Thanks for the ride

Seven years – a few dozen men and women – tens of thousands of pounds raised from many millions of turns of the pedal. The announcement by GM Fundraising that its next bike challenge will be the last marks the finale of what has become one of the milestones in the industry’s calendar Read Story. The reasons are clear and understandable – the teams have set themselves ever higher targets to beat and, as Gary says, they are all seven years older than when this great chapter began.

Of course, the rest of GMF’s work will continue and everyone involved in Hope House will continue to be grateful for that and we wish them the very best with everything they do. The only question that remains is what will anything think of to match these marathons in the years to come.

And, of course, speaking of milestones in the calendar, more and more hopefuls are gleefully shouting about their listings as G18 finalists, so as a record of all their hopes for glory on November 30, we have launched a page listing all the hopefuls for the few weeks until the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the London Hilton on Park Lane. View Page

Also, we are told, whether a finalist or not, there are still a few tickets left for the event at (Visit website) but don’t hang around – they are going fast.

Until then, 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

GMF unveils biggest
– and last – charity
bike challenge

GM Fundraising has launched its seventh annual cycling marathon, setting itself the target to raise £125,000 with the team promising to go out on a high as they announce that this is to be the final charity challenge of its kind.

“From Russia With Hope promises to be the biggest and hardest cycling challenge to date,” said GM Fundraising founder Gary Morton. “The team, which includes 19 members of the Border2Border riding and support team, will be covering in excess of 280 miles each day as they cycle from St Petersburg, through Finland, into the arctic circle, through Sweden , Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, England and Wales, before arriving at Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry.

But he added: “From Russia With Hope’ is the seventh and final major cycling challenge for good reason: Aside from the immense amount of work that goes into the planning and execution, each time we must increase the challenge and funds raised. This is no easy task. 

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McAllister re-emerges at Conservatory Outlet

Former GGF managing director Shaun McAllister this week stepped back into the industry spotlight in the newly created role of Retail Operations Director at Conservatory Outlet Group.

McAllister, whose sudden parting in May was one of a number of controversial top level departures at the Federation, will take strategic responsibility of CO’s two recently acquired retail operations, Clearview Home Improvements and Pennine Home Improvements.

Group CEO Greg Kane said of the appointment: “Shaun is unrivalled in his experience and reputation and his appointment is a very welcome addition to our already very strong leadership team. Shaun personally delivered a great level of assistance to a number of members of our team during his time as Managing Director at the GGF and we couldn’t be more delighted to welcome him on board.”

Read More Here

FMB backs Hammond on flexible apprenticeship levy

The Chancellor is right to make the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible, so that it works for strategic industries such as the construction sector, according to the Federation of Master Builders but it adds that his reforms have not gone far enough.

Responding to Philip Hammond’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Chancellor has, in part, listened to the concerns of business by making the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible. However, he needs to go much further.

“Currently ten per cent of Levy vouchers can be passed down through the supply chain from large firms to smaller firms and today, he increased this to 25 per cent. This is important as in construction, it’s the small firms that do the bulk of the training while the large firms don’t tend to directly employ or train tradespeople.

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BWF ends Fire Door Safety Week with video launches

The British Woodworking Federation has rounded off Fire Door Safety Week with the publication of five emotive videos aimed at driving home the importance of fire doors as well as ‘a legacy of neglect’ in their inspection and maintenance.

The films, all posted online, underline not only the importance of the fire doors themselves but also the need for correct installation, use, maintenance and third party certification as well as commemorating the loss of life at Grenfell Tower.

Hannah Mansell, spokesperson for FDSW, as well as British Woodworking Federation Head of Technical Research and Insight, Chair of the Passive Fire Protection Forum and a Trustee of the Children’s Burns Trust, says that the industry needs to continue to lobby for third party certification to become mandatory. At the same time, the pace of industry research, innovation and collaboration needs to continue to ensure that fire doors are of the very best quality both today and on into the future.

Read More Here