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| 20,000 distribution including builders, home improvement companies, window fitters & maintenance and trade counter outlets throughout the UK. Bringing you the latest news for this fast growing sector. |
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| New Trade Counters Opening |
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| Stevenswood to open ten new trade counters in 2016 after 23% rise in sales |
Stevenswood, one of Scotland's largest manufacturers of PVCu and aluminium windows, doors, conservatories and rigid built kitchens, is gearing up for further expansion after posting a 23% rise in sales.
The Livingston-based company grew its total sales net of VAT to £13.1m in the 12 months to 31 October 2015, up from £10.7m in its previous financial year. Window sales jumped by 21%, while sales of kitchens soared by 33% thanks to rising demand from both trade buyers and the general public.
The business has invested heavily in its cost base over the period yet remained profitable with pre-tax profits of more than £0.5m. |
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| Consumer anxiety over tradespeople costs UK economy £6bn |
The UK economy is missing out on more than £6 billion a year in lost consumer spending for home improvements based on consumers' anxiety around hiring shoddy tradespeople and 'cowboy builders'.
New research released today by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) shows that one in five consumers with building or repair work required in their properties, find reasons to delay due to a number of anxieties about using tradespeople.
Almost a quarter fear the final cost will be much higher than the quote, while one in seven worry the work won't be up to scratch. The research also shows that a third have had at least one bad experience with a tradesperson, citing issues such as poor quality of work, work not completed to the full specification and the tradesperson disappearing mid-job.
Despite these concerns, a quarter of consumers admit they don't ask their tradesperson about their building industry credentials when booking a job and one in ten say they don't know how to find a reputable builder.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive at the FMB, said: "The anxiety around hiring tradespeople is of grave concern to us, not simply in terms of the reputation.. |
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| Construction output figures expose impact of skills shortage |
Today's ONS figures, which show a 2.2% drop in construction output, expose the growing impact of the construction skills shortage.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: "The latest figures from the ONS will shake away any complacency that the recovery in the construction industry can be taken for granted. The inadequate number of skilled workers remains one of the greatest barriers to construction firms of all sizes being able to grow and prosper – this contraction in construction output could, in part, stem from the increased cost pressures that businesses face as a result of labour scarcity."
Berry continued: "However, the ONS figures should be approached with an element of caution. This is the first fall in output for more than two years and business sentiment remains positive. Indeed, the FMB's latest State of Trade Survey for Q3 2015 (PDF) marks the tenth consecutive quarter of growth in the SME sector. |
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| Thistle Windows rounds off the year with another success |
Long-standing Network VEKA member Thistle Windows and Conservatories has been named 'Conservatory Installer of the Year' at the highly respected G15 Awards.
The hard-working Aberdeen-based team were delighted to win the award in the same year they celebrated the company's 20th anniversary!
Thistle Windows and Conservatories' Managing Director Ian Bruce collected the trophy from popular comedian Jason Manford at the glittering London ceremony.
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| THE END OF ROGUE TRADERS? |
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A new consumer protection service to help homeowners and tradespeople enter into an agreed contractual arrangement when paying for home improvement, repair or maintenance work has been announced by TrustMark, the only Government-endorsed scheme for all trades in and around the home.
The Escrow service is a low cost, quick and effective way of helping TrustMark-registered firms and their customers protect each other through a financial contract, with the payment for the works, being placed into an independent, secure account, which protected by a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorised firm.
Depending on the works and payment structure agreed, the service will allow the customer to pay for the work in advance or in staged payments. For tradespeople, this will provide peace of mind that they will be able to supply the materials and complete the work knowing the funds for the job are available through the Escrow account. Based upon the terms and conditions, which the two parties set and agree before the works starts, payment will be released accordingly.
There is a cost of £6 per party to set up the core Escrow service. For homeowners, this payment will guarantee satisfaction for building work, and for the firms, it will guarantee 100% full payment. Additional costs may apply if multiple stage payments are used or for very large transactions.
Once the terms and conditions have been agreed and payment has been received, the funds for the work are placed into the secure account. This can only be accessed for payment subject the pre-agreed terms and conditions and the firm has visibility of the funds but no direct access. As the works proceed, and only once the various stages are met, the customer is obligated to release the funds to the firm.
Do you welcome this scheme, or other schemes like it?
Comments welcome.
Email: christina@glassnews.co.uk
Christina Shaw
Publisher |
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| National Plastics' annual conference celebrates company's achievements |
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National Plastics' annual company conference at Celtic Manor Resort on 9 January 2016 was a mixture of fun and business with an overall message of celebration following another successful year for the UK's largest independent trade counter network.
Over 100 representatives from National Plastics' depots attended the day's events and many of them were joined by partners for the gala dinner in the evening, when the numbers swelled to nearly 200.
The gala dinner was the culmination of the day's events and it celebrated the highest achieving depots in the network. |
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| Fensa warns installers of bank details scam |
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Criminals are telephoning FENSA registered installers claiming to be from FENSA, and asking for their bank card details. They are claiming that this information is required so that FENSA can refund installers monies that it owes them. They tell installers that FENSA has sent out a letter about refunds and that they are following up on this letter.
FENSA will never contact installers asking for their bank account or card information – and is not in the process of refunding monies to any registered businesses. FENSA has not sent out any letters about refunds.
If an installation company has been telephoned in this way they should contact the police by dialling 101 and give this crime number: NFRC151101236514. They should also report it to FENSA. |
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| Award Winning Installer Launches Its Own Awards Scheme |
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Specialist commercial installer The Window Company (Contracts) is launching its very own awards scheme in 2016 to say Thank You to all of those suppliers who are making such a big contribution towards its ongoing success.
The company, which was named Installer of the Year at both the G-15 and G-14 Awards and the Best Growing Business at the 2015 Essex Business Excellence Awards, is calling its own awards the 'Big Thank Yous'.
Managing Director David Thornton said: "We wanted to do something to recognise the outstanding service we get from our suppliers. We know from experience how much it means to everyone within a business to receive an award, so we thought it would be a great way of showing just how much we appreciate them.
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| Network VEKA installers attain BSI Kitemark™ |
Two installer members of Network VEKA are proud to have achieved the coveted BSI Kitemark™ for window and door installation, giving them an additional, powerful tool to illustrate their high standards.
Cornwall's Rodda and Hocking, and Bury St Edmunds-based Frames Conservatories Direct are two of the first companies to take advantage of Network VEKA's professional relationship with BSI.
Earlier this year, Network VEKA's MD John Ogilvie announced a pioneering partnership with BSI, the business standards company, for window installers. Network VEKA members that wish to further enhance their offering to homeowners by achieving the BSI Kitemark, can now do as there is little additional site auditing time required for the BSI Kitemark, following the normal Network VEKA assessment visit (thanks to the many shared objectives in the organisations' auditing processes).
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| Visit a National Plastics store and find out why it's the UK largest independent trade counter network |
National Plastics is the UK's largest independent trade counter network and when you visit one of the stores it's easy to see why. Quite simply, the overall experience is second to none.
Giving customers what they want is something that's central to Managing Director Geoff Foster's vision for the company, which is why the customer experience is so important to him. "Our customers are busy people and our aim is to make their lives easier. To do that, two things are vital: stock availability and staff knowledge." |
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| FENSA LOGO MISUSE: OFFENDERS WILL BE NAMED, SHAMED AND PROSECUTED |
FENSA is strengthening its processes and committing more resources to identifying misuse of the FENSA name and logo and the resultant misleading of homeowners. This will lead to more naming and shaming of offenders and the eventual involvement of Trading Standards to which offending installers will be referred for prosecution.
A recent successful prosecution, with FENSA's assistance, by Trading Standards in north London for FENSA logo misuse resulted in a total cost to the directors of over £7,000 in fines and costs. |
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| MANAGE RAINWATER THE ANTHRACITE GREY WAY |
| Freefoam Building Products are delighted to announce the launch of a new range of rainwater products in the contemporary colour Anthracite Grey. With a 45% increase in sales of Anthracite Grey fascia and soffit in 2015 and a growing overall market trend towards grey window frames, doors, fascia and soffit adding an Anthracite Grey Deep gutter range was the next logical step. Freefoam has created a product that allows customers to create a truly co-ordinated roofline with the new rainwater range offering an exact match (Ral No.7016) to the already popular fascia and soffit products. |
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Contact Details |
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| Address |
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Doncaster,
South Yorkshire,
DN11 9QJ. |
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| 0780 505 1322 |
| Email |
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| © 2016 Trade Counter News, All Rights Reserved |
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