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PRO NEWS
NOVEMBER 2016 PRO INSTALLER
www . proinstaller . co . uk
ISSUE 44 November 2016
If you would like to find out more about the PRO Installer :
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Tel : 01226 321 450
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Email : steve @ cvgroup . co . uk
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Continued from the front page
In addition to the launch of Optima , a range of new ancillaries has been launched for Spectus with new flush tilt and turn windows being introduced under Spectus and Profile 22 . Swish and Spectus customers are now using new marketing portals through which they may order support materials and services . PatioMaster has benefitted from an extended range of colours with products now improved through the use of new profiles introduced for Optima . Investment will continue at a pace , confirmed Clare , with each brand benefitting from new products , marketing support and infrastructure .
‘ SLEEPING GIANT ’ Clare said the business had been through an ‘ interesting time ’ since she joined . She explained : “ We were something of a sleeping giant in some areas but we are changing as a business and have a product to offer to everyone . “ When I first joined the challenge was to convince the industry and my customers that we were dedicated to all these brands – and I can say we are completely committed to these systems . Eighteen months on it has been an absolute pleasure . I have inherited a fantastic team and strengthened that team . “ When I joined the business , it had very solid brands and a loyal customer base . I was visiting customers in the first week and one thing that came out was that loyalty to us and our brands . We have a passionate team and a lot of people that have been here for a long time . The technical expertise here is second to none . Martin ( Althorpe ) heads that team . Andy Bevan the operations director is also really well respected . “ We did need to invest in some of our people . We have now made some key appointments and have trainees on the sales side and a new marketing director . We ’ re seeing an increase in foil sales and the extrusion lines that we have put in are the ‘ Rolls Royce ’ of the industry . We didn ’ t scrimp on anything but are investing in the future with better consistency and water filtration so we ’ re not worried about water contamination .”
BLEAK NEW YEAR WARNING
The slowdown in new contract awards in the run up to and aftermath of the EU referendum means that there could be a slow start to 2017 for the UK construction industry . In the three months after the UK voted to leave the European Union , the value of new construction orders dropped 18 per cent compared to the previous three months and by 33 per cent year-on-year , according to data collated by The Builders ’ Conference . And , says Builders ’ Conference chief executive Neil Edwards , this indicates trouble ahead .
“ At the end of 2015 , the rolling year total of new contract awards on the BCLive league table sat at an unprecedented £ 56bn . Today , it sits just below £ 45bn , a fall of more than 20 per cent and a stark indicator of the uncertainty of an industry that is now in serious danger of saving up a problem for the New Year ,” he said . “ Tenders submitted in the third quarter of 2016 are down 31 per cent by number and 45 per cent by value compared to the previous quarter . Worse still , this represents a fall of 37 per cent in tender value in comparison to the same period last year , and an alarming 62 per cent in value on Q3 of 2015 ,” he continued . “ On the basis that it generally takes around 22 weeks to move from tender to putting a shovel in the ground , January and February 2017 currently look very bleak indeed . While there is likely to be some adjustment in these figures during the next few months , the downward trend is clear to see .” He added : “ Those companies that are currently busy find themselves in that envious position largely because of the work secured at the beginning of the year when
The business has also introduced an extra six vehicles and now has 26 vehicles covering the UK and taking in 1.2 million miles a year , with the aim being to offer more deliveries to customers . As well as investing in product , there is more investment in marketing . Clare added : “ We are looking at installer sales and there will be a lot more marketing support for those customers along with new products coming out next year .”
www . epwin . co . uk
all the indicators were positive . If that positivity is to be restored , Theresa May and her minions will need to deliver a clear strategy on long-awaited projects such as HS2 and London ’ s new runway whilst delivering some clarity on what a post-Brexit country will look like . Hopefully , that reassurance will come as part of the chancellor ’ s autumn statement . If it doesn ’ t , the New Year is not looking very happy at all .”
www . buildersconference . co . uk
Source : www . theconstructionindex . co . uk
Shifting to online technical advice
The VEKA UK Group is celebrating the resounding success of its new website , a little over a year since it first went live . Designed to reflect VEKA ’ s position as one of the main suppliers
‘ there ’ s no substitute for talking one-toone with an expert ’ of PVCu window systems – in the UK , Europe and worldwide – the site presents information in an easily navigable , user-friendly format . Simon James , head of marketing for The VEKA UK Group said : “ The website is a crucial way for us to engage with both trade and consumer markets , and the statistics we have seen over the past year demonstrate how well it has fulfilled both those functions .
“ We have noticed a sizeable shift in installers and fabricators using the website to access information , where previously they might have called our technical helpline . Of course , there ’ s no substitute for talking one-to-one with an expert and we ’ re always happy to help and advise , but we have found that the majority of phone queries we used to receive are now being resolved online .”
www . vekauk . com