With the glass and glazing industry seemingly careering from one challenge to the next over the last year and a half , Glazing Summit 2021 , which takes place on 21st October at Edgbaston Stadium , Birmingham , cannot come soon enough . Here , Andrew Scott , the Summit ’ s founder and CEO of organisers Insight Data and Purplex Marketing , discusses why attending the one-day conference is vital for businesses – and how we can help shape the industry ’ s future together .

After 35 years in the glass and glazing industry , I thought I ’ d seen it all . Nothing comes close , however , to what it has faced in the last 18 months with Brexit , the pandemic , supplier and material issues , and labour shortages .

While some companies report record sales , it ’ s clear that operations and margins have suffered , and it ’ s taken its toll on management teams and staff .

With things starting to ( very ) slowly getting back to normal , where will the industry go next , and what does it mean for your business and your customers ?

I launched the Glazing Summit in 2018 to provide a space for business owners and directors from companies across all sectors of the industry to come together to discuss the major issues affecting them . And after the last 18 months , this space has become more important than ever .

The issues that matter

With everything that has happened , setting an agenda for a Summit such as this should be easy ; it ’ s been anything but . With so many areas to discuss and debate , fitting everything in has been nigh on impossible , but we think we have managed it .

Our line-up of industry experts and keynote speakers will take part in a series of dynamic debates , including how the supply chain is addressing product shortages and skyrocketing prices ; how installers are tackling key issues from materials and labour shortages to digital transformation and online sales ; concerns

around recycling , sustainability and big changes to energy ratings and building regs ; upcoming threats and opportunities , such as the Future Homes Standard 2025 and the drive towards Net Zero Carbon ; and industry consolidation .

Renowned economist and financial expert Greg Perdon will discuss the outlook for the housing , construction , and home improvement markets and , as always , Insight Data will deliver it ’ s ‘ State of the Industry ’ Report analysing the impact of the last 18 months , what it means for the industry and the current trends .

I believe our industry has an exciting future and there will never be greater opportunities than in the years ahead .

Your opportunity

With almost 18 months of being stuck behind a computer or the phone , connecting with industry peers is something we have all missed ; and it ’ s vital for your brand and your business .

With around 300 leading fabricators , installers , glass companies , distributors and material suppliers set to come together for the day , the opportunity is there to connect with potential customers and key players .

There are plenty of networking opportunities available through the day , while the popular Glazing Summit Dinner takes place in the evening , with 150 of the industry ’ s finest getting together for a fantastic evening .

Those in attendance can ask questions during each debate , discuss solutions , share their ideas , and discuss how the industry moves forward .

Safety first

Live events have been missed , particularly in our industry , and the feedback we ’ ve had from those booked to attend shows that people want to get back to in-person events .

I can understand why there are concerns around very large events with people milling around , such as exhibitions , while smaller , well-managed events such as conferences with dedicated seating and spacious venues , are booking up fast .

We want everyone attending to be able to feel safe throughout the day which is why we will be using a much bigger , well-ventilated space than before , with restrictions on table numbers .

The future of the industry is in our hands – let ’ s come together and help shape it .

For tickets visit www . glazingsummit . co . uk , call 01934 808293 or email hello @ glazingsummit . co . uk