PRO INSTALLER AUGUST 2016
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PRO NEWS
TIMBER TREND DRIVES 175-YEAR-OLD FIRM
A timber window and doors manufacturer with a 175-year history is marking a new phase as it invests in a complete rebrand and hires new staff members . West Yorkshire-based Patchett Joinery has launched a new logo and website and has responded to growing consumer demand for high quality timber windows and doors by making three senior appointments . Driving forward the rebrand and new website , Gareth O ’ Brien has joined Patchett Joinery as sales and marketing manager . Beverley Ayers and Janine Roberts have been appointed as area managers and will promote the benefits of bespoke timber windows and doors to customers across the north of England . James Patchett , managing director of Patchett Joinery , said : “ Our business recently celebrated 175 years so it seemed like a fitting time for |
us to refresh our brand and demonstrate a more modern outlook . This coincides with the appointment of three new members of staff who will help drive the company forward during this period of high demand for bespoke high quality timber windows and doors .” According to the latest figures from the British Woodworking Federation , the timber window market grew by 17.1 % in 2014 with 739,000 frames manufactured . Palmer Market Research has predicted that this growth will continue until at least 2019 . James Patchett said : “ We have invested around £ 300k in production in the last five years and pride ourselves on using the finest sustainable materials to manufacture bespoke timber windows and doors for our customers . The ‘ improve not move ’ trend has really driven demand as people are more willing to install high quality products that are built to |
last while retaining the period look of the property . We also feel our recent increase in domestic sales is partly due to growing demand for environmentally sound products for the home .” Patchett Joinery regularly supplies products for heritage building projects where it is essential that the specification of timber windows and doors are in keeping with the aesthetics and specification of the historic properties . James commented : “ We ’ d like to work on more of these heritage projects in the future as it is a fantastic way for us to help conserve beautiful historic buildings throughout the UK .” Patchett Joinery started life as a small joinery firm in 1840 manufacturing any wooden products customers required . Today , it is a family business that uses the latest manufacturing technologies to make high quality and bespoke windows and doors for customers throughout the UK . |
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Left to right : James Patchett , Beverley Ayres and Janine Roberts . Front : Gareth O ’ Brien
www . patchett-joinery . co . uk
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VBH strengthens UK greenteQ design team
VBH has expanded its product development team with the appointment of Aidan Lynch in the position of technical ( CAD ) designer . Aidan joins VBH to help with the design of the company ’ s own greenteQ products and will be based at the Gillingham head office . Technical manager Melvin Hutton said : “ greenteQ has become extremely popular with fabricators and installers since we launched the brand in 2009 , and we are constantly developing new products to offer the market . For example , we have recently introduced Q-Star , our own TS007 profile cylinder , and have many other exciting new products in the pipeline , including a 2-star security door handle and additions to our stainless steel furniture range .
“ Aidan brings with him a great deal of expertise and his skills will complement those of our existing greenteQ design team that is spread across the UK , Germany and the Far East .”
More information on the greenteQ range can be downloaded from www . vbhgb . com or requested by calling VBH on 01634 263300
Workers should check their pay packets
Construction workers need to check their pay packet to ensure that employers have honoured the latest pay increase , says The Union of Construction , Allied Trades and Technicians ( UCATT ).
Pay rates for workers covered by the Construction Industry Joint Council ( CIJC ) agreement increased by 2.5 % from 25th July . The lengthy negotiations produced a two-year deal with the 2.5 % hike in the first year and then a 2.75 % raise in the second year . Brian Rye , acting general secretary , of UCATT , said : “ Workers need to check carefully if their employer has honoured the pay increase . Too often in our industry employers only follow the rules that suit them . If a worker believes that they are entitled to a pay rise and have not received the correct increase they should contact UCATT for advice and assistance .” General operatives should now be on a minimum of £ 8.73 per hour and craft workers a minimum of £ 11.61 per hour . Workers will receive an extra day ’ s holiday from January 1 , 2017 , which is worth an additional 0.4 %. The taking of holidays has also been made more flexible . Travel allowances have been reconfigured . For more details UCATT urges members to go to https :// www . ucatt . org . uk / cijc-construction-industry-joint-councilworking-rule-agreement or consult their local rep . The agreement has also been updated with changes to how and when holidays can be taken and the fare and travel allowance will now be calculated in miles rather than kilometres . The new agreement as well as an increase to travel and fare allowances and subsistence rates came into effect from Monday 1st August . Various trades such as telehandler drivers , forklift drivers , concrete operatives , slinger / signallers and banksmen will all receive an additional pay increase above the 2.5 %.
www . ucatt . org . uk