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Archives for October 2020

Successful ISO 9001 Audit for Masterframe

Members News |

Due to coronavirus and social distancing, URS carried out a very unusual audit recently on Masterframe’s ISO 9001 quality management system. The URS auditor conducted a telephonic audit which called for in depth proof of compliance with the Masterframe ISO policy being provided by e-mail.  Ray Rabett, Technical & Compliance Director said “In these extremely difficult times and after a lock-down earlier in the year, I am delighted to report that the audit was successful and that our certification has been continued.     

The audit always identifies areas of improvement for the business; however under the circumstances we were grateful that the two identified were not major enough to impact on our certification.”

ISO 9001 is an important accreditation for customers to look for because it sets standards for the business that ensures it is run according to internationally recognised standards.  It guarantees consistency of production and customers can be assured that the company is committed to continuous improvement and conformity to regulatory requirements.

Other reasons to invest in Masterframe sash windows are that they come with the highly prized BBA certification of quality, have police approved Secured by Design options, hold BFRC ‘A’ energy rated certificates and are the 2019 National Fenestration Timber Alternative Company award winner. The company also offers very generous product guarantees with 12 years on the Bygone Collection and 10 years on the Classic Collection.

To find out more about all your options download your choice of brochures https://bit.ly/3j4DF0G.

GGF HAILS GROUNDBREAKING SUCCESS

Events, News |

GGF Members’ Week has been hailed a great success by members, guests and staff alike, as the Federation broke new ground to deliver the industry’s first major virtual event.

With almost 450 bookings from across the Membership, the three day event (29 September to 1 October) consisted of 18 guest speakers/panellists spoke at 10 online events covering a range of industry topics that Members found informative and engaging.

Mark Austin, GGF President commented, “The whole week of events was very impressive with perhaps the Brexit 2021 debate the most outstanding. The speakers the GGF garnered for the Members’ Week events were second to none in their given fields and I am sure all members who attended found the presentations relevant for their business. Of course, I would much rather have seen a physical GGF annual conference but in the circumstances, the quality of the virtual events proved to be the next best thing. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the GGF Staff for organising, the scores of GGF Members for attending and also the guest speakers and panellists who contributed to a truly exceptional event.”

Members’ Week started with GGF President Mark Austin’s welcoming speech in which he thanked Members for attending and in particular, the Chairs of the GGF technical groups, committees and regions for their contribution to the GGF against a very challenging trading environment.”

Read full speech here

Following the Annual General Meeting and re-election of the GGF’s bankers and auditors, a Summary of Proposals was presented by John Agnew with an update on the progress of the work from the Chairperson’s Forum held in February this year and the subsequent Strategic Working Group, which was formed in July to follow up on the issues raised by the Chairs of the GGF’s technical groups, committees, regions and countries. 

John Agnew, GGF Managing Director who also presented on the GGF’s operations and strategies said, “The pandemic forced the GGF to cancel its traditional Members’ Day and we had to think laterally as health and safety has to come first. I was delighted with the virtual events of Members’ Week and the feedback we have received has been nothing but positive. This was another first, not only for the GGF but also for our industry.”

View full presentation here

Professor Noble Francis was a guest speaker at Members’ Week

Members’ Week featured guest speakers such as; Professor Noble Francis, one of the construction industry’s leading economists, The Rt. Hon. David Laws (former Cabinet Minister and Political Consultant), Dave Dalton, (Chief Executive of British Glass), Jeff May (Director of Government Relations of the Construction Products Association) and Graham Hansell (Director of SLX Marketing and Digital Course Director for the Chartered Institute of Marketing). 

Industry specific speakers included; Mark Barsby (BSI Group), Sharon Alderton (Total Support Training) and Sanmukh Bawa (G-SMATT Europe).

In addition the GGF also had expert panellists during their health and safety, environment and training webinars.

The topics covered included;

  • The economy – status and potential scenarios
  • Brexit 2021 – The end of the Transition Period
  • CE marking and the new UKCA mark guidance
  • Product substitution and standardisation
  • Media glass technology
  • Digital marketing and business growth
  • Health and safety in a new and very different norm
  • Training in the industry
  • The environmental factors industry must consider
  • Research and Development and tax relief

James Lee, GGF Director of External Affairs, who organised and marketed the events commented, “The relevant content and the high level of speakers/panellists combined with the latest digital technology enabled the GGF to deliver a superb ground-breaking week of high quality online events.  We tried to put on a programme over the three days that would have something for every member regardless of size, status, sector and location. From the feedback so far, it appears Members found the virtual events engaging, informative and interesting. It’s been a great success.”

The GGF has uploaded the presentations and video links of the events in the Members’ Areas of the GGF website. To view this content please click here.

Virtual Technical Forum proves successful platform for GGF

News, Technical News |

At Members’ Week, the GGF Technical Forum proved the perfect virtual platform for Members to receive information and ask questions on technical issues.

Ben Wallace, GGF Senior Technical Officer presented an overview of the GGF Technical Department highlighting the scope and depth of the department and the issues they cover.

Mark Barsby from the BSI Group was guest speaker and delivered an insightful presentation on “Product Substitutions and Standardisation”.

Before the Open Forum and Members’ questions, David Borland, GGF Senior Technical Officer presented on the very topical issue of “CE marking/CPR and the UKCA mark”.  

After the event Ben Wallace commented, “It was a pleasure to host, along with my colleague David Borland, the GGF Technical Forum as part of Members’ Week. From the feedback I received it is clear Members found the webinar presentations interesting and engaging.”

David Borland added, “With the end of the Government’s Brexit Transition Period imminent, it was important to present the latest on CE Marking and the Government Guidance on the new UKCA mark. We will provide more updates on this as and when things change. I was delighted to present at the Members Week Technical Forum and from the Members’ questions we received on the day, it is  evident that we will need to provide as much guidance as possible on areas such as CE marking and the new UKCA mark. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark Barsby for his presentation which has received great feedback from our Members.”

Guest speaker, Mark Barsby, BSI Group returned the compliment, “I am always happy to contribute and pleased the presentation was well received. Thanks to the GGF for giving me the opportunity.”

To view the GGF Technical Forum in video please click on the links below:

Video – GGF Technical Forum Part 1

Video – GGF Technical Forum Part 2

To view the GGF Technical Forum presentations in PDF format please click here.

Brexit 2021 – GGF Members’ Week Panel Debate

News |

The End of the Brexit Transition Period – expert panel discuss the impact on the glazing sector at GGF Members Week

During Members’ Week, GK Strategy (political advisers of the GGF) hosted an online panel discussion on the end of the transition period, and what it means for the glass and glazing sector and the wider British economy.

The expert panel included:

  • Rt Hon. David Laws – Former Liberal Democrat MP and Cabinet Office Minister
  • Dave Dalton – Chief Executive Officer, British Glass
  • Jeff May – Director of Government Relations and Business Development, Construction Products Association (CPA)

The event was the best attended session of Members Week with active participation from the audience. Members in attendance had the opportunity to ask panellists questions on a range of subjects including: the future of the UK’s environmental standards; the potential disadvantage of UK businesses having to conform to two different sets of product standards; and the politics around a future trading agreement.

GK provided an overview and status of the UK/EU future trading relationship negotiations and outlined the key issues that may impact the sector as the UK prepares to leave the European Union with or without a deal. These were grouped as: The movement of goods; the movement of people and product standards.

Status of UK/EU negotiations

Political strategic adviser, David Laws outlined that, although timeframes are tight for an agreement there are reasons to be optimistic about the prospect of the two sides reaching an agreement. There are increasingly positive signals that the two sides are moving closer together on issues of contention including governance of state aid measures, fisheries policy and the watering down of the controversial Internal Market Bill. However, despite these positive signals, David Laws said that there was still “approximately a 30% chance that no further agreement would be reached, and businesses need to prepare for different eventualities.”

Movement of goods

The panel outlined that although negotiations will determine the extent of checks on the UK-EU border, and the levels of tariffs and quotas on goods, the core framework for the new border operating model has been published. Known as the Border Operating Model (BOM), the BOM will be phased in from 1st January 2021, and all businesses will be required to complete point of importation customs requirements for all goods from 1st July 2021, but businesses should make preparations to do this from the New Year.

For exports, there will not be a similar grace period, and all businesses will need to comply with EU measures on exports from third countries from 1st January 2021. All businesses that import and export from the EU should investigate which steps they need to take in advance of 2021.

Since the panel discussion, the Border Operating Model has been updated with further detail on the requirements on hauliers exporting via Kent and the financial penalties if they are not compliant with ‘Checker HGV’.

Movement of People

Regardless of the outcome of negotiations, the UK will implement a new points-based immigration system from 1st January 2021. The new immigration system will only apply to new arrivals (following 1st January 2021). EU citizens living and working in the UK will be allowed to stay through the EU Settlement Scheme.

All applicants will need to meet criteria in order to qualify, including: a job offer from an “approved employer” at an “appropriate skill level.” and English language proficiency. The Government defines “appropriate skill level” as RQF3 or above (equivalent to A level). Additional points are granted to applicants if the profession is on the shortage of occupation list or the offer has a salary of over £25,600. The panel noted that glazing professionals are not currently on the Shortage of Occupation list.

Product standards:

The panel outlined that product standards are still subject to negotiations, but the UK has announced plans to replace CE marking with a new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark from 2021. It is expected that the UK will accept both marks on products placed on the UK market for a time-limited period following the transition period.

Businesses should be aware that, if no agreement is reached in talks, products covered by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) by Notified Bodies and Technical Assessment Bodies (TABs) in the UK will no longer be permitted on the EEA market.

Product standards issues were discussed in more detail at GGF Members’ Week Technical Forum.

After the event the GGF received very positive feedback from the guest speakers and Members alike, here is a selection of the comments received,

Rt. Hon. David Laws, “It was good to be able to take part in GGF Members week for what was an interesting and engaging discussion.”

Dave Dalton, CEO British Glass “I was pleased to be involved and I hope Members found it useful.”

Jeff May, Construction Products Association, “It was great to contribute and I am sure those tuning in to the discussion got some benefit from it.”

Joe Cormack of GK Strategy, “We really enjoyed hosting the event and hope we can do more like this. The high quality of the discussion was particularly pleasing with some very different perspectives on the impact of Brexit on the glass and glazing industry.”

The GGF will be working with GK Strategy to integrate the latest views and information onto the GGF Brexit Hub which is the industry’s conduit for interpretation of the Government information on the UK leaving the EU.

To see GK Strategy’s presentation at Members’ Week please click here

Economic Landscape presentation gives food for thought

Events, News |

One of the highlights at GGF Members’ Week was a presentation by Professor Noble Francis, Economics Director, Construction Products Association on The Economic Landscape. The webinar was one of the best attended during Members’ Week and potential scenarios on the economy were presented which undoubtedly gave those viewing some food for thought.

After the webinar, Professor Noble Francis commented,

 “I was very happy to present at the GGF Members’ Week as the Glass and Glazing Federation has a great and knowledgeable membership. My presentation covered how we see the recovery developing over the next 12-18 months for the UK economy and for the key construction sectors. In addition, the presentation covered what the key issues currently are for firms in construction as well as the key risks and opportunities.”

To view Professor Francis’ presentation and his economic scenarios, please click here

GGF Raises the profile of Health, Safety and the Environment

Health, Safety and Environment, News |

Members’ Week was a busy week for the GGF but it was perhaps even busier on the Health, Safety and Environment side.

James MacPherson, Health, Safety and Environment Manager had been forced to move the Health and Safety committee to Monday the 28th of September to account for his paternity leave to ensure the meeting was held in quarter three so the GGF could organise another by year end. Why? Well, the GGF wants to, as soon as possible, increase the value that Members get from the GGF Health, Safety and Environment department and the Health and Safety Committee is a vital part of that.

At the Committee meeting, James proposed a review of the Glass Charter and the GGF Health, Safety and Environment guidance and advice literature, both of which will be decided on at the quarter 4 meeting giving the GGF clear next steps to work on in 2021.  You can have your say in the future of Health and Safety in the Glass and Glazing industry by getting involved in the Health and Safety Committee, if you would like to put forward suggestions, please contact James MacPherson, Health, Safety and Environment Manager on jmacpherson@ggf.org.uk.

On the 29th September (the day after the Committee meeting), GGF Members’ Week opened, a three day digital event that finished on 1st October, with a Health and Safety webinar in the morning and an Environment webinar in the afternoon to bring the curtain down on the whole event.

Both webinars were relaxed but informative forums, making them as close to a natural conversation as possible. The panel of Health, Safety and Environment professionals covering different sectors and specialisms, made for engaging discussions.

Here’s a review by James MacPherson of both webinars.

A New and Very Different Norm

Our Health and Safety panel discussion, lead with statements from each panellist, and after that things moved into a very free-flowing conversation where Members got involved in the chatbox and their comments were slotted them into the conversation with the panellists to create the desired “relaxed down the pub-style” that we wanted to create.

The conversation was varying and diverse but with one consistent key point that the panellist kept coming back to; our people are our solutions. A lot of the time in our business our staff are one of our biggest challenges. But it was clear from the panellist that included the Health and Safety Executive, and three extremely successful safety professionals; that if we do not engage with our workforce, if you do not enable them to feedback to our decision-makers, if they are not involved in the business then you are unlikely to be as successful as you could be, in both safety and business. Statements like;

“It’s vital and a legal requirement to engage and involve your staff in your health and safety obligations”

“We need to build relationships on trust in our workers otherwise we will never have a true image of working life and the risks”

Our World, Our Future

A great relaxed conversational panel that led to GGF Managing Director John Agnew, and GGF Director of External Affairs James Lee, joining the conversation. It’s clear from that alone that environment is high on the agenda for the GGF.

The conversation covered a lot of high-level detail with John Agnew throwing some questions in that challenged the whole panel. From the impacts of Brexit and with the challenges in 2021, what panellist would like to see from the government, the conflicting priorities in a heritage building and environmental buildings, members got a lot of value from the conversation.

Some really interesting points on the potential impact of COVID-19 on the way that we design and build our buildings. Jade Lewis, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Association raised the point that during the pandemic we have seen that a lot of our buildings that are not suitable for the potential modern-day demands of our lives and our welfare and that this could have huge impacts on the way we design our buildings.

With the panel questioned on what the risk of all of the drivers like Zero Carbon and modern methods of construction, plastic reduction progressing but in a silo and not aligning with each other creating gaps and challenges. The panel unanimously agreed that in the coming years so many things will be driving environmental improvement that it is vital that we apply some systems thinking and be aware of the residual impacts from our changes and improvements.

The panel provided closing statements summarising that Members and businesses have the power to lead the way, to have a voice and they should use it to drive improvements, be the change they want to see.

The GGF’s Health, Safety and Environment department are excited to increase the profile and work in this space and hope that Members help us on this journey. If members want to be involved or have ideas regarding environmental work in the GGF they should contact the HSE Manager on jmacpherson@ggf.org.uk

To watch the webinars please click on the links below:

A new and very different norm

Our World, Our Future

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