Clearview National April 2020 - Issue 221 | Page 16

INDUSTRYNEWS
New industry awards
set to raise standards
Andrew Scott, founder of the Glazing Summit and
CEO of Purplex Marketing and Insight Data, discusses
why he has launched the Glazing Summit Awards
» BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL,
profitable company takes more than great
products or clever marketing. Competing in
today’s tough business environment means
attracting the right customers, attracting and
motivating a proud work force, and gaining
real support from suppliers and partners.
Many of the world’s most successful
companies know that one business activity –
industry awards – can help them achieve this
success faster and more effectively than any
marketing activity.
Having been in the glazing industry for over
30 years I have also seen first-hand the impact
of awards, all the way back to the Glassex
Awards in the 1990s. Indeed, it was winning
an industry award that helped me grow
Cambrian Windows from a tiny fabricator to
a 3,000 frame-per-week super-fabricator in 36
months.
Over the years I have witnessed how awards
can have a profound effect on companies.
Within months of winning Fabricator of the
Year, we had a queue of interested parties
wanting to acquire our business. Suppliers
were beating a path to our door. Staff morale
and productivity increased while talented
people from our competitors applied to join
our company. And the potential customers
who we had always struggle to engage with,
were suddenly contacting us.
Awards change how the world views a
company, a product or an individual.
‘Having been in the
glazing industry for over
30 years I have also seen
first-hand the impact
of awards, all the way
back to the Glassex
Awards in the 1990s’
16 » A PR 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
But for me, industry-specific awards have
always been too insular. As Fabricator of the
Year Winner, I may be considered a step above
other fabricators, but it didn’t mean much
outside the industry.
That’s why we decided to host a completely
new set of awards at the Glazing Summit, that
would be recognised universally as a mark of
genuine excellence – both within the industry
with customers, suppliers and peers – but
also outside the industry, so that we could
collectively showcase the glass and glazing
sector as the innovative, progressive and
world-class industry it really is.
The Glazing Summit Awards have been
carefully considered with eight categories that
reflect business excellence, such as Employer of
the Year, Family Business of the Year and Fast-
Track Award, while the Entrepreneur of the
Year will celebrate individual achievements.
Authenticity and credibility are of vital
importance, so the Glazing Summit Awards
will have a panel of independent and
knowledgeable judges from within and outside
the industry with full transparency.
WHO SHOULD GET INVOLVED?
The Glazing Summit Awards are open
to all companies that are involved in the
window, door and conservatory supply chain
– including organisations who support the
sector. It is about business excellence rather
than the size of a business.
The PR benefits of being a finalist or winner
are substantial – everyone wants to work with
the ‘best in class’ – customers, suppliers, even
banks and advisors. Award-winning companies
have a much stronger sales proposition and
often achieve better margins.
Entering awards is an interesting exercise.
It helps management teams really think about
their business, how it operates and what makes
it stand out from the crowd. It is also a great
opportunity to galvanise employees.
We all want to be part of a ‘success
journey’ so companies who are award finalists
or winners tend to have more loyal and
committed staff and a sense of pride, while
attracting new staff is easier – an award signals
to a potential employee that this company has
exceptional standards.
The deadline for entries is 30th June and
the winners will be announced during the
Glazing Summit Dinner on 8th October at
Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham. It follows
the Glazing Summit conference taking place
during the day.
For more information or to enter the awards
visit www.glazingsummit.co.uk