When brands bridge the gap between the product and the end user, the installers are already one step ahead, if they are familiar with that system and set up to sell and fit it. But it can be daunting to take on a new product. Here Ryan Hulme of Connaught Conservatories explains the levels of support available that will help installers confidently sell, survey and start to fit the hup! system from Ultraframe; a product he and his team believes is just the ticket to expand into the home extension sector …

“ In many ways, the market wasn’ t 100 % ready for this system, that’ s to say other installation companies have been a bit more cautious in taking on a product like this,” he says.“ This is mainly because of lack of understanding or even fear of taking it on. But, with the right technical expertise and support, it’ s a lucrative area of business for all involved.

“ As soon as someone tries the hup! they come back for more. That’ s why we offer any level of support they may need to get them started. The training is

two-fold really, but both aspects come down to knowledge. Firstly, it’ s knowing the system’ s features and benefits in order to confidently sell the hup! to homeowners looking to replace an old, outdated conservatory.

“ Secondly, it’ s the practical know-how to survey the site and install the system. So we can assist the installer with their first fit on site( with prior arrangement) and it really only requires basic installation training, but getting that first one right is key to building confidence for future fits.

“ Not every installer needs the same level of training either, so we speak to each of them individually to see how we can help and get them on track with the system.” hup! has been a major focus for Ultraframe in recent years, with the North West manufacturer has taken on a brand ambassador Laura Jane Clark from BBC’ s Your Home Made Perfect to join the‘ hup! building revolution’. Making the system a household name is a further gift to the installer; with the endorsement of a well-known architect and television personality another precious marketing tool.

“ Ultraframe has done a great job in marketing hup! and providing additional sales support – through marketing materials and sales leads – and the physical training,” Ryan adds.“ As a supplier, we can bridge the gap between the manufacturer and our customers so that installers are making use of every tool available to them to sell, survey and start to fit the product.”

Connaught Conservatories was set up in 2006 by Ryan’ s stepfather David Gallagher and Ryan joined the business around 10 years ago, moving over from a

large developer. Of almost 20 people in the Connaught team, several have been there since day one, meaning they know a thing or two about roofs.

A‘ typical’ Connaught customer will order one to three roofs a month, while a bigger client will require up to five glass roofs a week – and we operate nationally up to the Borders and down to North Essex, Norfolk and Bristol, across to Manchester, Liverpool and North Wales, and we have a lot of customers across the North East.

“ We’ ve always focused on roofs; conservatory roofs and solid roofs, plus roof lanterns. We’ re an approved supplier for Ultraframe and we were one of the first Guardian fabricators in the country, when we first‘ set up shop’ 17 years ago.

“ With our industry experience and speciality in the solid roof and conservatory roof sector, combined with this shift we’ ve seen in the marketplace for

extensions, at the end of 2023 we started to supply the hup! system from Ultraframe. hup! and complementary roofs were our major focus in 2024, and that will continue into 2025 and beyond.

“ Homeowners are always looking to make the most of their indoor and outdoor living spaces, through garden and outdoor living products, and replacing and upgrading existing extensions and conservatories.”

Find out more about hup! at www. hup-home. co. uk and get in touch with Ryan and the team at www. connaughtconservatories. co. uk