Clearview National January 2020 - Issue 218 | Page 62

ROOFLIGHTS& LANTERNS The Sky’s the Limit » A WET AND WINDY DAY IN Blackburn is nothing unusual, but when two Clearview colleagues made a trans-Pennine journey across the M62 on a rainy Thursday, the trip stood out for all the right reasons. Paying a visit to the ‘new’ Shadsworth Business Park premises, it became clear the second we stepped onto the shop floor why more space was required. With more than 500 roofs manufactured in just five years; when we arrived, at the end of November the team was celebrating its best business month to date. Icotherm made the move from a “tiny” unit in Bolton in Spring 2018 after a record third year of trading and hasn’t looked back. As MD Dave Jackson commented: “People knew us in Bolton as the building next to Amir Khan’s gym, now we’re starting to become recognised in the industry as the systems house we always knew we were.” Icotherm’s journey seems to have progressed at high speed, but “quality product and labour” always anchors the process. Dave, who has been in the conservatory industry for almost two decades, including stints at Quantal, Synseal, and K2, spotted a gap in the market for a roof system that was thermally efficient, easy to install and a ‘solid’ solution for old and underused conservatories. Together, with his wife Jenny, who headed a conservatory retail business for nine years, Icotherm was born, to firstly fabricate a roof system that does the job but secondly, always provide a “right-first-time” kit and as much (or as little) support, plus training and on- site assistance if required, to always provide the perfect fit. “Coming from the North West, we know more than anyone how weather can work against an installer,” adds Dave. “That’s why an Icotherm roof is watertight ready for tiling within 2 hours, on average, of an old roof coming off. “Everything that can be done here in Blackburn, before the roof goes out, is done. This is better for the fitter and better for the customer. And, ultimately better for us, because we now have ‘traditional’ builders who have been building their own roofs for 30-40 years switching to Icotherm.” Yet, while Dave jokes that he always ‘touches wood’ when speaking about how well Icotherm is doing at the moment, the success is not down to luck. A hand-picked team works tirelessly to drive the business forward, making it even easier for installers to use Icotherm, protect the product (see side column), and raise brand awareness. “We want homeowners to ask for Icotherm by name, and we will continue to support our installers to the level they have come to expect from us in the last five years,” concludes Dave. “This means we have a new website on the horizon this year, plus lots more exciting things we can’t wait to shout about when we can say more.” ICOTHERM: REASSURINGLY COMPLIANT, SO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT Icotherm has opted to partner with a new Approved Inspector’s firm, announces Anne- Marie Busch, Marketing Manager. This is not a decision that was made lightly she emphasises, but taken with customers in mind. “We need to work with an organisation that is prepared to go the extra step to ensure our roofs are appropriately checked when installed, and Ball & Berry Ltd can provide just that,” explains Anne-Marie. The aim of certifying a roof system for building control compliancy is a twofold solution: • The systems house wants to ensure their roof is up to the task, whilst providing you, the installer, with a solution that will make your work easier when getting your installation building control approved. • The other important role of the compliancy certification and having a roof registered is to give the homeowner the reassurance that their roof is a genuine product. Ball & Berry Ltd will do this for us; as part of the application process they will check the original Icotherm paperwork and register the roof reference, allowing us to double check it is indeed a roof we have manufactured. “This protects our customers against competitors claiming to use a high specification roof like Icotherm’s when in fact they are not. It also protects Icotherm’s product and brand by ensuring only genuine products are sold under our name.” For further information and to obtain the Ball & Berry Ltd certificates and/or application form, please contact Anne- Marie at [email protected] www.ballandberry.co.uk 62 » JAN 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M