SECTOR INSIGHT
AND SQUIRE ’ S STRONGHOLD SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO … ALDRIDGE
» SQUIRE PRESENTED ITS ‘ Stronghold Supplier of the Year Award 2023 ’ to Aldridge Security at MLA Expo 2023 . It was the culmination of a year-long celebration marking 25 years of its premium range Stronghold ® brand , the very best in British made , heavy-duty , extra high security padlocks .
Stronghold ® is universally recognised as Squire ’ s most trusted maximum-security brand , unrivalled in strength and durability , and a symbol of Squire ’ s 240-year heritage .
Introduced in 1998 by the Squire product development team , the first Stronghold ® padlock was launched as a trailblazer for setting vital new European CEN standards in the security industry .
CEO John Squire said : “ Back in the late ‘ 80s , before Stronghold , it was acknowledged that the market needed more regulated control over misleading and unfounded claims of a padlock ’ s strength . The then new CEN standards for padlocks were designed to rule out confusing misconceptions about the strengths , and weaknesses , of padlocks .”
Since then , the Stronghold ® range has evolved extensively to solid hardened steel lock body , electrophoretic anticorrosion finish , hardened boron alloy steel shackle , anti-drill protection and high corrosion resistance for harsh environments .
www . squirelocks . co . uk
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
Karen Nelson honoured with prestigious Fellowship Award
» KAREN NELSON , BUSINESS development manager at HOPPE ( UK ), has been awarded the Fellowship Award at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers ( GAI ) Community Awards .
The Fellowship Award is given to an individual who has shown a longstanding and ongoing commitment to the Guild . Karen , who has worked at HOPPE ( UK ) for more than eight years , was recognised for her role as chair of the Midlands Community Hub and contribution to the GAI education committee .
Karen said : “ My involvement in both the Midlands Community Hub and the education committee has always been driven by my belief in the importance of the Guild ’ s education and CPD programme . I know this is a sentiment shared by many of my industry peers . There aren ’ t many sectors like ours and I ’ m honoured to be a part of it .”
After completing her original GAI Diploma in 2008 , Karen has recently attained a second GAI Diploma in door systems . For more than 10 years ,
Karen has also organised a Midlands Community Hub Christmas charity quiz , raising more than £ 7,000 for various charities .
www . gai . org . uk
DECEMBER 2023
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