Pro Installer May 2014 - Issue 14 | Page 55

55 PRO INSTALLER MAY 2014 PRO BUSINESS @proinstaller1 Changing Of The Guard At Glazerite With New Area Manager Government Confirms Centres With Assisted Area Status The government has confirmed which parts of the UK have successfully won Assisted Area status. The Glazerite Windows Ltd has said goodbye to existing Area Sales Manager Fred Doodey, who is semi-retiring status makes local businesses eligible to bid for additional funding and tax breaks to create jobs, to move on to a new venture. Fred’s departure from the trade fabricator, which recently celebrated reaching invest in new premises or machinery and grow. £100 million in sales, sees the immediate appointment Manufacturing centres broath, Blackpool, Hastings investment for businesses including Derby, Hudand Lowestoft have also in less prosperous local of Giovanni Sangiovanni as Fred’s successor. dersfield, Portsmouth and Scunthorpe have now been added to the Assisted Areas map, in addition to the large parts of northeast England, South Yorkshire, Merseyside, Strathclyde, the West Midlands and the Welsh Valleys, which were already benefiting from being on the map. Going solo after two years with the Wellingborough-based company, Fred took the decision to step away from his position at Glazerite in order to begin his own retail window company, Ecologic Windows & Doors. Working closer to home Fred recognises that his former employer has the best profile on the market, so much so that moving forward he has decided to buy his VEKA frames from Glazerite. “Fred has been a valuable member of the team for the past two years,” said Chris Thompson, Glazerite’s National Sales & Marketing Manager. “We’re sad to see him go but we wish him all the success in his new venture.” Fred has been busy introducing Giovanni to his customers in preparation for the handover. www.glazeritewindows.co.uk The government has also added Leeds and Manchester to the map to help drive business growth across the north of England. And coastal towns such as Ar- been included on the new map to help promote regeneration. Business Minister Michael Fallon said: “Assisted Area status can be a shot in the arm for growth and jobs across the UK. It makes local businesses eligible to bid for additional funding and support that can help them to create jobs, invest in new premises or machinery, develop and grow. “Assisted Area status makes businesses eligible to apply for regional aid, typically offered as capital economies.” ‘can be a shot in the arm’ Programmes in England that offer regional aid include the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) and the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI). The government’s Assisted Areas map is still subject to Commission approval and is expected to take effect on 1 July 2014. 80% OF INSTALLERS UNAWARE OF STATUTORY CHANGE IN IBG PROVISION, SAYS HOMEPRO As many as 80% of window installers in the home improvement sector may be unaware of the impending changes to the regulations affecting the Government’s Competent Persons Schemes that will prevent installations being registered unless an Insurance Backed Guarantee is given to homeowners as part of the installation. So says HomePro, one of the UK’s leading IBG providers, following research amongst installers in anticipation of changes to be implemented by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). ‘one of the UK’s largest providers of IBGs’ ‘HomePro IBG is quick and simple for installers’ From 6 June this year the provision of financial protection is mandatory as part of the Self Assessment Certification procedures required for all residential replacement window installations; failure to provide evidence of cover will result in installers being unable to register their installations and therefore failing to comply with Building Regulations. “As one of the UK’s largest providers of IBGs we are very aware of the impending changes,” says Jim ble to register installations under the self-assessment schemes for Building Regulation compliance if they do not do so.” This aspect of the revisions to the Competent Persons Scheme is simple to comply with, says Jim: “HomePro IBGs are one of the most popular and are widely accepted by FENSA and CERTASS. The purchase and registration of a HomePro IBG is quick and simple for installers to ensure compliance and reassures Keane, HomePro’s Compliance Manager. “However, with the changes to the regulations imminent we wanted to find out how aware installers are and carried out a telephone survey amongst installers of all sizes. Our findings are quite disturbing with 80% of the companies we called admitting to no knowledge of the changes coming into force.” “From 6 June,” continued Jim, “installers must give an IBG rather than simply offer one to their domestic customers and will be una- their customers through the quality and security of the cover.” The survey also asked installers about their attitudes towards HomePro with 90% of existing customers saying they would continue to use HomePro after the 6th June deadline. With more than 1,000,000 policies issued, insuring £4 billion of home improvement works over a period of 15 years through award winning IBG products, HomePro has earned its credentials as one of the sector’s market leaders. Details of HomePro IBGs are available by calling 08707 384858 or visiting www.HomePro.com