Archives for June 2019

Richard Hearn joined the GGF in November 2017 as Head of Membership and Training.
In this article Richard highlights the progress he has made on the training side and explains why focusing on quality will give Members the edge in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

With a sense of duty to its Members and the wider industry, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and its commercial companies have for the last ten years, tried to find training solutions to help companies raise their standards of workmanship.

These solutions have been wide and varied during the last decade. From bringing in training consultants, setting up training committees, forming training academies, setting up a training company and writing training manuals. All of these initiatives had their merits but didn’t fully serve the training needs of the industry.

During this period, several GGF Members have volunteered and worked tirelessly to help develop training that would not just satisfy Members but would also make a meaningful impact on the industry.

Training the industry is a broad and deep remit and one which instead of shying away from, the GGF has embraced and continued to face up to the challenge.

In late 2017, the GGF appointed Richard Hearn as Head of Membership and Training. With Richard’s experience of developing training in membership organisations, it was a good fit for the Federation and the work soon commenced.

The timeline of the last 12 months clearly marks the progress.

2018 Timeline

APRIL/MAY:

• The GGF’s offices are granted Accredited Training Centre status by GQA Qualifcations.

• Training Provider, Fenestrology, is appointed to help lead and develop the GGF Training programme.

JUNE/JULY:

• GGF surveys its Members asking what type of training is needed. The results show that Members want training courses on surveying and installation.
• Extensive high-quality training courses for installers and surveyors are developed.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER:

• A new training section is created on the GGF website. • Training course details are revealed and published on the GGF website and publicised to the Membership and wider industry via trade media.

OCTOBER:

• The GGF delivers its first training courses in the GGF Offices.

2019 Timeline

FEBRUARY/MARCH

• Fire Resistant Glazing Installer Training is added to the GGF Training portfolio.

• March: Four new training locations are added as the GGF widens its course availability to Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and Manchester.

APRIL/MAY

• GGF starts the “Training the Industry” trade media campaign featuring editorial, advertising and a new promotional training brochure.

• FIT Show 2019 and the GGF promotes its training courses and presents seminars on the training courses the GGF delivers.

• The GGF offers a special 20% discount on the price of its training courses for installers, surveyors and fire resistant glazing installers at FIT Show.

Richard Hearn, GGF Head of Membership and Training commented on the progress: “We’ve come a long way in a relatively short period of time, but we know there is so much more to be done in the area of training. Those who have attended the courses have provided glowing testimonials on the course content and training provider. We are continuing to listen to our Members to further develop the existing courses and create new ones to ensure we satisfy, not just our Members needs but also the needs of the industry.

The GGF Training courses are open to all in the industry and aim to not only upskill employees but also to provide tangible evidence in the form of certi cates that show customers that installers and surveyors have been trained to the highest level. Our solutions are high quality and innovative but most importantly they are collaborative with our Members and together we can train the industry.”

To nd out more about the GGF’s Training Courses and to book places, please visit the Training Section of the GGF website: https://www.ggf.org.uk/training/training-installers-surveyors/

If you wish to contact the GGF Training department please email: training@ggf.org.uk

Phil Pinnington, GGF Director of Health and Safety, explains how communicating in the digital age is full of opportunities and challenges.

The GLASS Charter is a safety improvement scheme designed to support Members in enhancing the standards of Health and Safety they work under.

The scheme in its current format is just approaching its 3rd birthday. In the last year, interest has continued to grow and of those companies who have invited me in to audit I am regularly impressed by the safety innovation that exists in our sector.

I am a strong believer that Health and Safety is a function that supports business success. For too long we’ve heard negative stories of Health and Safety gone mad but slowly I’m encouraged to hear of practitioners and consultants who are taking a business centric approach to supporting employers comply with regulations and the law.

I’m now hearing the word ‘proportionate’ more often. ‘Suitable for the task’ is another and both indicate to me we’ve turned a corner and we will continue to see more positive news stories.

Earlier this year I was pleased to be able to give yet another GGF member company recognition in our scheme. Hazlemere Windows became the latest company to be awarded Bronze 2 status to the scheme.

Mark Austin of Hazlemere Window receiving the GLASS Charter Bronze Award.

I admired the way they, following a serious incident, recognised that investing in a practitioner to help facilitate a change in the culture was necessary. Their approach recognised that change takes time and investment. By taking this action I believe they’ve shown a real commitment to addressing what in many companies is often the core challenge – creating an environment where safety is seen as both an individual benefit but also can enhance the business potential.

The GLASS Charter is not alone as a safety improvement scheme. The non-domestic sector is littered with schemes and initiatives aimed to weed out the less than perfect. Sometimes these schemes help businesses get in front of the buyers but sadly many businesses fall short simply because they don’t have the right formatted risk assessment or the training hasn’t been done by a recognised provider.

We at the GGF are working closely with an industry scheme and achieving some success in having the GLASS Charter recognised as a credible starting point to achieve recognition by one of these schemes.

Our role at the GGF is supporting our Members so they are the best in the industry and therefore are competing on equal terms. What differentiates our Charter is that it not only demonstrates how far companies have come but also sets out a route and timescale for them to improve. It has Health and Safety at its core to not only keep employees safe but also help to support the health of their businesses.

More details on the Charter can be found on the GGF website or by contacting Phil Pinnington, Director of Health and Safety at: ppinnington@ggf.org.uk

FIREX International returns to ExCeL London on 18-20 June 2019 with a packed agenda of timely, informative and entertaining seminars, presentations, case studies and educational sessions…and the GGF is at the heart of it all.

FIREX International will host 130 exhibitors from all over the world at ExCeL London and the GGF will be exhibiting at stand number FX715 – a 30m2 space situated in a prime central position near the entrance of
the show. Visitors to the GGF stand will see live glass exhibits showing the before and after effect of fire, heat and smoke on the glass. In addition, the GGF will have video demonstrations and a live speaking slot in the Seminar programme.

The exhibition is completely free to attend and here are some of the things you can expect from Europe’s only event dedicated to re safety.

Expert Guidance and Training

Hosted in the dedicated Expertise and Guidance Theatre, the comprehensive seminar programme is rich with sessions covering tall building safety, passive fire protection, case studies, compliance after Brexit and more. The agenda is designed to help fire safety professionals enhance their knowledge, engage with fire thought leadership and stay up-to-date on the critical trends, products and legislation shaping the sector.

Over three days you will have access to 25+ hours of complimentary seminars and workshops offering you valuable insights into key development areas in the fire safety industry, including the ongoing Grenfell Inquiry and passive fire protection. Adrian Blaydon,
the GGF Technical Officer, is presenting in the seminar programmes on “The Importance of Fire Resistant Glazing”.

Looking forward to the event, Adrian commented, “Following the Grenfell Tower fire and Hackitt Review, we all need to take even more responsibility and report signs of where fire safety is an issue. At FIREX, we will be showing the importance of Fire Resistant Glazing systems with focus on the product performance, its specification and installation.”

The GGF will also be o ering promotional vouchers for its Fire Resistant Glazing Training course. Simply visit the stand and you will receive a 20% discount voucher when you book your place on the GGF’s accredited training course on re resistant glazing installation and speci cation.

Latest Fire Safety Technology

At FIREX, thousands of the latest fire safety products will be showcased by leading exhibitors from all over the world including TBA Protective Technologies, InproEurope, The A1S Group and Checkmate Fire Solutions. The BRE Group will also host the LPCB RedBook Pavilion, a high-profile destination where visitors can speak with manufacturers of quality certified products.

Meet global manufacturers and local distributors for a full overview of the market. It is a chance to get face time with innovators and source and compare the latest technologies.

Network, Network, Network

It can be hard to efficiently manage your event schedule, so FIREX provides a complimentary matchmaking tool which enables visitors and exhibitors to connect and book meetings ahead of the show. There are many social spaces at the event where you can catch up and network with industry colleagues, including the FIA Bar.

You can also connect with hundreds more exhibitors, suppliers, buyers and visitors across security, safety and facilities management at FIREX’s co-located trade-shows: IFSEC, Safety & Health Expo and the Facilities Show.

The next edition of FIREX International takes place 18-20 June 2019 at ExCeL London.

Nickie West, FIT Show Event Director, looks forward to the UK’s biggest and best trade fair for glass and glazing. It never ceases to amaze me how the glass and glazing industry pulls together during times of political and economic uncertainty to make events like FIT Show 2019 the biggest and best trade show in our sector.

Earlier this year, we had already sold more space than the entire 2017 show, and are on track for our biggest show ever. With a more diverse mix of brands, products, innovations and audience than previous years, FIT Show 2019 will be the best showcase of everything great that our industry has to offer.

Though we’ve sold more space than in previous years and we had expected our footprint to grow, the most exciting thing about this year’s show is its diversity and how far-reaching it has become.

This year will see over 70 overseas companies making their FIT Show debuts. FIT Show 2019 visitors can expect to see an unrivalled showcase from companies, from not just the UK, but also from the USA, mainland Europe, the Far East and Scandinavia. This reinforces FIT Show’s international appeal and demonstrates the appetite of overseas companies to trade with the UK. The potential is huge.

We have broadened the show’s appeal by placing greater emphasis on materials such as timber and aluminium to give our installer market more options. And by introducing at glass and the associated processing machinery and equipment via our new event feature, Visit Glass, we have made the show more appealing to specifiers and commercial installers too.

For the first time ever, we are delivering a CPD approved learning programme. Alongside this, we will have product demonstrations, workshops and business clinics to o er practical advice and support. We’ll also be tackling key industry issues head-on, bringing the right experts and organisations together to set an agenda for change in motion for issues such as ageing workforce and skills gap.

Our marketing campaign has focused on reaching the installer market, a key audience for our exhibiting brands. We’ve really increased the depth and breadth of our reach and used a personalised mix across all the available channels. This is already paying dividends. We’re up on visitor pre-registrations compared to 2017 and the pre-registration audience includes a high proportion of decision makers with over half at
owner or director level.

At the show, visitors will be able to benefit from new event features such as our new trails which are designed to help guide visitors to relevant show content. This includes new installer and product trails plus a Wood Window Alliance (WWA) backed timber trail.

This year we also have more competitions and exclusive show offers. We’re running our very first FIT Show voucher scheme which will give visitors huge discounts and savings on purchases made at the show.

“Late Night Tuesday”, when the show opens until 8pm on the first day of the event, will no doubt be a real party night when this industry does what it does best; connects, socialises, entertains and celebrates.

We’re also taking our gala dinner (taking place on the second evening of the show) back to its roots and putting networking at the heart of the event. We know that FIT Show is the main industry platform to get together with every part of the supply chain, build on existing relationships and make new connections. The gala dinner will focus on these connections, providing a real industry celebration – and raising funds for GM Fundraising and Hope House Children’s Hospices in the process.

We’ve listened to our audience and developed an event that very much has their wants and needs at its core. It promises to be a record-breaking show and we couldn’t have done it without the continued support of the industry. I look forward to welcoming exhibitors and visitors to the NEC this May!

Steve Rice, GGF Director of Technical Affairs provides an update on the key activities of the GGF Technical Team in the first four months of 2019

It’s been an interesting start to 2019 for the GGF Technical department for presentations and training days for Members operating in the Fire Resistant Glazing sector as well as an architectural glazing conference in the GGF MENA Region.

Since the Grenfell tragedy and resulting inquiry by Dame Judith Hackitt, the GGF has been actively involved with the various Government meetings, industry work streams and consultations. However, rather than just offering our expertise, we are also actively delivering information and sharing practical knowledge with Members and the wider industry on the importance of fire safety.

Adrian Blaydon, GGF Technical Officer and Secretary of the Fire Resistant Glazing Group has been leading GGF Training courses on the subject. Adrian is also set to deliver fire safety presentations at the FIT Show and at FIREX International at London’s ExCeL
in June, where the GGF is planning a significant technical presence. If you need any training or wish to attend these seminars please feel free to contact the technical department directly: technical@ggf.org.uk.

In March, the GGF organised and hosted The International Architectural Glass Conference in Dubai in conjunction with the GGF MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Region. The conference was attended by over 100 delegates from glass companies from all over the world.

With an impressive line-up of speakers from the following seven technical experts from companies; Saint-Gobain, Filmtek, Kuraray, Gulf Glass, Emirates Glass, Momentive and the GGF, the following topics were covered:

• Grenfell tower fire and its impact on industry standards
• Sealant compatibility
• The performance of laminated glass • The anisotropy of glass
• Security glazing
• Acoustic glazing
• Adhesive backed polymeric

The conference was very well attended and the presentations expertly delivered. As with most industry events and GGF Members meetings with a technical element, the GGF technical team contribution was well received.

As well as supporting and informing Members in the MENA Region and internationally, our activity overseas also expands our technical knowledge and expertise as we compare and consider international technical standards against European and British Standards.

We can then cascade this knowledge to all Members via technical meetings or in our publications.

Working with Members, the GGF technical team can show the industry that we are second to none when it comes to technical expertise across all sectors in the industry.

To find out more about GGF Technical services please contact technical@ggf.org.uk

In March this year, Peter and Susan Roden, owners of Mitchell Glass were invited to the GGF offices for VIP treatment to celebrate their company’s longevity and their personal contribution to the industry.

At The President’s Reception held at St Bride Foundation Institute in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral, the GGF presented Peter (a former GGF Scotland Chairman) with a special “Outstanding Service to the Industry” Award. In this interview, Peter shares his views on the GGF and re ects on industry changes.

How does it feel for your company and your work in the glazing industry to be recognised by the GGF?

It’s both a privilege and honour for R Mitchell (Glass) Ltd to be recognised and presented with an award at the President’s Reception to celebrate our outstanding service to the industry since 1875. When Robert Mitchell started his simple glazing business in Hawick in the Scottish Borders, I doubt he could have imagined the company’s growth and the type of work, such as glass extensions, Secured By Design (SBD) windows, and bespoke timber doors, now being carried out by our experienced team.

How has the industry changed over the last 25 years?

When I started selling windows in the 1980s, satin anodised aluminium windows were popular. Then PVCu windows came on the scene, they were warmer with less condensation and cheaper so had more customer benefits. Timber windows were always popular but I think the market has gone full circle and highly insulated aluminium with large expanses of glass have become very popular thanks to television programmes like Grand Designs. I’ve seen massive changes in glass from simple single panes, to the first insulated glass units and through to the latest high tech coatings offering solar control and insulation.

Customers have also changed. They are now more informed due to the internet and don’t just want “double glazing” as in the olden days. They do their research on energy efficiency and insulation properties and are more aware of the choices available. Today, salesmen have to go the extra mile to keep up to date with trends and industry knowledge.

How important is a company’s heritage when it comes to winning business and consumer con dence?

For Mitchell Glass it’s everything. To survive this long, we made sure we looked after our customers and continue to do so. Our industry’s reputation
is still poor in some areas as many companies have disappeared through the years and have not honoured warranties. Our customers usually have researched us on the internet, read our history and though some are simply focussed on price, most understand the value and trust we offer. We honour our guarantees which means customers recommend us and come back for more work.

With a strong brand name and rich history, what are your plans to keep your company and brand name prominent?

In this throwaway age, we focus on the principles that have shaped our company through the last 144 years. “Strict attention to orders” was the promise made by Robert Mitchell in 1875 in his first newspaper advertisement. We try to uphold this principle and integrate it into the company’s culture. Our current mission statement reflects this as we aim to “delight” our customers.

My son Lewis has been Business Development Manager in Mitchell Glass for many years now and became Managing Director earlier this year. He was instrumental in building our spectacular aluminium showroom which has attracted many customers and helped them to compare different doors and profiles. We are now planning an upgrade to our PVCu showroom to display our new SBD windows. I am confident that under Lewis’ direction we will continue to give outstanding service to our customers in the years ahead and in doing so keep our brand name and reputation prominent in the industry and to homeowners.

What do you value most about being a GGF Member?

Membership helps us to keep up-to-date with industry changes, regulations and future innovations through regular meetings and publications. At GGF Scotland meetings, invited speakers usually give good relevant presentations and it is always useful to discuss challenges and technical issues with GGF staff. Also, meetings have many enthusiastic Members who are happy to share knowledge and experience. We’ve been in the GGF since 1987 and have enjoyed many benefits and I hope we continue to enjoy many more.