Pro Installer January 2014 - Issue 10 | Page 42

42 JANUARY 2014 PRO INSTALLER PRO BUSINESS www.proinstaller.co.uk WELCOME SUPPORT FOR INSTALLERS Synseal has received well over 300 applications from installers to join their Synseal Registered Installer (SRI) scheme since the April launch at the FIT Show, and this impressive number includes several K2 roof installers who purchase from Premier Conservatory Supplies, based in Bolton. Premier’s Managing Director, Peter Gray, is pleased with the innovative support that Synseal is now offering to K2 customers. “When Synseal acquired K2 last year I wasn’t sure how things were going to pan out, but like many others I decided to adopt a totally open mind and I’ve been impressed with how Synseal go about business,” says Peter. “They have adapted their SRI support package to include installers of K2 roofs and the free welcome boxes they provide are full of useful stuff such as retail brochures that really add value and help my installer customers sell to homeowners.” Peter Gray, MD of Premier Conservatory Supplies and Mark Davenport, Synseal’s Northern region Key Account Manager. Funding boost for new affordable homes Housing Minister Kris Hopkins welcomed a deal that will release £500 million additional funding to build new affordable homes across the country. This new investment, secured through an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), will help deliver up to 4,300 new affordable homes to rent. The funding will form part of the £3.5 billion Affordable Housing Guarantees programme, which enables housing associations to use a government guarantee to secure private investment at more competitive rates than they would otherwise. Kris Hopkins said: “This deal with the European Investment Bank is a vote of confidence in our ongoing efforts to restore confidence to our housing market and get Britain building. “This £500 million investment will help deliver up to 4,300 new affordable homes across the country, on top of the 170,000 affordable homes we’ve already delivered since 2010. Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank Vice President responsible for the UK said: “The initiative will significantly enhance construction of affordable housing by housing associations across the country.” FIRST BORROWERS Mr Hopkins also confirmed the first eight housing associations to receive funding through Affordable Housing Guarantees are: • Devon & Cornwall Housing Limited, who will borrow up to £85 million to build 887 homes in those counties. • Hexagon Housing Association will borrow up to £12.5 million to build 74 homes in Greater London and the South East. • First Wessex will borrow up to £88 million to build 589 homes in Hampshire and Surrey. While the overall branding of SRI reflects the Synseal group identity, the scheme recognises that many professional installers have a long-term purchasing loyalty to the K2 and Global conservatory roofing brands, so eye-catching logo van stickers are also available to promote these popular products. • Great Places will borrow up to £50 million to build 674 homes in Manchester and the North. • Wales and West Housing Association will borrow up to £25 million to build 251 homes in Wales. • Adactus will borrow up to £27 million to build 344 homes in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. • Home group will borrow up to £61 million to build 642 homes in England. • Paradigm will borrow up to £65 million to deliver up to 594 homes across South and East England, and Greater London Together, they will receive up to £400 million to build, own and manage up to 4,000 homes. LET’S FINISH THE JOB Chancellor George Osborne gave a keynote speech on the economy setting out the economic choice facing Britain in 2014 and explaining the five components of the government’s longterm economic plan to build a stronger, more competitive economy. The Chancellor was speaking at component manufacturer Sertec Group’s new Head Office in Coleshill, Birmingham, on a day that the company announced that it plans to take on 400 additional people over the next four years. The Chancellor pointed to evidence that Britain’s hard work is paying off and that, “For the first time in a long time, there’s a real sense that Britain is on the rise.” But as the New Year begins, he also wanted to warn against any complacency that the hard part of the job is done. The Chan- cellor said: “That’s why 2014 is the year of hard truths. The year when Britain faces a choice. Do we say: the worst is over; back we go to our bad habits of borrowing and spending and living beyond our means – and let the next generation pay the bill? “Or do we say to ourselves: yes, because of our plan, things are getting better. But there is still a long way to go – and there are big, underlying problems we have to fix in our economy. More repairs. More cuts. More difficult decisions. “That’s the choice in 2014: to go on working through a plan that is delivering for Britain, putting us back in control of our destiny with the security and peace of mind that brings; or squander what we’ve achieved and go back to economic ruin. “Ultimately it’s your choice – a choice for the British people.” He then set out the five components of his longterm economic plan to build a stronger, more competitive, economy to secure a better future for hard-working families and future generations by: • cutting the deficit • redu