Clearview South May 2014 - Issue 150 | Page 10

INDUSTRYNEWS Sidey wins PVC-U Window & Door Project of the Year Halo fabricator Sidey is celebrating an impressive win at the LHC 2014 Awards. LHC is a leading not-for-profit public sector purchasing consortium that provides best value procurement solutions for the refurbishment, retrofit and maintenance of social housing and other public sector buildings in England, Wales and Scotland. Perth-based Sidey was awarded ‘PVC-U Window and Door Project’ for its refurbishment work with Fife Housing Association. Joint MD Steve Hardy explains: “We started work with Fife HA and the LHC just over five years ago and, to date, we have fitted new windows and doors for more than 1,500 properties. “Feedback and support has been fantastic and we are delighted to be making a difference to these homes.” The company far exceeded the award’s demanding targets. “The quality of the Halo products was definitely a contributing factor in our win - we know these high-spec PVC-U systems carry all the accreditations demanded in social housing projects. “We were also praised for client satisfaction, service, using local employment for direct and support services – and achieving 100% waste minimisation.” VEKA plc, 01282 716611, www.vekauk.com CONSUMER RIGHTS BILL - GGF CAMPAIGN GATHERS MOMENTUM Following its recent “Members Quiz BIS”, the GGF submitted its evidence to the Parliamentary Public Bill Committee in February 2014, allowing time for the Committee to consider its concerns. The Consumer Rights Bill is expected to be implemented this autumn. Its aim is to simplify consumer rights for both consumers and traders. The key concern submitted is that the Bill will not protect businesses from a small number of consumers who may look to take advantage of the Bill in order to gain what they might see as “free goods”. As the Bill is currently drafted, a consumer could reject a houseful of windows, or even a whole conservatory, based on one fault, even if the overall installation was satisfactory. The GGF believes the Bill should be amended to distinguish between generic goods (such as TVs) and goods made to a consumer’s specification. Brian Smith, GGF Director of Home Improvement will present updates during the FIT Show Seminars at Telford in June. The Directive will be implemented on 13th June 2014. Read the GGF’s submitted evidence to the Committee at: http://www.ggf.org.uk/ publication/submission_to_ public_bill_committee CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FEELS LET DOWN BY GOVERNMENT Despite Chancellor George Osborne’s budget pledge to ‘get Britain building’, a survey conducted by the Build Show has revealed that nearly three quarters of the UK’s construction industry feels let down by the government, with 71% of builders and contractors claiming they do not feel supported by Whitehall policy. Paul Godwin, Build Show MD commented: “These results show that although the construction industry is paving the way for the 10 MAY 2014 UK’s economic recovery, builders and contractors feel alienated and neglected by government policy. There is a golden opportunity for the government to boost the economy, but to do this it must nurture and support construction industry growth. Cutting the VAT on residential refurbishments would provide a huge boost by as much as £15 billion. “We are launching the Build Show now because the time is right for the construction industry to take charge of the reins again. By the time the Build Show takes place next April there will have been no dedicated event for the contracting and building sectors for more than five years, which is why we will redress this.” www.buildshow.co.uk To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com