‘First Fall in Sales Since 2020’
From: Phil Slinger, Chief Executive, Council for Aluminium in Building
The Construction Products Association (CPA) have reported that, on net balance, 12% of ‘heavy side’ firms saw sales fall in Q3, the first quarterly fall...
‘Strip back and embrace simplicity’
From: Giovanni Laporta, Smart Ready
As a designer and innovator, I am aware that inspiration comes from all sorts of places, and what I want to share with you is a prime example of this....
Confusions still reigns on energy prices despite government support
From: Mark Mitchell, chair, Cornwall Group.
Don’t expect glass prices to tumble, or for stability to return to the market following the government’s recently announced energy support package for businesses.
Energy surcharges imposed by the...
No new ADQ for now…But don’t ignore the PAS24: 2022 update
From: Strafford Cooke, technical director, Mila
As I predicted back in June, the new and updated version of security standard PAS24: 2022 has just been published. While the updates are fairly minimal from a fabrication...
Mini budget offers hope for SMEs
From: Brian Berry, Chief Executive, FMB
The Chancellor’s ‘Mini Budget’ with its strong emphasis on economic growth is a gamble but offers hope to small builders.
The strong focus to ‘get Britain building’ by unlocking government...
The art of consistency
From: Wayne Heath, sales director, AluK
This could be a tough year ahead for the whole of the windows and doors market. The cost-of-living crisis means lots of consumers are already cutting back on their...
Suicide – we’re in it together
From: Bill Hill, CEO, Lighthouse Club
Saturday was World Suicide Prevention Day and we will see a huge amount of activity and publicity following it to help raise awareness of the issues surrounding such a...
‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it’
From: Howard Trotter, Business Manager, Shelforce
With the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, I have seen ‘Be the Best’ slogans around the city during the successful event and it made me think – what does the...
‘Lead times still really matter’
From: Martin Nettleton, managing director, Euroglaze
Post-pandemic, I’ve noticed a shift in the way that many fabricators frame their revised lead times, with the inference that trade customers are now more comfortable than they used...
Price increases – suppliers are under pressure too
From: Richard Gyde, managing director, Mila
I’ve seen the recent appeal in the press from several large fabricators for suppliers to halt the current round of price increases, rather than pushing them down the supply...
