60
JUNE 2014 PRO INSTALLER
PRO BUSINESS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
Synseal
Joins GGF
Synseal Extrusions, the leading UKowned systems supplier, has joined the
GGF and at a recent GGF Window and
Door Group meeting, Head of Marketing
Mark Schlotel was presented with their
framed Membership Certificate by
Brian Baker, GGF President and Nigel
Rees, GGF Group Chief Executive.
GGF Appoints
New Health,
Safety And
Environment
Manager
The GGF has welcomed
Victoria Shelley as
the Federation’s new
Health & Safety and
Environment Manager.
With more than six years’ experience
working within the FM Department of
a successful property management
company, Victoria managed the health,
safety and environmental impacts of
approximately 1,000,000 square feet
of commercial space, in both building
refurbishment and subsequent property management.
In addition to her experience, Victoria’s qualifications include, achieving chartered status
from the Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health and graduating with a degree in
Human Geography and Environmental Management.
On Victoria’s appointment Giles Willson,
Deputy Chief Executive and Director of
Technical Affairs commented “I am delighted
that Victoria has joined the Federation as our
new Health, Safety and Environment Manager.
With her solid experience, qualifications and
skills, I am sure she will bring a huge amount
to this very important role within the GGF.”
On her position, Victoria commented “I
am excited to have joined the GGF and look
forward to combining my skills in both health
and safety and sustainability to support GGF
Members as I move forward within the role”
Nigel Rees commented,
“We are delighted to welcome Synseal into Membership. As a major supplier of PVC-U windows and
doors profiles and insulating glass units along with
their conservatory and
orangery roof businesses
they will offer valuable
input to the Federation’s
technical groups and discussions.”
Synseal is also delighted to be
joining the GGF and CEO David
Leng comments; “We had been
invited to attend a couple of
GGF meetings as a guest and we
were impressed by the excellent work that the association
is carrying out on behalf of its
Members, particularly the ongoing efforts to lobby Parliament
to ensure that the new emerging
Consumer Rights legislation
provides a fair deal for all. It is
important that the Bill protects
the rights of consumers whilst
offering sensible levels of assurance for good, honest tradesmen
retailing home improvement
products.”
More than 650 fabricators manufacture using Synseal’s profiles
and, according to Insight Data
research, well over 3,600 installers regularly purchase and fit
Synseal products including their
Global and K2 roofs.
David continues, “Naturally, we
will be encouraging everyone
in the wider Synseal network
to acknowledge the productive
work of the GGF and consider
the practical support that the
Federation can offer – the latest
challenges facing our retailing
partners involving Minimum
Technical Compliance (MTC)
are a great example of this. And
of course, at Synseal we are
also interested in contributing
to the GGF Groups such as the
Window and Door Group and
the Conservatory Association.
I am positive that we can offer
insights that should help guide
the GGF as it champions the
industry issues and develops the
technical standards.”
Significant Rise In IBG Requests Says
HomePro As More Installers Get The Message
After reporting recently that a massive 80% of companies contacted
regarding their Insurance Backed
Guarantee (IBG) arrangements had
no knowledge of the impending
changes to mandatory IBG requirements for installers, HomePro says
that the message seems to be getting through, albeit slowly.
HomePro had revealed earlier that, instead
of discussing its popular IBG policies, its
staff found themselves informing installers
about the changes that will compel every
member of Competent Person Schemes to
give their customers financial protection on
every installation. It is no longer an option
simply to offer an IBG – every homeowner
must be given one for every installation.
The company, one of the largest providers
of IBGs in the UK with more than 1,000,000
policies issued insuring more than £3.5billion worth of home improvements in the
UK, is now engaged in an extensive campaign in a bid to ensure that its products
were understood as the new rules become
mandatory on 6th June this year.
“Now,” says Homepro’s Head of Compliance Jim Keane, “installers do seem to be
getting the message about the changes,
we contacted had no knowledge of the
imminent changes, which also include new
rules regarding the MTC card holder’s abilities in domestic window and door installation and surveying.”
Jim continued, “We are seeing a realisation amongst the installers that changes are
upon us and many more are now taking
up HomePro IBG policies. Obviously that
is good for business, but there are still too
many that will not be able to obtain Building Regulations Compliance Certificates for
their customers when they apply after the
6th June deadline, which will be their first
realisation of how serious this change is.”
Jim explained that the issue may easily be
resolved: “It is quick and easy for installers
to register a HomePro IBG and they are
widely accepted by self-assessment bodie s
such as FENSA and CERTASS. Any installer
that is unsure of their new commitments
can call and speak to one of our IBG specialists and become compliant, at least in respect of the new IBG rules, immediately.”
which may prevent their ability to issue
self-assessment certificates. When we set
out on our campaign to promote HomePro
products as the deadline approached, we
found that eight out of ten of the installers
Further details of the changes in legislation can be found on www.homepro.com
or customers can contact the organisation on 08707 344 344