South west-based aluminium specialists Nordic Installations was the December winner of The FIT Show’ s Installation of the Year competition. Following up Origin’ s November win for its Prime Windows installation in Bradworthy, the decision to select Nordic’ s bespoke new build in Dunsford, Devon, as December’ s overall winner wasn’ t easy, said judges. With stiff competition from Sherborne Windows and Vista Panels Ltd, who were both voted as runners up, it was the photography of the installation that sealed the deal for Nordic.

One of the UK’ s largest, independent PVCu frame manufacturers, TruFrame, has returned a 12.7 % growth in 2016, as demand for its hand finished frames continues to rise. David Firmager, managing director of TruFrame said frame count had exceeded 4,000 during several spikes at the end of the year. He continued:“ The business has grown on the back of sustainable new business and strong organic growth, thanks to a proactive programme of marketing campaigns. In 2017 we will also undertake the biggest

The Council for Aluminium in Building( CAB’ s) Adrian Toon, the competition’ s judge, said of Nordic’ s entry:“ It’ s a great balanced image with flowers in the foreground and a distant blue sky, plus great sunshine on the project. It’ s a well exposed picture with vertical elements well aligned with the frame of the picture.”

Winning installations to date can be seen on the FIT Show website: http:// www. fitshow. co. uk / installation-of-the-year

investment programme this business has ever seen, as we look to put in place the resources to grow further.” TruFrame has been among companies encouraging smaller fabricators to unplug their equipment and buy in, with multi-channelled marketing campaigns targeting selected businesses

, based on size and location. The company has also invested in its embryonic TruFrame Direct business model, which involves the opening of premium trade counters in selected locations where they have little local representation.

www. truframe. co. uk

Together the two government organisations will jointly deliver a national Trading Standards supporting scheme, giving firms local reassurance with national recognition. The‘ Trading Standards Approved’ scheme is an accreditation that tells potential customers that the tradesperson not only complies with TrustMark’ s government-endorsed Standards for quality of workmanship, but they also understand fair trading practices and have in place all the correct documentation and insurances. For the first time local authorities across the country can work together to deliver this scheme. It will give tradespeople further credibility that they are reputable and have a solid trading history, whilst giving their customer the reassurance and confidence that they have been thoroughly checked by both Trading Standards and TrustMark and have been approved to use this accreditation. Steve Ruddy, head of service Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards

, added:“ This is a ground-breaking example of how central and local government can work together, combining national recognition and local reassurance to both protect residents and support local businesses.” Simon Ayers, chief executive of TrustMark, said:“ With consumer expectations rising, householders are now seeking higher levels of service and better quality workmanship from their tradespeople with all the right checks in place. The Trading Standards Approved scheme isn’ t just another‘ badge’ to add to a firm’ s website and marketing materials, it’ s an investment with great benefits. When a consumer chooses a tradesperson that has the TrustMark‘ Trading Standards Approved’ logo, they know they will get a reputable, reliable firm that has not only been vetted by a TrustMark Scheme Operator, but also checked directly by Trading Standards.” To join the scheme, firms will need to be TrustMark registered and then they will be able to apply to

TrustMark to complete the necessary checks in order to gain the approved accreditation. TrustMark will carry out the DBS Checks and Trading Standards will do the Intelligence Checks. Subject to passing these safeguards, the firm will then be accredited with trading standards approved status. For those firms who attain the Trading Standards approval, they will also get additional business support with exclusive access to assured advice on consumer law, including unfair contract terms, cancellations rights and drafting invoices. The scheme is currently being piloted by Trust- Mark Ambassadors across different key trades and will be rolled out on a national level during 2017.

For further information or to sign up to the Trading Standards Approved scheme, visithttps:// www. trustmark. org. uk / trading-standards or email tradingstandards @ trustmark. org. uk or telephone 0333 555 0352.

www. trustmark. org. uk