This Week's News

First Certified Installer Network (CIN) launched in the UK

The first UK-wide Certified Installer Network (CIN) scheme has been launched in the UK with over 60 retail installers signing up at the launch conference on Wednesday 9th July 2014. The CIN, brainchild of Dave Barrett, managing director of Suffolk based A&B glass Group, which incorporates John Fredericks Plastics Limited of Huddersfield, is a UK-wide network of installers who have agreed to a charter of excellence, providing consumers with peace of mind and reassurance that the choice they have made is based on proven quality in products and installation, backed by a guarantee.

Dave explains his eureka moment "I was thinking of what we could do to give our retail installer network a real edge in the market. We have always been innovative and supremely quality conscious when it comes to product, but we needed something that could wrap our product offer and expertise into a unique proposition giving the end customer reassurance and a real guarantee of quality. Franchises, dealerships and marketing clubs have all been done before, the CIN most certainly isn't any of those things, our unique charter, which all CIN members have to sign up to is genuine, puts the consumer at the centre of our proposition and by doing so, we will be providing our network with a huge differentiator."

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FIT Show Review

UK house sales in June highest since 2007

UK property sales in June hit their joint highest monthly total since the financial crisis began, figures show, but sales among young adults are low. There were 109,580 sales in June, the same as in November last year, and the highest since the end of 2007, HM Revenue and Customs' data shows.

This gives a further indication of a recovery in the housing market spurred, in part, by government schemes.

But estate agents say very few buyers are aged under 30.

A report by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) said that 3% of those buying property in June were aged between 18 and 30 - the lowest it has ever recorded.

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Double G-Award Sponsors

Profile bending market leader, Universal Arches, has teamed up with timber and PVCu fabricator, Dempsey Dyer, as co-sponsors of the G 14 Awards trophies to be presented at the G14 Awards Presentation and Gala Dinner at the end of November.

The two companies have a close working relationship and are currently working on the UK’s largest commercial contract for shaped window frames on a mill refurbishment project at Abbey Mills, Leicester. While Universal Arches have helped re-define the shaped PVCu building profiles market in recent years, Dempsey Dyer have continued to innovate in the development of their own Beaumont window range and in their existing timber range of windows and doors.

The G14 Awards is seen very much as the industry ‘Oscars’ and this joint sponsorship of the trophies at the event will not only support what is great about the glazing industry, but will provide further marketing opportunities for both companies.

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Construction Activity Falls In June Despite Long-Term Growth

Figures released today last week reveal that the total value of new construction contracts fell in June, but the industry should remain optimistic about its long-term future, say construction intelligence suppliers Barbour ABI.

Barbour ABI, which supplies construction data to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Cabinet Office and Treasury, has published its latest Economic & Construction Market Review, which shows that the total value of all new construction contracts awarded in June totalled £5.2 billion, a marginal decrease of 0.7 per cent compared to May.

However, construction levels were 10.5 per cent higher when compared with June last year, which is further evidence of the improving performance of the industry in the long term.

Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, commented: “While this is only the second month this year in which month-on-month values have fallen, we’re still not seeing the same high rates of growth as we did towards the end of 2013. This is an indication that the growth we’ve become used to over the last twelve months is beginning to plateau.

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Green Deal Home Improvement Fund Reaches £50 Million Milestone In Six Weeks

An impressive public and industry response to the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund has seen more than £43million worth of vouchers issued in the first six weeks, and well over £50m applied for.

12,200 applications have been received and 7,925 households in England and Wales have received vouchers under the scheme, which offers people money back for making energy saving improvements to their home.  We expect to have reached £50m in vouchers issued within the next couple of days.

With scheme design and rates guaranteed for the first £50 million, the Department of Energy and Climate Change is today announcing changes to the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, to ensure as many people as possible can benefit from the most effective energy saving measures while funds last.

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Synseal Acquires Systems Glass

Synseal has acquired the business and assets of Prospect Inc. Ltd, trading as Systems Glass.

Located at Challenge Way in Wigan with good access to both the M6 and M58 motorways, Systems Glass supplies quality products to a well-established regional customer base which include insulated glass units for window frame and roof applications as well as quantities of single sheet toughened glass.

Operations comprise a 50,000 square foot production facility, tried and tested manufacturing equipment and highly experienced and skilled staff. The existing capacity of 9,000 IGUs per week will be increased through additional Synseal investment to fully maximise the potential of the spacious site.

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Vietnam manufacturing facility expansion on track

The Trojan Group has released details of the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Vietnam. The purpose-built additional 20,000 square metres of manufacturing space is on course to be operational by late 2014. Tony Chadwick, Trojan Group’s Managing Director, said, “The need to open a new manufacturing facility is a clear indication of the success of the Trojan brand and the increasing demand for our products.”

Tony is clear about his reasons for expanding the company’s Vietnam operation. “It is vital to us that we keep manufacturing in-house so we can maintain our patented product confidentiality and stringent quality standards. By expanding our operations in Vietnam, we can make the most of the value of the pound over there, helping to protect our customers’ businesses from rising prices and market forces so they can keep control over their costs.”

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Partnership 
To Improve Access To Reputable Installers

Landlords looking to carry out home improvements and repairs on their rental properties can now search with confidence for reputable and expert tradespeople through a new partnership announced today between TrustMark, the Government-endorsed quality mark for tradesmen and Endsleigh, an independent intermediary specialising in the provision of insurance and financial products
 
The initiative will also boost access for TrustMark-registered glaziers and window installers to the lucrative home repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) market in the private rented sector, estimated by Endsleigh to be worth about £1.25 billion a year.
 
A survey by Endsleigh of nearly 1,500 landlords found it is not uncommon for a landlord to spend up to £1,000 in repair and maintenance in a year. Landlords without letting agents were more than twice as likely to pay out extra cash for big jobs costing between £1,000 and £2,000.
 
The new partnership will encourage Endsleigh’s landlord and letting agent customers to use TrustMark’s 14,500 registered firms, giving them greater confidence that the work will be carried out by high quality trusted professionals working to government-endorsed standards. 
 
Recent trends illustrate that many landlords have busy day jobs, without prior property management experience, and often have to rely on reliable local experts in the industry to help.
 
Marcus Latchford, Endsleigh’s Lettings and Landlords Manager, said:

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