A moving feast

How was it for you? The consensus on FIT seemed to be a near-unanimous ‘great’ with just the odd ‘not bad’ to season the mix – and the attendance figures speak even louder than words here – but the discussion, among the exhibitors and visitors alike, was as much about next year as this.

The one question at the fore of many minds was how will this now well-established event, and the undeniable buzz that goes with it, fare in the move from the cradle of Telford to the notoriously less than cuddly NEC?

Perhaps for anyone who knows this industry and the characters who make it tick, the answer is a simple one. Such a buzz is not generated by a shed, what or wherever that shed may be – it is the product of the people who make that space come to life, and the energy and dynamism of the people in this industry should leave few in any doubt as to how well that will travel.

…oh and, yes, there really was a roof system at the show called ‘Leka’, though all fans of the Ikea school of unfortunate product names were quickly assured that it is pronounced with a short ‘e’.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

Fabulous FIT

FIT Show organisers are declaring 2016 a resounding success with visitor numbers up by nearly half on the last show and over two thirds of stands already booked for the big move to FIT 2017 at the NEC.

“We had 8,502 visitors through the doors over the three days,” the event’s MD Paul Godwin told The Glazine, “That’s not only 45% up on 2014 but the response from exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive that they had a great show.

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GGF launches two major
Good Practice updates

The Glass and Glazing Federation has used the FIT Show to release updated versions of its two major Good Practice guides to Conservatories in the UK and Replacement Windows and Doors in England and Wales.

The Windows and Doors document, launched by GGF Technical Officer Michael Sulston, is an update of the 2011 version and is in response to the recent revision of the British Standard BS 8213-4: 2016 Windows and Doors –Part 4: Code of practice for the survey and installation of windows and external doorsets.

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Employers urged to
check CSCS cards the Smart way

Home improvement and construction employers are being urged to carry out electronic checks on CSCS cards following extensive reports of counterfeit card rackets, even involving authentic looking smart cards.

A recent survey showed that fewer than 10% of potential employers were carrying out more than a visual check when presented with a CSCS card, while a simple electronic examination, possible on a smartphone or other device could detect even cards with fake chips.

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House prices
– the divide widens

The UK’s north-south divide in house prices is growing even wider with new Government statistics showing that prices actually fell in Scotland while South East England rose by more than 11%.

The annual average price change to February, according to the Office of National Statistics, showed an all UK increase of 7.6%, while England’s 8.2% increase was largely boosted by the South East at 11.2%, the East 10.3% and London 9.7%. By contrast, Wales put on 2.8% and Northern Ireland 2.4% while prices in Scotland fell back by 0.8%.

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