Business
46 | JANUARY 2024
Business
FDM Appoints Managing Director
Fire Door Maintenance ( FDM ) has announced the appointment of a managing director . Nicola John will lead the business , which offers fire door inspection and maintenance services and is owned by UAP .
Nicola has spent 19 years working with door manufacturers in various management and director roles . A former business consultant , Nicola also ran her own company , using her knowledge to advise a range of organisations on strategic growth and development . For the past four years , she has been working with UAP to provide specialist leadership , management and training guidance .
Launched in early 2023 , FDM offers fire door inspection and maintenance services primarily aimed at housing associations and local authorities . Clients can access a 400-strong pool of highly-trained operatives , plus specialist fire door training for organisations and individuals that want to upskill in line with new fire safety rules .
Nicola said : “ Changes to regulation mean housing providers must put more resources in place to inspect and maintain fire doors . My aim is to work directly with these organisations as well as door manufacturers , to help meet this need .”
www . fdmltd . co . uk
MADE IN YORKSHIRE RECYCLING RECOGNITION
The post-consumer glass recycling initiative developed by Morley Glass in conjunction with Saint- Gobain Glass has been named a finalist in the ‘ Sustainable Ethical Manufacturer Award ’ category of the Made in Yorkshire 2024 Awards ( on 7th March 2024 ). This is an annual awards programme which highlights excellence in businesses based in Yorkshire and the Humber , with previous winners including Senior Aluminium Systems , Gripple and Swift Group . Ian Short , Managing Director of Morley Glass said , “ Yorkshire has such a rich heritage of manufacturing excellence and innovation , which is why it is particularly special to be recognised as one of the best .”
Morley Glass is based near Leeds , where it crushes end-of-life IGUs collected from installers into cullet , which is then used by Saint-Gobain Glass to manufacture new energy efficient glass at its Eggborough factory near Selby . Even the machinery developed to crush intact was created in the region by Hull-based Concept Engineering .
Revenue generated through the production of cullet is also used to benefit community initiatives seeking to deliver environmental and social benefits , the vast majority of which are also located in Yorkshire .
www . morleyglass . co . uk
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
FENSA UPS THE ANTE WITH SUPPORT FOR INSTALLERS IN DISARRAY
Most markets see their fair share of ups and downs and the home improvement industry is certainly no stranger to turbulence .
FENSA understands the impact these wider market changes can have on local installers and so has created a bank of support , including a complete guide on ‘ How to become a sole trader ’, to help these companies through this latest bout of instability .
“ The window and door industries are unfortunately feeling the impact of government uncertainty , rising inflation , and increased interest rates ,” explains Lis Clarke , Operations Director for FENSA , “ directly after a period of booming sales that were almost difficult to fulfil . The volatile nature of these changes makes it hard for businesses to keep up and as we have seen in the last couple of months , a couple of big names in the sector have been forced to close their doors as a result . One of which , industry giant Safestyle .
“ Whether or not installers have been directly affected by the closure of Safestyle or any other supplier to whom they subcontract , uncertainty can highlight the need for change . One of these changes may be to set up as a sole trader for more autonomy . But the thought of going solo and being your own boss can be daunting . That is why we have produced
a comprehensive guide to becoming a sole trader . The guide covers everything including the first steps to take to become a sole trader , employing people , how to manage your taxes , what the risks are , insurance considerations , and how to manage your finances .”
As well as the launch of the new guide , FENSA is also supporting installers with practical help such as dedicated staff to deal with all Safestyle insurance claims for Installsure and dedicated S75 reports produced by RISA for homeowners with a unique webpage for them to book in . The company has also made Mandatory Technical Competency ( MTC ) provisions for the installers that now need to update their details on an MTC card or certificate and has published a Frequently Asked Questions document on its own website , as well as the GGF and RISA sites for easy access .
Lis concludes : “ It is always hard when any company goes out of business , but of course the larger the organisation , the wider the impact . We want to reassure installers that they are not alone in dealing with the fallout of the Safestyle closure . Whether they need practical support , help with any additional admin involved , or simply some advice on how they can move forward , FENSA has the resources to help .”
www . fensa . o . rg