to fame. Virtuoso Doors has kicked off the new year with a major re-launch to strengthen its position as a leading manufacturer of high-end composite doors and PVC-U door panels. Under the launch, the company has unveiled a bold new identity to capture the unique craftsmanship and precision engineering that goes into making every single Virtuoso door. The move heralds the next exciting phase of rapid growth for Virtuoso Doors, which is part of the new Customade Group.

Tony Craggs, Managing Director of Virtuoso Doors, explains: “Virtuoso Doors will be the name on everyone’s lips in 2018. We have a new name and we have a new look, but what we stand for remains the same. We create doors with ‘crafted precision’ and our team of experienced craftsmen and craftswomen use cutting edge machinery to make the best quality doors with an attention to detail that only a human eye can give. “Virtuoso Doors isn’t like any other door manufacturer. With a reputation for manufacturing superior quality doors and providing unrivalled personal service, we have a genuine passion for perfection in everything we do. Making doors is a real labour of love for us.

“It’s been a phenomenal year for Virtuoso since we joined Customade Group. We’ve already launched Virtu-AL – our ground-breaking aluminium effect composite door – and there are more exciting innovations to come in 2018. We’ll be taking Virtuoso, and the industry, to the next level – watch this space!” Based at an 80,000 ft2 site in Birtley, County Durham, Virtuoso Doors recently invested £750,000 in new specialist machinery and IT systems. The move has boosted Virtuoso Doors’ capabilities and created additional capacity for future growth and development. Now, with nationwide distribution and a sales team serving the whole of the UK, Virtuoso Doors is set to extend its reach and significantly increase market share. Virtuoso Doors is at the forefront of composite door development and successfully launched Virtu-AL – a new pedigree of composite door. The UK’s first aluminium textured, non-woodgrain finish composite door, Virtu-AL was created to satisfy increasing consumer demand for modern, aluminium style products.

Tel: 0191 410 9333

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Force 8 is once again at the cutting edge of composite door design. While most manufacturers are catching up with the new aluminium look smooth finish, which was introduced across the Force 8 Decadence range, the company has launched the Decadence Zermatt with a unique colour combination.

“The Zermatt is the latest edition to our Smooth Decadence range and to date is the only door of its kind on the market. Its unique two-tone colour scheme is the latest innovation from Force 8 and not currently available from any other supplier”, comments Dennis Sumner, managing director of Force 8. “The demand for coloured doors has driven the door market for a while, but as yet no one had thought of combining two colours in such a contemporary fashion. The double groove detail is a completely new design and can only be found on the Zermatt and by adding the latest stainless steel hardware completes the cutting edge appearance of the door”.

The revolutionary Smooth finish on the Zermatt has the look of a more expensive aluminium door, but with all the thermal benefits of a composite door. Featuring a double groove etched design allows for the placement of the stainless steel hardware to be offset as well as the colour, this gives a truly contemporary and unique look.

“If you were to purchase this door in an aluminium format in a single colour you would be looking at around three or four times the price. We have a choice of colours available, but leaving the background colour anthracite grey matches the current trend in window frames. We believe The Zermatt door design is set to revolutionise the door market”, comments Dennis.

All Force 8 doors are manufactured in their Stockport factory giving them complete control over the finish and quality. To find out more information about the new Zermatt door, contact Force 8 on 0161 483 1997 or visit their website www.force8.uk and join the revolution.

Prominent South-East fabricator GJB Window Systems has announced a major addition to their product offering. Looking to help their customers win new business and break into new markets, the team has added The Residence Collection, the UK’s leading range of timber-effect windows.

Made available through GJB’s strategic partnership with new sister company Listers, The Residence Collection combines three authentic, high-performance window systems. Each accurately captures the charm and the traditional aesthetics of timber in an ultra-modern PVC-U window.

“We are really pleased to add The Residence Collection to our offering at GJB, providing our customers in the South-East and across the UK with a powerful new route to market,” comments Roy Frost, Managing Director of GJB Window Systems. “Residence joins the range at a time when installers are needing to diversify and explore new ways of gaining greater margins – tapping into consumer demand for premium products. With a full range of valuable, high-end products, Residence will undoubtedly help installers do just that.”

Tel: 01268 775566

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The Glass and Glazing Federation has announced that Regalead and Jackloc have signed up to join the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau Frontale 2018.

James Lee, GGF director of group marketing, said: “As hosts of the UK Pavilion, the GGF is delighted to welcome both Regalead and Jackloc on board. Both companies have great products and reputations in the industry. They will certainly add even more quality to the excellent range of products on show on the UK Pavilion at Fensterbau.”

Fensterbau Frontale 2018 takes place in Nuremberg on 21-24 March and reflects the worldwide innovations in windows, doors and facades. Architects, carpenters, window and facade manufacturers, and the specialist trade will update on the latest profile systems, glass in architecture, fixing equipment, hardware, safety equipment, machines, installations and many more products.

The post Two more join the UK Pavillion at Fensterbau appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

After it made such a huge impact when it was previewed at the FIT Show, the door which AluK says will become the new benchmark in the bi-fold market has officially been launched. The Luminia F82 bi-fold is the flagship product in AluK’s premium Luminia range, and is now available exclusively from a network of Luminia Select Partners across the UK. Targeted directly at the higher end of the market where demand is buoyant and still growing, it has all the aesthetics and performance features needed to justify a premium price with strong and sustainable margins. The F82 ticks every box for the homeowner and developer offering contemporary slim sightlines, effortlessly smooth operation, stylish hardware and low U-Values. Crucially, AluK says that it also allows installers to differentiate their product offering from both the me-too doors in the mass aluminium bi-fold market and the less streamlined alternatives.

The F82 has slimmer sightlines than other doors available, but more importantly offers bigger expanses of glazing, thanks to slim, symmetrical sightlines on the frame, cill and jamb of only 97mm. The contemporary look created by these uniform sightlines extends to the bespoke flush hardware designed and developed just for this door. This includes a new flush pop up T-handle, unique to AluK, which removes the need to add unsightly surface mounted door handles. There is also a flush handle for the traffic door, and specially designed, heavy duty rollers which deliver effortless operation. The F82 has achieved PAS24 accreditation at 2600mm wide, meaning that it can be installed in new build properties where Approved Document Q is required. AluK has ensured that the door always opens and closes smoothly, with the new heavy duty compact rollers offering a heavier maximum sash weight of 150kg as standard. It also boasts class leading thermal performance, thanks to U-Values of 1.3W/m²K with a double glazed unit, and just 0.7W/m²K when triple glazed.

All of the configurations in the F82 are available as open in or open out doors, and in double and single door options to ensure a suited offering for the homeowner. It is available from stock in four standard single and dual colours – grey, white, brown and black. Further popular RAL colours are available to order, with the additional option of custom RAL colours if required. The F82 has been deliberately designed to be quicker and easier to fabricate than other competitor doors, with fewer separate profiles, a single gasket requirement and only two types of corner moulding. It also therefore more cost effective to install, requiring less preparation and less time on site.

AluK’s Managing Director Russell Yates, says: “We’ve been inundated with enquiries for this door since the FIT Show – not just from our own customers but also from retail buyers and commercial specifiers. We know from the response that it offers a unique combination of style, performance and security, and that there are buyers waiting and eager to buy. “We’re delighted to have 15 of the UK’s best known and most highly regarded aluminium fabricators already lined up in our new Luminia Select Partner network to start fabricating the door for us, and we are working closely with them to give trade buyers all the sales and marketing support that they need.”

Tel: 01291 639 739

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Velux has launched MyDaylight – said to be the world’s first virtual reality app for renovation design.

The app enables homeowners to design their own room or renovation project by easily selecting parameters such as floor dimensions, roof height and ceiling pitch. They can then customise further by adding windows, floor and wall finishes, the room’s location, and more.

After approximately 10 minutes, they receive a digital simulation which can be viewed in 360⁰ or virtual reality, and gives a life-like recreation of the room and the changing effects of daylight inside.

The app is an opportunity for homeowners to experiment with different renovation options, and a mobile application means the service is available anywhere, anytime – thereby meeting the growing consumer trend for online customisation, browsing and shopping.

The rendering technology is built on cloud and virtual reality gaming technology taking the app to new levels.

The MyDaylight app is free of charge for everyone and available in the Apple and Google Play Stores from Monday 29 January 2018 in Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, Belgium and Slovenia, and on 30 January in Germany, with the rest of the rollout due in the coming weeks.

Grant Sneddon, daylight expert at Velux said: “Many people who are looking to reshape their home find it difficult moving from imagination to concrete proposals. The app brings homeowners one step closer to the home they have envisioned, as the 360⁰ and virtual reality visualisations make it both tangible and achievable.”

www.velux.com

The post Out of the Daylight comes light appeared first on Glass & Glazing Products Magazine (GGP).

Epwin Window Systems has announce that Katrina Earl has been promoted to National Sales Manager, Fenestration Division.  In her new role, Katrina will report directly to Paul Lindsay, Sales Director and will be responsible for the development of sales within the Fenestration Division working across both Epwin Window Systems and the soon to be launched, Epwin Glass business.

Commenting on her appointment, Katrina said: “I am delighted to accept this new position within the company and look forward to developing sales across the two business areas. We are fortunate to have a professional and proactive customer base too that is well placed to help us deliver the ongoing sales growth we are seeking going forward. It’s exciting times for the Group and I am delighted to be part of this successful business.”

Previously holding the position of Northern Regional Sales Manager for Epwin Window Systems, Katrina has been instrumental in helping build the company’s well-respected position in the market. Her appointment as National Sales Manager, Fenestration Division reflects the strength of her abilities and her commitment to the success of the business.

Katrina takes up the new position with immediate effect.

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