INDUSTRY NEWS
Paul Browne is named new Chairman of DHF
» DOOR & HARDWARE FEDERATION ( DHF ) has announced that its new Chairman is former ASSA ABLOY UK ’ s Chief Technology Officer & Business Development Director , Paul Browne .
Paul has been involved with DHF since 2006 , when the issue of cylinder snapping illustrated the importance of constantly driving up product performance standards to meet the changing needs of end-users . He has been on the DHF Board since 2007 , and in 2011 , joined the Board of the European Hardware Association – ARGE – and was active in both European and UK standards development over the nine years that followed .
In his early career , Paul joined the Lucas Graduate scheme in the late 70s after leaving Aston University with a Business Studies degree . He worked for 17 years at Creda , the UK ’ s leading manufacturer of white goods , mainly in marketing roles and , finally , as General Manager of the Contracts Division . After two years in the construction industry ,
Paul Browne
David Whitworth
where he gained an invaluable insight into the need for change , Paul joined ASSA ABLOY UK as Marketing Director . There followed a number of different roles , such as General Manager of the Residential Division , before moving to senior board roles over a 21-year period .
Paul replaces long-standing Chairman , David Whitworth , in his position since 2007 and having played a major role in guiding DHF through its significant development programme
over the past 10 years . In 2002 , David became chairman of the Association of Building Hardware Manufacturers ( ABHM ) and was the driving force behind its 2004 merger with the Door & Shutter Manufacturers ’ Association ( DSMA ) to form DHF . Paul Browne comments : “ David has an unrivalled history of achievement and active involvement in our industry . With Bob Perry and the team , he has helped steer DHF in becoming the forward-looking and capable association that it has become today , and it is a privilege to pick up the mantle from him . Through making DHF the foremost industry authority , I believe it can lead the drive for change and improvement , creating opportunities and commercial benefit for our members , and I very much look forward to being a part of what will undoubtedly be an exciting future for the federation .”
www . dhfonline . org . uk
GGF ’ s Beedel addresses minister at National Apprentice Week launch
» CHRIS BEEDEL , DIRECTOR OF Government Advocacy for the Glass & Glazing Federation ( GGF ) addressed a kick-off event organised by the National Home Improvement Council ( NHIC ) for the launch of National Apprentice Week , which was attended by Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS ) Minister Lee Rowley MP .
The NHIC is the umbrella organisation for the UK , repair , maintenance and home improvement sector , for which the GGF is a member organisation representing the interests of the replacement window , door and related products industry . Chris Beedel , who represents the glass and glazing industry to Government departments and other stakeholders , was one of several speakers invited to address the event .
Chris used the opportunity to highlight the newly launched GGF Apprenticeship Scheme , with the first cohort of apprentices due to start in April 2022 . The GGF
Apprenticeship has been designed to overcome the barriers seen in attracting apprentices to national schemes , such as a required A-C grade at GCSE in Maths and English .
The GGF Apprenticeship Pilot Scheme allows for an initial 20 apprentices to be placed with GGF members and the GGF will cover 50 % of their external training provider cost of £ 4,000 , the other 50 % being covered by the GGF member .
Afterwards Chris Beedel commented : “ It is crucial that we are able to ensure that the voice of the Glazing industry is communicated to government ministers and other influential partner organisations . This is especially important with the government ’ s commitment towards Net Zero and the increased role that our industry can play in that .
“ We also need to encourage apprenticeships in our industry as a key means of resolving the skills shortage that is hampering so many businesses , especially as demand for glass and glazing products continues so strongly .”
www . ggf . org . uk
10 MARCH 2022 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM