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iKBBI NEWS
CALLING ALL GOLFERS…
Supporting their official charitable partner, The Furniture Makers Company, the iKBBI is assembling a cracking team of keen golfers to represent the organisation at the iconic Belfry on the 3rd October.
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Full details to follow, but members are invited to contact Denise Mayell (denise. mayell@ikbbi.org.uk) if they’re interested in finding out more about the event. Team space is limited, so if you are interested, get in touch!
SUPPORT TO TRADING STANDARDS
In addition to providing support to The Furniture Ombudsman and their vital work with Alternative Dispute Resolution, iKBBI Chief Inspector Geoff Jackson confirmed that the iKBBI will be present at this years CTSI conference in Telford.
The conference attracts Trading Standards officers from across the country and the institute will be discussing ways it can support them in their tireless work protecting and representing consumers from rogue elements of our industry.
Chief Inspector Geoff Jackson said: “We have seen a positive demand for our inspection services in recent months from our members and other parties who have expressed an interest in the benefits that independent expertise can bring.”
Geoff went onto say: “We currently have 32 inspectors providing a national inspection service. Our field team carries out audits on prospective members, independent expert witness services for The Furniture Ombudsman and gives support to consumers who have installation issues and contact us directly. The service, like the institute itself, runs on a not-for-profit basis, meaning we can deliver expert inspection at cost-effective rates.”
The iKBBI will be expanding the service later this year, providing its Installation Standards Partners with a pay-as-you-go service to support their respective field management teams. Geoff said: “This additional service will assist our retail partners in a number of ways, to include holiday cover, support with priorities – including installer recruitment – as well as risk management and independent auditing.”
EXPERT PANEL AT GRAND DESIGNS LIVE
The iKBBI confirmed this week that its CEO Damian Walters is attending Grand Designs Live at The ExCeL London between the 30th April and 1st May as part of the exhibitions expert panel.
The show, hosted by TV personality Kevin McCloud, attracts tens of thousands of consumers, designers, architects,
suppliers and retailers and the iKBBI’s attendance is being used as another way for the institute to raise consumer awareness of the organisation, it’s members and its Retail Installation Standards Partners.
Visitors have the opportunity to prebook appointments with a host of panel experts, covering a wide variety of subjects including KBB installation.
To book your tickets, visit the Grand Designs Live website http://www. granddesignslive.com - The exhibition runs from the 30th May to the 8th May
NEW iACADEMY TO LAUNCH
As one of its core pillars, the iKBBI have further committed to education and development this week by announcing that it will be launching iAcademy in the summer.
The iAcademy will deliver Continual Personal Development (CPD) opportunities to its members via a carefully developed set of training packages. These packages will include online training, as well as local, regional and national learning, covering a wide range of subjects including health & safety, business administration, marketing and product installation. The new service will be available via the member’s online hub and will work with strategic partners including The Bathroom Manufacturers Association and it's own academy.
THE iKBBI COMMITS TO THE FURNITURE MAKERS COMPANY, THE FURNISHING INDUSTRY’S CHARITY
The iKBBI has announced that it is supporting The Furniture Makers Company as a Corporate Member, joining brands including iKBBI Installation Partners B&Q and John Lewis, as well as sponsors Blum.
Formed as a guild in 1952, established as a livery company of the City of London in 1963, and granted a Royal Charter in 2013, the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers strategically supports three key areas within the furniture industry namely; Education, Excellence and Assistance.
The Company is also proud to support our armed forces by being affiliated with 2nd Battalion, The Rifles. Their historical ties with the forces date back to 1989 when the Bond of Association was made between the Company and The Royal Green Jackets, who in 2007 became a part of the new regiment – The Rifles. iKBBI CEO Damian Walters, who attended the admissions ceremony in central London earlier this month on behalf of the organisation, said: “We have already been supporting the charity with several initiatives and so we are pleased to make the Company our official charity moving forward." The Furniture Makers Company’s core pillars are not too dissimilar to those of the Institute. Its commitments to education, especially with their tireless efforts working on educational programmes for schoolchildren and students, as well as their sterling work on recognising quality standards complement those of the iKBBI.
The iKBBI and The Furniture Makers Company will work together, along with other key parties, to develop a nationally available apprenticeship for kitchen, bedroom and bathroom installation and Continued Personal Development opportunities for time-served installers.
