INDUSTRYNEWS FROMTHEEDITOR
Hello sunshine
By the time you read this , it will officially be British Summer Time , which works out perfectly for our Outdoor Living section ( almost as if we planned it ). If the past year has proved anything , it ’ s that homeowners are looking at new ways to maximise their space , and thinking outside the box ( or in this case , outside the house ) has become a significant source of revenue for fabricators and fitters alike .
» WHETHER ADDING A NEW PART TO A house in the form of an extension , opening up an area with roof lights , bifolds , or larger windows , or investing in a room or building that is completely separate to the main dwelling ; increasing the living - and working - space of a home is also contributing to major growth in fenestration . This month , we speak to a business that has outgrown its own premises , not once but twice , in just four years of operations for just that reason .
Similarly , but separately , as homeowners seek to improve the aesthetics of their home and take necessary measures to keep their family and possessions safer , and more secure , hardware has become an easy way to do this . From a visual point of view , hardware suites can transform the look of a building into something brand new ( or ‘ old ’ if you prefer ). And , no matter if you choose a classic or contemporary finish , modern methods mean that there is much more going on behind the handle too , from Smart technology to anti-bacterial coatings . There ’ s plenty in this month ’ s Hardware Extra section , for both residential and commercial markets , plus something a little different as we hear from a locksmith who deals with UPVC lock repair and replacement .
On top of our two special features we have all the latest news from across the industry including exclusive interviews , FIT Show updates , door and window product information , glass and sealed unit case studies , business advice , industry insight , software and lead generation technology , installer support , plus our very first Window Technology section ( so , time to get smart ). And , whether you ’ re reading this inside or outside , at home or at work , when it comes to the April issue , you ’ ll be a fool to miss it !
See you next time , Gemma , Editor
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
No jab , no job ?
Charlie Mullins from Pimlico Plumbers might just have been chasing publicity again when he announced that he would be imposing a ‘ No jab no job ’ rule on his staff ; but he has nonetheless raised an issue which almost all employers who send staff to work in people ’ s homes must surely have been considering over recent weeks .
» THE QUESTION OF whether to insist staff have a vaccine obviously raises several layers of ethical and employment rights questions , and I suspect it will be several months , if not years , before there is a definitive answer .
However , in the meantime , we ’ re all facing an increasingly urgent need to formulate a policy which protects our workforce ’ s rights , but also responds to the inevitable requests we ’ re going to get from clients , residents and homeowners that we do all we can to keep them safe .
At The Window Company ( Contracts ), we won ’ t be demanding that our staff are vaccinated – that ’ s not the way we do things – but we have taken the decision to voluntarily log vaccines on our staff training matrix alongside info on CSCS cards and fire door , working at height and asbestos training . That way , we know we will be able to provide evidence that fitters , surveyors and other members of staff have been vaccinated for any clients who demand it on particular project . We won ’ t be putting unnecessary pressure on staff who either can ’ t be vaccinated or who make a choice not to , although we will be
making the case that it is in the wider public interest .
As the vaccine roll out continues , the lockdown hopefully eases , and the economy opens up , I ’ m sure that the ‘ vaccine passport ’ question will be debated in great depth . We ’ ll be watching and listening with interest .
Yours sincerely David Thornton Chairman The Window Company ( Contracts )
www . thewinco . co . uk
4 » APR 2021 » CLEARVIEW-UK . COM