Pro Installer November 2014 - Issue 20 | Page 29

29 PRO INSTALLER NOVEMBER 2014 PRO NEWS @proinstaller1 TIME TO PUT IN PLACE A LONG TERM PLAN Additional £100m for household energy efficiency welcomed but calls for further action to insulate the UK housing stock. The National Insulation Association (NIA) has welcomed the announcement by Government that an additional £100m will be provided to help fund energy efficiency improvements through the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) but is urging all political parties to go much further and commit to making Energy Efficiency Retrofit an Infrastructure Priority. Neil Marshall, Chief Executive at the National Insulation Association said, “Following the significant reduction in insulation activity under ECO, after cuts were announced by Government in July and the closure of the initial GDHIF after just 6 weeks, we have been urging Government to inject additional funding into the GDHIF this winter to help hard pressed households reduce their energy bills and stay warm. We are therefore delighted that Government Something Old, Something New Swish Building Products proved that modern materials can work hand-in-hand with traditional design at the rci Show 2014 last month. Combining the high performance, low maintenance characteristics of PVC-U with lasting good looks, visitors to Stand B03 witnessed the diversity and flexibility of the Swish product range; from intricate, detailed roofline to the smooth clean lines of a modern build. Stand B03 featured a heritage display showcasing the company’s PVC-U Tudor Board alongside a ball finial and bracing bar, a concave decorative roofline with trims and a new cast effect Ogee gutter system with unique down pipe castings. Visitors to the stand were able to take a closer look at the high strength, high ‘Designed to handle a much higher flow rate’ volume guttering system, SuperDeep 170. Designed to handle a much higher flow rate than standard guttering systems, it is already proving a success in the commercial and agricultural building arenas. has listened and responded by announcing an additional £100m. “However, whilst this will provide much needed short term relief, we need to go beyond short term, stop start schemes and incentives and put in place a long term plan and funding mechanism if we are to insulate the UK housing stock in a timely manner. With over 7million homes having inadequate loft insulation, over 5 million that require cavity wall insulation and almost 8 million homes that need Solid Wall Insulation, we need to significantly strengthen energy efficiency policies and programmes. “To this end, the NIA is calling on all political parties to recognise that home energy efficiency needs to be defined as a National Infrastructure Priority with public investment to support the most vulnerable households and to create the confidence for the industry to scale up investment over the long term.” Glazerite gets behind Approved Installers Glazerite Windows Limited, one of VEKA’s largest fabricators of PVCu windows, doors and conservatories, has already signed up its first 50 customers to The VEKA UK Group’s Approved Installer scheme. The initiative, which has benefits for homeowners, installers and fabricators has just topped 100 Approved Installers in total, linking Glazerite with a remarkable 50 percent of the overall uptake. Amy Grundy, National Sales Manager for the Approved Installer scheme, said: “To have had such an influential fabricator embrace the whole ‘Approved’ ethos from the outset has been a massive asset for us. Glazerite is committed to customer service and the team works hard to make sure their installers have every advantage in business. Having 50 installers so far is brilliant, but the sky’s the limit, may the Glazerite referrals keep rolling in!” Besides the kudos associated with Approved Installer status, Glazerite’s customers have relished the opportunity to access exclusive, professionally-designed pro- motional materials through the scheme’s dedicated Marketing Hub. Jason Thompson, Glazerite Director, said: “We are wholeheartedly behind the Approved Installer scheme from The VEKA UK Group, because it really gives our customers an added way to set themselves apart from their competitors. The personalised marketing has been a huge benefit to them. Approved Installers can customise items on the Marketing Hub, before printing, to make them unique and bespoke for their own business.” “Companies are able to market themselves with a truly professional image, and as part of a powerful and respected group.” For more information on Glazerite go to www. glazeritewindows.co.uk or for further information on VEKA UK visit www.vekauk.com