Pro Installer August 2017 - Issue 53 | Page 15

AUGUST 2017 | 15 News Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk CUSTOMER WORKSHOPS INSPIRE INSTALLERS 150 installers have now experienced first-hand how REAL Aluminium can accel- erate their businesses after attending a tailored one day REAL customer workshop. The workshops have been successful with some dele- gates reporting that their al- uminium sales have trebled since they became a REAL Aluminium installer. The REAL Customer Day has been a popular element of REAL Aluminium since the brand was launched last year and Customade is well on course to attract 100 more installers to one of its sessions by the end of 2017. Held at Customade Group’s headquarters in Stonehouse, Glouces- tershire, the workshops provide installers with a thorough understanding of the tools available to help them leap successfully in to aluminium and begin selling the most extensive range of aluminium windows, doors and lantern roofs available from a single supplier. LEADERS IN TRAINING Apeer has launched a comprehensive Leadership Development Programme for all its production team leaders to keep the manufacturer ahead of the rapid growth it has seen in recent years. effective delegation, prob- lem solving, project and task management, commu- nication skills and conflict management. The Leadership Devel- opment Programme is the first major training initiative since Chris Wilson joined the company in November but he added that other areas of job-specific and product-specific knowledge such as PC skills, Lean man- ufacturing and health and safety may be developed in future. Around 18 team lead- ers and 12 managers and supervisors will take part in the programme over the coming 18 months, along with several non-production staff. The programme will take the form of two streams, to minimise disruption to their conventional duties. As well as KPIs, other areas of focus will include time management, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ACCOLADE The team behind the The workshops appeal to both experienced alumin- ium installers and PVCu installers who are new to aluminium and demonstrate the simplicity of promot- ing, quoting, selling and ordering aluminium through REAL Aluminium. www.real-aluminium.co.uk thermally efficient Warm- Core technology at Synseal Group has won an award for innovation in advanced manufacturing. The Made in the Midlands Awards celebrate the most ambitious and innovative manufacturing companies operating in the Midlands. Synseal Group came away the winner in the compet- itive Advanced Manufac- turing Innovation category, recognised for its WarmCore technology. Highlighted features included the unique thermal core, the cam lock system which allows for easy corner jointing, and the composite structure enabling dual colour in the same lead times as stand- ard. Synseal Group was up against five other manufac- turing companies including 920Engineering, who were highly commended, and Mereway Kitchens. David Wigley, head of marketing at Synseal Group, who collected the award on the night, said: “We were really pleased to win the award as there was more competition in this category than any of the others. It’s a real testament to the hard work that the WarmCore team has put in.” GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR MONIKA A UK construction business special- ising in high-end residential projects has been shortlisted for two prestigious prizes at this year’s London Construction Awards. Golden Houses Developments is in the running for the London Build Excellence Award, while the firm’s founder and director Monika Slowikowska has been shortlisted for the Women in Construction Award. The shortlisting of Golden Houses in not just one but two categories is just the latest piece of good news for the firm, which is on track to exceed turnover by £80 million by the year 2020. The company’s recent projects have been completed in residential centres across Greater London, including Highgate, Angel, Harrow, Putney and Hampstead. Monika Slowikowska is one of the few women in construction company manage- ment. She is of Polish origin and came to Britain unable to speak English, but has since held roles in the engineering, architec- tural and construction industries. She launched Golden Houses in 2012 and has built it into a success story. The busi- ness is growing exponentially and achieved six times higher turnover in its fourth year than it did in its first year. The winners and runners-up will be an- nounced during an exclusive awards gala din- ner on Wednesday 25th October at The Royal Garden Hotel on Kensington High Street.