In the past decade two Governments, the coalition and this current Conservative Government, have tried to launch schemes that intended to encourage homeowners to take out loans and grants to insulate and retrofit their homes. Both failed. They failed for a number of reasons, all very similar to each other. The most recent version [...]
It is earnings season in UK fenestration and some of the biggest companies are dropping their financial results for H1 of 2021, and as was to be expected, Epwin Group’s H1 results are very healthy. Here are the key findings from their report. What you need to know The table below is your brief [...]
A minimum order value is a figure an installation company will charge as the absolute lowest limit they would accept for work to be done. The subject matter of minimum order values came up via a tweet from a company called T And R Home Improvement Specialists. This is what they said: It [...]
The price pressures on the supply chain only continue to grow as Pilkington has announced that they are going to reintroduce their Energy Surcharge, which was dropped in 2014. Glass has been one of the fenestration sector materials most affected by the current supply chain problems and has seen some of the most dramatic [...]
The "pingdemic" and supply chain problems have seen UK growth dribble to just 0.1% in July. This was after June saw GDP growth of 1%. Though COVID restrictions were lifted in July, rules on self-isolation did not change until August. It meant that hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people had to spend [...]
We knew the road back from COVID and Lockdown would be bumpy but the challenges we and the window and door industry have contended with in the past year, have far exceeded our expectations. It’s been incredibly tough, everyone’s expended a massive amount of energy, and people are tired, if not exhausted. Trying to [...]
Saint-Gobain has sold two of their European glass processing companies. One in France, to a former manager of Saint-Gobain, and one in Germany. This is the official statement from the company: SAINT-GOBAIN DIVESTS CERTAIN GLASS PROCESSING BUSINESSES IN FRANCE AND IN GERMANY Saint-Gobain announces the sale of the French company Aurys, which specializes in [...]
The one question everyone is asking is when the supply chain will return to normal. For over a year our sector has had to cope with steep and constant price increases, product delays, shortages and ever-extending lead times. But there is a way, even two, for the supply chain to return to normal. Reduction [...]
There's a debate as to the best method in which to attract more young people and talented people to the UK fenestration sector. Career progression, inclusivity, rewarding work and more. All gallant and justified arguments. But there's one thing I think we're blindly missing from the debate and that is money. It's time to [...]
Whilst the UK might be getting some level of control over COVID-19, much of Asia is gripped firmly by the virus once again. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and others are all experiencing record numbers of cases, hospitalisations and deaths. It is a reminder that even though things are improving in the UK, [...]
In positive news for the UK economy on Thursday, it was announced by the ONS that UK GDP grew 4.8% in Q2 this year. This was under forecasts of 5%, but still represents a strong quarter as further lockdown restrictions eased. UK economy continues to bounce back Q2 was always going to be a [...]
Steel right now is expensive. Very expensive. To give you an idea as to how much the cost of steel has risen over the past year or so... April 2020: $372.5 PT May 2021: $794 PT In percentage terms, the cost of steel per ton in [...]
Saint-Gobain's new glass furnace, currently being built in Eggborough, North Yorkshire, has reached the halfway point. This is an important milestone for the company and the supply of glass in the UK against a backdrop of shortages that are getting worse and causing disruption throughout the supply chain. This is the statement that has [...]
This is a press release from Glazerite: Leading trade fabricator, The Glazerite UK Group has been acquired in a management buyout. Led by Group Managing Director, Robert Brearley, the management team includes Mark Johnston, Group Finance Director, Jeff Dunn, Group Sales & Marketing Director, Darren Rhodes, Managing Director (North West) and Matthew Thomas, Managing [...]
The start of July also began the start of the end of the highly successful furlough scheme, also known as the Job Retention Scheme. It has been one of the most expensive parts of the UK Government's support programme during the pandemic and has kept millions in employment that would have been at risk [...]
Every week, every month the prices of all our raw materials continue to rise. Resin, steel, glass, hardware, composite door slabs. You name it, they're all going up, as is the cost of transport and labour. Oil is at a six-year high. Steel is going to the moon in an almost vertical fashion. Iron [...]
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