Bricks and paper

There have been many experiments in creating new and innovative building materials in recent years but one thing is for sure: if they could build houses out of paper we’d all have at least three each by now. So, we have to wonder whether today’s publication of the Housing White Paper will do anything to alleviate the dire shortage of homes in this country or will it simply be another step along the paper-trail of good intentions that seems to have become the norm in recent times.
Read Story

Back in our industry, any hints of optimist in recent weeks are rather blunted by the Plimsoll report of gradually shrinking values among the biggest companies and, even more worryingly, the number that are reportedly in difficulties.
Read Story

Meanwhile, Ian Latimer of Emmegi writes in a letter that even our own trade press may be falling victim to the phenomenon of ‘fake news’. It is up to others to guess where his finger may be pointing but he does highlight the fact that when any media circle relies on a degree of trust, any misuse of that trust does no one any good.
Read Letter

And finally, if you have someone, in any trade, working on site tomorrow, you might want to make sure they are carrying an up-to-date CSCS card tomorrow – if they have one, that is.
Read Story

Whether or not you play your cards right, we hope you enjoy this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

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

This Week's News

Industry value down 2%
in ‘challenging landscape’
– Plimsoll

The UK’s top window and door companies have decreased in value by 2% in the last 12 months, 379 out of 1308 have lost a third of their value in that time and 229 – over a sixth of the total – are said to be in financial difficulties, according to the latest Plimsoll Report.

The report also reveals that 167 of those are carrying more debt than last year and 365 reported a decline in shareholders’ funds in the same time.

Plimsoll’s lead author, David Pattison, said: “As a director, taking stock of your company value is a great barometer to measure your success and to analyse the overall state of the market.

Read More Here...

Warning of CSCS card swoop tomorrow

Window and door fitters are among construction workers being warned to be ready to show valid CSCS cards tomorrow (Feb 8) when a UK-wide audit of workers’ certification is planned.

The audit is aimed to check and promote the use of the chap-based smartcards by all site workers but Build UK told The Glazine it will also have the additional function of detecting any use of outdated or fraudulent cards.

A statement issued this week says Build UK and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association are “leading the way to a safer industry by carrying out an audit of industry skills cards across members’ construction sites on Wednesday 8 February 2017.

Read More Here...

White Paper sets out to
‘fix the broken housing market’

The government has today (7 February) introduced its plans to ‘fix the broken housing market’ and build more homes across England.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid says the current system isn’t working and is one of the greatest barriers to progress in Britain today.

The strategy includes helping councils to make developers start building on land they own, and making renting more ‘family friendly’ with longer tenancies.

Read More Here...

Alan steps up as GGF President

The Glass and Glazing Federation officially welcomed its new President, Alan Burgess, in front of more than 80 invited guests at the President’s Reception at The Building Centre, London, this week.

Interim Chief Executive Brian Baker hosted the presentations for the event. Brian thanked Nigel Rees former GGF Chief Executive for his 22 years of loyal service to the Federation.

Alan Burgess who delivered an engaging inauguration speech that covered the challenges ahead and outlined his aspirations for the Federation.

Read More Here...

FIT Show’s filling fast

Nearly 90% of the floor space for the FIT Show 20127 is already booked up more than three months before it opens in at its new NEC venue in May, and that already amounts to over 50% more than the whole of the 2016 event.

In January alone the FIT Show signed up 15 new exhibitors, say organisers, with the new contracts dominated by aluminium companies.

Dominating the new contracts are aluminium companies, with names such as Howells Patent Glazing Ltd, Aluminate, Stevenswood Trade Centres, CAB (the Council for Aluminium in Building) and ABS Ltd.

Read More Here...

We Have Email

From: Ian Latimer,
Managing Director, Emmegi (UK)

The trade press are part of the lifeblood of this industry. I know that an awful lot of news is published on social media these days but fundamentally most of us still rely on the trade magazines to keep us up to date with what’s new.

Obviously much of what is published is generated from within the industry itself either direct or via PR agencies and, with very small editorial teams, the magazines have to trust the accuracy of what they receive.

Sadly, I’ve seen a couple of examples recently of exaggerated PR stories which have stretched the definition of accurate somewhat and I just hope that it’s not the start of a worrying trend.

Read More