INDUSTRY NEWS
GGF MEMBERS DAY DELIVERS PRACTICAL INFORMATION , HEALTHY DEBATE AND FORMULA 1 FUN
The Glass and Glazing Federation ( GGF ) holds a Members Day every year to update members on new legislation , discuss industry issues and provide a valuable opportunity to network , however this year the event went above and beyond . Attendees were furnished with useful information and a safe space for some serious industry discussion , as well as a chance to unwind with some fun activities making the most of the venue at Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge .
John Agnew , GGF Group Managing Director explains why this year was a standout event : “ This year ’ s Members Day was an exceptional success thanks to the level of attendance , the quality of presentations including from our special guest speakers Paul Nash and Graeme Leach , and the enthusiastic engagement from delegates . There were some hot topics up for analysis on the day including a panel discussion on the Future Homes Standard and Sustainability . These topics captured the interest of delegates and sparked some serious discussion and healthy debate , which when done respectfully in a productive space like this , is invaluable for all involved .”
Two highly topical panel discussions created a great deal of interests amongst delegates . The Future Homes Standard was discussed by Kevin Jones , Senior Technical Officer for the GGF ; Phil Brown , who is Technical Advisory Service Manager for the UK and Ireland and European Regulatory Marketing Manager for Pilkington UK ; and Jon Palethorpe , joint managing director at A Plus Aluminium were hosted by Chris Beedel , the GGF ’ s Head of Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations . This high level of expertise clarified some of the mixed messages that are circulating in the marketplace ahead of an anticipated launch of the standard in 2025 .
The Sustainability Panel comprised Dave Borland who heads the GGF ’ s Technical Department , Richard Hilson from sustainability advisors Gemserve , and Mike Butterick , marketing director at Saint Gobain Building Glass , with the GGF ’ s Tom Butler coordinating a session that offered specific insights into what the industry is doing to improve sustainability in terms of carbon footprint , recycling and other related issues .
Chris Beedel added : “ Delegates also enjoyed hearing our two guest speakers share their expertise . Paul who is a previous President of the Chartered Institute of Buildings ( CIOB ) talked about ensuring quality industry wide and building safety , while Graeme who is CEO and Chief Economist at Macroeconomics discussed the challenges and opportunities the UK economy is facing .
“ As well as the scheduled presentations and panel discussions , there was plenty of time to network with industry peers on the day . There was also ample time to enjoy the surroundings of the fabulous venue , including the Formula 1 simulators that were unsurprisingly popular ( congratulations to Paul Miller from Bohle for achieving the fastest lap on the day ).
“ Every GGF Members Day is meticulously planned with delegates in mind , covering current issues and delivering useful advice , but with our special guest speakers and the level of engagement from our fantastic delegates consisting of both existing and new members , this year was one of the best in recent years . We ’ d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the day such a success .”
www . ggf . org . uk
16 NOVEMBER 2023 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM