Careers & Qualifications in Fenestration

SPONSORED BY GQA AND BUILDING OUR SKILLS GQA Qualifications is the only issuer of CSCS cards for the Glass and Fenestration industries. Building Our Skills is a strategic campaign designed to help bridge the growing skills gap in the Fenestration Industry

NEW APPOINTMENTS MERCURY APPOINTS PAUL COWLEY AS SALES OFFICE AND LOGISTICS MANAGER

Specialist fabricator Mercury Glazing Supplies has appointed well-known industry face Paul Cowley as Sales Office and Logistics Manager. Steve Cross, Director at Mercury Glazing, said: “We are delighted to welcome Paul to Mercury. His knowledge, experience and professionalism are a great asset to Mercury and we have already witnessed the positive impact he has had on the business and the customer journey since he started in September.”

Paul, joins Mercury having spent 25-years working at the Customade Group. He added: “It’s great to be part of a dynamic, honest business and I’m looking forward to working with the talented Mercury team to achieve our plans for growth.” Paul’s appointment is the second in as many months for Mercury, which reflects the continuing success of its strategic growth strategy. It has also recently opened a second manufacturing unit in Gloucester to keep pace with demand for its products and made considerable investment in automation machinery. The company, which manufactures an extensive range of PVC-U and aluminium windows and doors direct to the trade and commercial markets, has doubled its turnover since lockdown and remains well on track to continue to meet its ambitions growth targets. Steve concluded: “We are more determined than ever to grow our business and we’re attracting high calibre individuals who will help us in our mission. These are exciting times for the business and I believe it bodes well for the resilience of the industry as a whole.” Tel: 01452 383 344 www.mercuryglazing.co.uk

VACANCY:

Processing / Quotation

Connaught Conservatory Roofs ltd, are a long established company specializing in roof fabrication based in South Yorkshire supplying bespoke Roofing and Lantern solutions to Architects, General builders, House builders, Roof replacement companies and the Double Glazing industry. We are one of the leading conservatory roof fabricators of the Ultraframe and Guardian roof systems in the UK. Due to ever increasing demand for our products we are looking to strengthen our team by recruiting a number of professional extra staff in the Processing/Quotation department. Ideally we are looking for candidates with a good knowledge of our industry with particular expertise in the production, estimating and processing of conservatory roofs.

The successful candidate will have:

Good level of product knowledge of

Conservatory Roof market.

Strong communication and computer skills.

Strong organisation skills and the ability to multi task and plan.

Good man-management skills and a continuous improvement mentality.

Apply in the first instance by Email to David Gallagher on david@connaughtconservatories.co.uk including an up to date CV.

NEW APPOINTMENTS A BIG ANNIVERSARY YEAR AT MILA

When it comes to anniversary years, they don’t come much bigger than 2020 for Mila. Not only is the company celebrating 40 years in the UK, a raft of key people from right across the business are celebrating milestone anniversaries as well.

For Technical Director Strafford Cooke, 2020 is his 30th anniversary, for Marketing Director Sarah Gyde, it’s her 20th anniversary and for Jennie James from Mila’s Sales Office team, it is her 10th anniversary. Unsurprisingly, Mila is a company which values its team, and works hard to engender a feeling of family and togetherness – even in these socially distanced days. As a result, a third of the staff have been with the business for more than a decade and 10 for more than 30 years. Managing Director Richard Gyde, himself a 39-year veteran, says that the reason why people stay at Mila is not because they are comfortable or complacent but because it’s an exciting and dynamic business where people have the opportunity to build exciting and rewarding careers. “We know that our team are our biggest asset, so we’ve created a culture where hard work and loyalty are rewarded. Right across the business, our team have accumulated vast amounts of knowledge and experience and of course that’s ultimately what makes Mila a great company to do business with.” Strafford Cooke, who spends much of his time providing technical support and advice to customers, as well as sitting on various industry committees representing the views and interests of the hardware sector, adds: “The Coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on corporate cultures like nothing before, and the way that everyone in Team Mila has responded and been supported throughout has confirmed to me exactly why I’m still here after 30 years. Mila cares about its staff and its customers and that really matters to me. I’m proud to have spent so much of my career here and I’m already excited about what we will all do next.” Similarly, Sarah Gyde comments: “Mila strives to be the best hardware business in the UK, and I think our marketing has always reflected that. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked hard to help build a brand with real integrity which promotes quality and service above all else. Certainly, we differentiate ourselves via our products but, more importantly, we differentiate ourselves via our team and I’m proud to be a part of it.” After 40 years, Mila is almost unrecognisable from the business set up by Ray Gyde in Daventry back in 1980, as the UK arm of the Mila operation founded in Denmark in 1971. Now part of Arran Isle Group, it has grown into a highly efficient global operation with an advanced supply chain manufacturing more than 70% of its own products and achieving line OTIF, even in the midst of a Pandemic, of around 90%. However, it still retains the ‘can do’ spirit which saw it go from two employees in 1980 to 60 by 1986 and double its turnover between 1986 and 1988 from £12m to £24m. Richard Gyde adds: “As everyone who was in the window industry in the 80s will remember, those were pretty crazy times and I’m not sure any of us would want to go there again. However, I’m incredibly proud of the fact that Mila is still a company which sets itself ambitious targets and is prepared to work incredibly hard to achieve them. We’ve grown and evolved over the years into a market leading business which is still setting the benchmark for others, and so much of that is down to the contribution of the many long-standing members of the team.” More info at: www.mila.co.uk.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

STERNFENSTER APPOINTS 30 NEW STAFF IN LESS THAN THREE-MONTHS

Sternfenster has appointed 30 new members to its manufacturing team in less than three months as part of a strategy to rapidly build capacity in response to the exponential growth in demand seen for windows and doors this summer.

Accompanied by continuing investment in plant and machinery, the new posts give the trade specialist immediate new flexibility within its operation, plus support its strategy for long term growth. Mike Parczuk, Managing Director, Sternfenster, “Our focus has been to invest and bring a high degree of automation to our manufacturing capability. This gives us the flexibility to switch-on increased capacity as we need it. “The limiting factor on that capacity is people. There are jobs that can’t be done without them – however, advanced your operation is. “With our team fully back from furlough in June, it became clear that we were going to need to recruit to meet demand, which we’ve been able to do successfully and importantly, inline with our plans for longer term growth.” This and its partnership with Deceuninck, Mike said, had meant that Sternfenster had in large, been able to maintain lead times on foiled products. Manufacturing Deceuninck’s 2500 Heritage chamfered and 2800 sculptured systems, plus it’s Heritage Flush Casement, these are available in 30 colour options, plus from Sternfenster, in a StyleLine Graf seamlesswelded finish. “I’m not going to tell you that we came through completely unscathed, because we were”, Mike continued, “but our profile supply chain for the most part held up and with the capacity gains that our recruitment strategy has given us, we were able to maintain supply on foils within what I believe were pretty reasonable time frames.” While building its headcount, Sternfenster has also continued to invest in machinery. This includes the a six-figure investment in a new Schirmer ALU BAZ Composite Orbit-C machining and cutting centre and a FOM Ever Theta Crimping Machine. “We’re investing in people but also machinery” Mike explained. “We don’t want to use them for cutting prepping, crimping because people – because they are people, and not machines – don’t give you the consistent product quality that we’re looking for. The Schirmer brings exceptional quality right to the start of our aluminium manufacturing process. The Ever Theta Crimper, which will come in later this autumn, gives us the same consistent quality, while further expanding our aluminium capacity. Sternfenster committed to a £3.6m investment in a dedicated aluminium manufacturing facility in 2017. With a 30,000 sq ft shop-floor footprint, plus 10,000 sq ft of office space, this includes its own powder coating line. This and its recruitment strategy, meant that it was also able to maintain lead times on its Smarts bi-fold and inline sliding door offers. “We don’t expect demand to stay where it is – but we do expect growth overall, to continue into next year, and we have a strategy in place for that, which includes investment in machinery but also people. “We remain a family owned and run business, and the people who work here define who we are. You can have the best machinery or products in the world but if you don’t underpin that with the right service, you aren’t going to get very far.” For more information visit www.sternfenster.com email sales@sternfenster.co.uk or call 01522 512525.

NEW APPOINTMENTS GROWTH PROMPTS A FURTHER NEW APPOINTMENT AT MERCURY

Specialist fabricator Mercury Glazing has announced a further new appointment to support its ambitious growth strategy. Kevin Edmond has joined the Gloucesterbased fabricator in the position of Order Processor.

Steve Cross, Director at Mercury, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kevin to Mercury. Kevin’s appointment further strengthens our internal sales processing team. He is well respected in the industry, and his extensive knowledge and experience will be of benefit to our growing customer base.” As Steve points out, Kevin is well-known in the industry having spent nine years working for the Customade Group and building a close relationship with many installers and builders throughout the UK. In his role, Kevin will be responsible for managing the internal ordering function for the business, including order input, customer services, liaising with the shop floor and following the customer journey through to dispatch. Commenting on his new role, Kevin said: “Mercury are a close-knit business which is very refreshing. Everyone from the Directors, the internal sales teams, factory staff, dispatch teams and drivers all work together and are all focussed on the goal of building this business. I have joined Mercury at a very exciting time in the business’ history and I’m delighted to be part of the team.” Kevin’s appointment is the third in as many months as Mercury look to gain further market share for their extensive range of quality PVC-U and aluminium products.

NEW APPOINTMENTS With business booming, record-breaking growth and the announcement of Avantek Machinery being named as an official UK distributor of world-class Graf Synergy window fabrication machinery, the Avantek team is delighted to announce two new customer-focused additions as Field Service Engineers.

Andy Weir joined the Avantek team in July and is already adding value to customers. Andy relocated from Scotland, where he’d worked for many years as an engineer with Window Supply Company, to start a new life in the Midlands with his partner. Andy has comprehensive knowledge across the Supercut, Urban and Wegoma machinery ranges.

Their growth strategy has seen the business double its turnover during 2020 and they have no intention of slowing down. Steve said: “While 2020 has not been without its challenges, we intended to push for growth as demand for our product range has increased year on year. We have already commissioned a new aluminium factory and made a considerable six-figure investment in additional automation machinery to allow us to scale up quickly. We have also attracted various high-profile appointments and our future is currently looking very bright. Kevin will be another great asset to the business and has already fitted in well with our 50-strong team.” Mercury was founded in 2002 and manufactures a comprehensive range of high-quality window and doors products suitable for trade, retail, newbuild and commercial projects. Their specialist range includes PVC-U vertical sliders, a full range of aluminium products, casement windows, PVC-U flush sash windows and a full range of residential, bi-folding, and designer aluminium doors. Kevin took up his position in September, 2020. Tel: 01452 383 344 www.mercuryglazing.co.uk “Andy didn’t waste any time jumping straight in. On his second day he joined the team to help install a Supercut at a customer’s factory,” comments Avantek Machinery Sales Director Jamie Munday. Michal Poletko joined the ‘A’ team on Monday 14 September and will be focusing on setting up customers with the market-leading Graf Synergy range as well as adding support to the whole team. Michael has extensive industry knowledge of PVCu fabrication machinery and years of experience in working with Graf Synergy’s cutting-edge machinery.

CAREERS SONIA TRAVIS PROMOTED TO HEAD OF COMMERCIAL SALES AT EPWIN WINDOW SYSTEMS

Sonia Travis has been announced as the new Head of Commercial Sales at Epwin Window Systems. Commenting on her new appointment, she said: “I am delighted to be taking up the post of Head of Commercial Sales. Epwin Window Systems is unique when it comes to supporting the commercial sector because we can provide a complete service including design, technical, product selection and compliance. I am incredibly proud to be leading a team that has such an outstanding offering.”

Clare O’Hara, Managing Director of Epwin Window Systems, said: “Sonia is an experienced member of the Epwin Window Systems team with an excellent track record in delivering over and beyond for our commercial customers. I know she will be an exceptional Head of Commercial Sales.” Sonia has been with Epwin Window Systems for seven years, most recently in the role of Specification Manager, which means she already has an in-depth understanding of Epwin Window Systems’ products and the commercial landscape. She commented: “Education in our industry

TWO MORE MEMBERS FOR THE ‘A TEAM’

is key because the landscape is constantly to eight, servicing customers all across the UK and Ireland. They join a team of experts including Supercut Technical Manager Dave Fox, Field Engineers Paul Brewer, Andy Clarke, Tony Cowlishaw and Mick Batley, and Service and Parts Co-ordinator Kieran Heywood. “The demand this year has been phenomenal, and it was essential for us to further invest in people to ensure that Avantek continues to provide the exceptional service and support that we are known for. I love it when a plan comes together!” comments Jamie. “To say that none of us knew what was likely to happen just a few short months ago when

changing. We’re fortunate to have a team of people here who are passionate about our systems and having up-to-date knowledge of contracts and building regulations. It means we are able to provide unrivalled technical and specification support that keeps us ahead of the game and delivering for our commercial customers.” She continued: “I’m looking forward to developing new relationships and expanding our network of approved manufacturers and installers so we can continue to deliver a high- quality endto-end service on even more commercial contracts.” With Spectus, Profile 22 and Stellar Aluminium Systems in its specification portfolio, Epwin Window Systems is a go-to name for the commercial sector. In appointing Sonia Travis to Head of Commercial Sales, it is appointing an experienced professional committed to cementing and expanding that reputation. Tel: 0845 340 3968 www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

the pandemic began, we feel incredibly privileged to be able to strengthen our team even further - something our parent company Quanex Building Products fully supports.” To see the full range offered by Avantek Machinery and to stay up to date with news and offers visit www.avantekmachinery.co.uk.