2024 may be almost over but it ’ s just the beginning for installers looking to boost their business in the conservatory market . As homeowners continue to explore ways to open up their living space ; Ryan Hulme from Connaught Conservatories says this also opens up new opportunities for savvy installers . Here he explains the levels of support available that will help installers confidently sell , survey and start to fit the hup ! system from Ultraframe ; a product Ryan and his team believes is just the ticket to expand into the home extension sector …

“ As soon as someone tries the hup ! they come back for more ,” says Ryan . “ 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 to homeowners looking to replace an old , outdated conservatory .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 . 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 .

Ryan continues : “ Ultraframe has done a great job in marketing hup ! and providing additional sales support – through marketing materials and sales leads – and the physical training . 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 .

Ryan says : “ 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 .

“ 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 . 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 .”

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