This Week's News

Government jump starts SME house building sector

Government’s announcement that it will lower the threshold on the Builders Finance Fund to five units has been welcomed by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Government’s decision to open up applications to the Builders Finance Fund to the very smallest house builders is going to make a real difference to our sector. We know that access to finance is the main barrier to SME house builders increasing their output and the fact that Ministers have taken our advice, shows that government is committed to empowering small local builders and ensuring they can contribute to the much-needed uplift in new homes.”

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G14 award rounds off a fantastic year for Polyframe

Halifax-based Halo fabricator, Polyframe has won its third award in 2014 after collecting the prestigious G14 Award for Fabricator of the Year.

An awards presentation and gala dinner held at the famous London Hilton on Park Lane was attended by more than 560 leading industry figures, eagerly anticipating the results of 13 glazing-related prize categories.

Polyframe's Group Managing Director, Chris Watson and Financial Director, Trisha Earley were on hand to collect the award - one of the year's many highlights for the West Yorkshire company, having been listed in Santander's Breakthrough 50 list of the UK's fastest growing companies, taking the Yorkshire Post's Excellence in Business Award for companies with a turnover between £10m and £50m, and receiving Plimsoll's Certificate of Business Excellence for 'Outstanding Company 2014'.

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G14 Winners Interviews

The Window Company (Contracts) Named Installer Of The Year

Specialist commercial installer The Window Company (Contracts) is celebrating after it was named Installer of the Year at last Friday’s G-Awards.

The Essex based company was a finalist in 2013 and scooped the trophy this time around after impressing the judges with its impressive growth figures, its outstanding customer feedback and its relentless attention to detail across every aspect of its operation.

The company’s win was made even more special by the fact that one of its key suppliers Polyframe was also named Fabricator of the Year, creating a true ‘dream team’ for customers in the commercial sector.

The Window Company (Contracts) Managing Director David Thornton said: “This is a fantastic achievement for us and one which I know will have a really positive impact on our future growth and expansion.

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October sales reach an all-time-high for The VEKA UK Group

The VEKA UK Group has reinforced its position as the UK's number one manufacturer of PVC-U window and door profile with its strongest sales month ever.

Sales in October topped those of any other month since the family-owned German multinational, VEKA, established its UK arm, VEKA plc, back in 1986.

Coinciding with its Approved Fabricator and Installer Scheme reaching a tally of over 300 member companies, October's sales record reflects the shared successes of both The VEKA UK Group and its customers, with a number of VEKA and Halo fabricators posting similarly unprecedented sales figures in recent months.

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Gary Morton presented with the Derek Bonnard Award for Excellence

Another fantastic night was had by all at the G14 Awards Presentation and Gala Dinner, as the glass and glazing industry united once again to celebrate all that is great and good within it. Winners of all categories stood out as shining examples of commitment, dedication and excellence including the winner of the Derek Bonnard Award for Excellence, Gary Morton.

“Gary has had an extensive and impressive career within the glass and glazing industry,” explains Joe Hague, Managing Director of the Promac Group, sponsors of the Derek Bonnard award. “In addition to this, Gary’s extraordinary leadership of the GM Fundraising team has resulted in them raising over £1 million for Hope House Children’s Hospices – an absolutely astonishing achievement. As early supporters of GM Fundraising, Promac continues to be amazed at the energy and enthusiasm he injects into fundraising for children with life-limiting illnesses. It seemed perfectly fitting that the judges chose to recognise Gary’s efforts with the Derek Bonnard Award this year.”

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Stonehenge Visitor Centre Scoops Commercial Project Of The Year At G14 Awards

Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, has won Commercial Project of the Year at the prestigious G14 awards for its glazing system used in English Heritage’s recently opened visitor centre for Stonehenge, the World Heritage site.

The centre is designed to blend into its surroundings by evoking a copse of trees. The manufacturer, working with architect Denton Corker Marshall and installer Vitrine Systems, created a 4.3 metre-tall structural glass façade encasing one of the two pods that make up the building.

The concept behind the glazed pod – which contains a café, a gift shop and an educational area – was to allow unimpeded sight-lines in and out of the building, keeping visitors in close contact with the landscape outside. This was achieved thanks to Pilkington OptiwhiteTM extra clear low-iron glass.


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GGF “Delighted” With G14 Awards

The GGF was delighted with the success of the recent G14 Awards at Park Lane Hilton which saw 5 GGF Member Companies pick up awards.

The event yet again proved to be a great showpiece for the industry with Over 560 industry figures attending the Awards Presentation & Gala Dinner which was hosted by popular comedian Kevin Bridges.
Brian Baker, GGF President commented, “It was another very enjoyable and memorable evening with many GGF Members in the running for awards. Congratulations to the five GGF Members on winning their awards.”

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Glassolutions Wins G14 Environmental Initiative Of The Year Award

 GLASSOLUTIONS’ commitment to environmental sustainability has been given industry approval at the G14 awards where it received the Environmental Initiative of the Year award.
 
The company, which is part of the international Saint-Gobain group, picked up the award at the prestigious awards ceremony hosted by comedian Kevin Bridges at the glamorous Hilton Park Lane Hotel, London.
 

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Eclectic are ecstatic at winning

A marketing campaign which culminated in the impressive video “A day viewed through Residence 9” has resulted in an award for the premium window system.

Eclectic Systems was the proud winner of ‘Promotional campaign of the year – Retail’ at the G14 Awards for the “Your R9” campaign which led the fabricator, installer and homeowner on a journey of the R9 window with an impressive video and accompanying marketing materials.

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New research reveals credit where credit isn’t due

Tier 2 sub-contractors are the net providers of trade credit within the construction industry, offering more trade credit to tier 1 contractors and clients than they receive from their own suppliers, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC).

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