Clearview National April 2020 - Issue 221 | Page 8

INDUSTRYNEWS
A Landmark Occasion as GGF
Welcomes New President
» IT WAS A MEMORABLE
and enjoyable occasion as a guest
list comprising of GGF Members,
Senior Staff and Members of the
trade media, welcomed Mark
Austin as the new GGF President
at the President’s Reception at
The Landmark Hotel, London on
4th February.
Mark started his address with
an overview of the political
background that the industry and
country finds itself in.
“With the UK having left the
European Union for better or
worse on 31st January. There’s
still an air of uncertainty in
the business world, so trade
organisations like the GGF
will become increasingly
important to
not only help
companies cope
with change, but
also to help shape
the future of our
industry. I don’t
have 2020 vision, but
I doubt back in 2010
we’d have all been expecting
that 10 years later we’d no longer
be in the European Union and
seeking to do trade deals with the
rest of the world as a matter of
urgency.”
The presentation took a
lighter tone as Mark provided a
brief outline of his considerable
background in the industry
and also touched upon his
14 years in the professional
football industry with Wycombe
Wanderers F.C. In 2007, Mark
agreed to join family owned and
run independent double-glazing
manufacturers and installers
Hazlemere Window Company
Ltd as Marketing Director and
during his presentation he
thanked his colleagues for their
support.
Mark
conveyed his
praise to the GGF
staff and commercial
companies for their
contribution and successes over
the last few years and referenced
some outstanding facts:
“The GGF technical team has
produced over 120 technical
publications that integrate the
most current international,
European and British standards.
The GGF sits on all the major
standards committees of ISO,
BSI and CEN where the GGF
cascades Members’ technical
comments, suggestions and
concerns to help shape the
standards that regulate our
industry.
“In the last eight years, the
GGF Membership has grown
considerably with 220 new
Members joining the GGF since
2012. To put this in context, the
8 » A P R 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
GGF has around 470 Members
in total, so it’s a healthy number
of relatively new companies who
have joined the Federation.”
“Last year was the highest
ever visitor numbers to the GGF
website and its consumer advice
website MyGlazing.com. Over
300,000 users visited these sites
and when combined with the tens
of millions the GGF reaches with
its trade and consumer PR, it’s
clear that the GGF’s audience, as
well as its influence is growing.
“FENSA was the first GGF
Commercial company to be set
up 18 years ago, and it continues
to go from strength to strength,
having overseen 14 million FENSA
window and door installations
since 2002. Every day more than
6,000 windows & 1,000 doors will
be installed by FENSA Approved
Registered Installers. To date
approximately 62 million individual
window and door products
have been installed by FENSA
registered installers since 2002.
“BFRC is the largest and most
recognised window and door
energy rating service in the
industry and again is widely used
by GGF members, in particular
for compliance by installers for
Approved Document L, and
RISA - a relatively new company
to the GGF - and they carry
out thousands of assessments,
inspections and audits across
the UK. In terms of the GGF’s
commercial businesses, many
GGF Members use the insurance
services of InstallSure (formerly
GGFi), one of the largest IBG
providers in the Double Glazing
industry.”
In his closing remarks, Mark
reassured Members of his
commitment and responsibilities
as GGF President: “As President,
I will never forget that I’m here
to represent you as Members,
and furthermore I’m able to bear
witness that ever since I was
elected to the Board of Directors
that every Member of the Board
makes decisions always very
mindful of the fact we are your
custodians, and all Members like
yourselves.
“Under Steve Rice’s leadership
championing the technical
department for decades, the
quality of GGF Technical output
remains strong, and is for many
in the industry the go to place
for technical advice, guidance and
help. The GGF’s renewed focus on
improving our technical offering
and access for GGF Members will
continue under incoming GGF
MD John Agnew following Steve’s
retirement on 28th February
after 30 years loyal and faithful
service.”
www.ggf.org.uk