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PRO INSTALLER NOVEMBER 2016
GGF NEWS
@proinstaller1
CHANGE LEAVES
FEDERATION STRONGER
The third annual Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) Members Day was held at Birmingham Botanical
Gardens and welcomed 135 delegates for presentations, debate, awards and networking.
The day started with a
tribute to Nigel Rees, GGF
executive who is retiring at
the end of this year. Brian
Baker, GGF immediate past
present commented: “In his
22 years at the federation,
Nigel has been instrumental
and the driving force behind
the GGF’s commercial companies. He can’t be praised
enough for his efforts and
the GGF is what it is today
because of Nigel’s leadership and commitment to
improving the federation.
“Nigel has also been the figurehead of the GGF and has for many
years represented it in the Houses
of Parliament in the GGF’s political lobbying with parliamentarians
and cabinet ministers.”
Nigel Rees then highlighted the
growth of the GGF and recent
changes, including the new structure and formation of The Helix
Group. He ended by announcing
the GGF’s move to new premises
at Rushworth Street in Southwark.
After the event he said: “It has
been an unusual time for the federation with several major changes
happening in quick succession.
However, the federation has never
been in a stronger position. Our
recently published annual report
shows our financial stability,
activity and commitment to our
membership.
“With the federation moving to
a new, larger office with better
meeting facilities, our staff will
continue to deliver a high level
of benefits for our members. Our
Members Day event gets better
each passing year and I’d like
to thank all the GGF staff and
members for making it so memorable.”
Members Day consisted of a
strong line-up of keynote speakers
from politics, broadcasting, architecture and digital marketing.
Declan Curry, business journalist,
presenter and broadcaster, gave
a speech on the current economic landscape before introducing
other speakers such as architect
Bruce Nicol of Dow Corning, Matthew Palutikof of GK Strategy and
Graham Hansell of SLX, the digital
marketing specialists.
GGF senior members also presented with Brian Smith, director of home improvement and
membership, outlining the GGF
benefits and how members can
use them. Steve Rice, director glazing and technical affairs, updated
delegates on technical issues, and
James Lee, director of marketing
and communications, highlighted
the progress of MyGlazing.com.
The GGF chairman’s forum,
moderated by Declan Curry, de-
bated compliance with technical
standards, glazing in conservation
areas, the GGF Consumer Code
of Practice, health and safety and
training.
The day also included a special
award to mark founder member
Stevenage Glass’s 50th anniversary.
From old to new, the GGF also
presented membership certificates
to the three newest members,
Leekes Ltd, SIG Windows and Crittall Installation Services.
Brian Baker closed proceedings and invited members to a
celebratory drinks reception. At
that point, John Agnew, chairman
of the GGF glazing executive,
thanked Brian for his many years
of working on the GGF board.
Brian is set to retire at the end of
this year.
www.ggf.org.uk
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The GGF has announced changes to
its board of directors
and a new president-elect.
Through the Home
Improvement Executive
(HIE), GGF members have
voted for Alan Burgess of
Masterframe to be president-elect and Stephen
Payne of Britelite Windows
to be the new chairman
of the HIE. Both joined
the GGF board with effect
from 1st September.
The GGF board also ratified two other new board
members, with Alex Gray
of Supaseal Glass and
chairman of GGF Scotland
and Stephen Forbes of the
Nicholls and Clarke Group
joining the board.
‘the new board
members will
add a great deal
to the GGF’
On the new additions, Brian Baker, chairman of the
GGF Board and immediate
past president commented:
“I am pleased to welcome
all four new members to the
GGF board. With their individual and collective experience the new board members will add a great deal to
the GGF going forward at a
time of considerable change
and new challenges for our
industry.”
www.ggf.org.uk