Pro Installer October 2016 - Issue 43 | Page 29

29 PRO INSTALLER OCTOBER 2016 GGF NEWS @proinstaller1 NIGEL SAYS FAREWELL Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) chief executive Nigel Rees has decided to retire at the end of 2016. Nigel, who has been employed by the GGF since 1994, has been at the helm of the industry’s leading trade body for 15 years and under his leadership the GGF has seen continued growth and stability. ate under one broad corporate body. The commercial subsidiaries remain wholly owned by the GGF and will continue to operate in existing and new markets to provide financial support to the federation. Nigel commented: “In my time at the GGF, I have overseen the growth of the federation, from a standalone trade federation to the group of commercial companies that is now prospering so well. I have put everything I could into the federation over the years and feel that with the planned changes now starting and with the group moving to new premises, the time is right for new ideas and a fresh management approach to deal with the challenges ahead.” In the last 12 months the GGF has undergone a great deal of change which has included internal restructuring and new governance following an independent review. As announced in July, the GGF and its subsidiary companies have been restructured with the federation being a standalone entity, directing all its energies into supporting the GGF membership, whilst the six commercial subsidiaries will now oper- Given the change in structure and governance, the GGF board of directors will now start a recruitment process to find a new chief executive. Throughout the changes and under Nigel Rees’ tenure for the last 20 years, the GGF and its group of companies have remained financially stable and the federation has continued to deliver a high level of benefits to its members. Nigel Rees concluded: “I have truly valued my time with the GGF, its members and the incredible staff who make up not just the federation, but also all the subsidiaries too. I wish them all every success for the future.” www.ggf.org.uk GGF RELAUNCHES GLASS CHARTER The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has launched the reenergised GLASS Charter Merit Scheme for GGF Members. The GLASS Charter Merit Scheme aim is to address and improve the health and safety performance within the UK glazing industry. In 2001 the glass industry took up the government’s Revitalising Health and Safety Initiative. In partnership with both industry and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the Glass and Glazing Federation launched the GLASS Charter (Goal; Less Accidents, Safer Sites). Phil Pinnington, GGF health, safety and facilities manager, commented: “This next phase of improving Health and Safety in our industry sees us move from just compliance to continuous improvement. Within the GGF there are many member companies who have adopted ingenious and effective measures to improve safety and just as importantly these measures are appropriate to their business. We believe these com- ‘open to all GGF members’ panies should be recognised and encouraged to progress further.” The merit scheme is open to all GGF members no matter the size of business - sole trader to multi-national companies. The advantage is that it focuses on systems appropriate to the size and nature of the business whilst applying a set of common standards. The merit scheme is built with a roadmap to support GGF Members to continuously improve their health and safety profile. It is divided into three levels bronze, silver and gold with levels in bronze and silver sub-divided into three grades. Alongside the scheme the GGF also offers access to resources designed to guide and aid members in achieving progression within the scheme. The scheme has two main objectives: 1. To improve the safety standards within the glazing industry and in turn limit the additional hidden costs incurred by accidents and incidents to business. 2. To identify, through sharing of incident data, key areas of concern to the industry and bring about change where necessary. For further details please contact the GGF Health and Safety Team for more information or download a free copy of the GLASS Charter brochure here: www.ggf.org.uk/ publication/glass_charter