British Gypsum Supplement - Professional Builders Merchant November 2022

British Gypsum: Building Bet ter Results

Since introducing drylining to the UK market in 1917, British Gypsum has provided its partner construction customers with industry-leading plastering and high performing drylining systems and products for multiple applications in residential and commercial buildings across the UK, helping to make the built environment better.

British Gypsum is committed to providing innovative solutions that deliver both sustainability and performance, by combining its remarkable technical know how with a pioneering perspective that helps to transform the built environment. With a product portfolio that ranges from Thistle® and ThistlePro® plasters for a high quality finish, to acoustic ceiling systems with Class B sound absorption, Gyproc® plasterboard and jointing products for finishing wall linings to Gypframe metal stud products and British Gypsum fixings, there’s a solution for ever y need

To help customers find the best possible solution for their clients and enable them to build better, British Gypsum provides

dedicated technical support, advice and help via its website, White B ook and team of Technical Support C onsultants

E ach year, it supports future generations of dr ylining and plastering professionals with more than 20,000 hours of technical support and 5,000 hours of training through its purpose built training academies British Gypsum’s Technical Support C onsultants offer bespoke AutoCAD and digital construction details, as well as on site support with construction detailing and installation advice. In addition to this, it also works in partnership with 75 colleges around the United Kingdom through its Thistle Partnership training programme.

In terms of sustainability, British Gypsum has s et out a roadmap to achie ving net zero carb on by 2050 It is als o up dating its deliver y f leet to us e more multi fuelled vehicles (HVO/LNG) at a s cale w hich is exp ec ted to reduce annual C O2 emissions by circa 70% year on year, ref lec ting its commitment to signif icantly reducing the impac t of its op erations on the environment.

Through Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and subsequent Environmental Product Declarations, customers are supplied with all the necessar y information to help them make sustainable choices when specif ying products for their builds Independently verified by a third party, these reports

present a product’s environmental profile and additional product information, as well as providing the details of how the results are calculated

Customers can us e the LCA rep or ts to help them e valuate and optimis e a building’s overall environmental p erformance, and for building cer tif ication Most building industr y environmental lab els, including BREEAM and LEED, grant credits if the prime contrac tor provides LCA results for the pro duc ts us ed in a building.

Ste epe d in heritage Gypsum is the vital raw material at the ver y heart of its plaster, and as custodians of the British g ypsum reser ves, British Gypsum has mined, milled and made innovative plaster products in Great Britain for more than 150 years

Helping to build better British Gypsum’s high performance dr ylining solutions consist of high quality systems and finishes designed specifically to work together to give spaces enhanced sound protection, better indoor air quality, more durability, assured fire protection, defence against external elements, and improved fixability with the best plaster finish.

L eaving a legac y

By working together with its construction partners to pioneer innovative solutions,

British Gypsum is creating a positive legac y, building great spaces to work, rest and play, which ensure better built environments, better homes, better places to work, and ultimately, better lives which is why it is committed to creating a positive impact for people and the planet

Building for the next generation Leading the way by sharing its collective know how and innovative products with partner construction customers, British Gypsum collaborates to make positive contributions to the communities that surround their sites As a company, it partners with more than 75 colleges across the UK to support future generations of

dr ylining and plastering professionals

British Gypsum’s Site Ready Skimming C ourse has been designed to upskill the employees of its partner construction customers, as well as continuing to invest in its network of UK training academies

“British Gypsum has been at the forefront of plastering and high per forming dr ylining solutions for more than a centur y. ”

50% faster setting time than standard skim finish plaster

British Gypsum’s new high-performance skim finish, ThistlePro® FastSet Finish, is set to improve productivity and efficiency on site.

With a 50% faster setting time, ThistlePro FastSet Finish delivers an all in one bag solution that has been tried and tested to ensure that it performs to the high standards expected from British Gypsum It also removes the need for additives and hacks that reduce product performance and void warranties, helping plasterers achieve faster setting times with a consistent finish.

Listening to our customers

Commenting on the new product, Paul Cassidy, Product Portfolio Development Director at Saint Gobain Interior Solutions, a new collective of the British Gypsum, Celotex and Isover brands, said: “Following feedback from a sur vey we carried out last year, it became clear that more of our customers would prefer to work with a finishing plaster that has a faster setting time, with many of them already using something similar several times a week.

“As a result of this, we are pleased to have launched ThistlePro FastSet Finish, the first skim finishing product on the market with a setting time of 60 minutes The latest product will not only provide our customers with an option that has been designed to allow installers to work more efficiently, but

peace of mind that the product guarantee will remain valid ”

A major hit

The new rapid setting plaster has already proven to be a major hit with tradespeople across the UK, with dozens of plasterers taking to social media to sing its praises The sentiments were echoed by merchants themselves, with feedback such as: “Branches that have taken stock are (saying) their customers love the product it’s an easy sell to customers”.

While in many instances the product is being used for patching and repairs, merchants have also reported numerous examples of ThistlePro FastSet Finish being employed on other jobs where there is a tight schedule

ThistlePro FastSet Finish typically sets in half the time of standard skim finish plaster, with no compromise on performance This enables more rapid completion of projects, maximising customer satisfaction and allowing plasterers to move on to their next project sooner

The ThistlePro range

The ThistlePro range also features ThistlePro® PureFinish, ThistlePro®

“ThistlePro FastSet Finish typically sets in half the time of standard skim finish plaster, with no compromise on per formance. This enables more rapid completion of projects, maximising customer satisfaction and allowing plasterers to move on to their next project sooner. ”

DuraFinish and ThistlePro® Magnetic This range of high performance plasters uses the most advanced technolog y, making it the most hard working range of finish coat plasters on the market

Designed to offer more choice when it comes to plaster, our ThistlePro® finish coat performance plasters provide an opportunity to add an extra dimension to plastering, giving either the plasterer or end user extra benefits compared to standard plaster such as better indoor air quality by absorbing one of the most common airborne pollutants, a more durable finish that is 60% tougher than standard skim finish, or the ability to create an interactive space with magnetic plaster.

n For more information on British Gypsum’s ThistlePro range, visit british gypsum com/plaster

QHow did you get into the industr y and to your current position?

AI’m Portfolio Development Director at Saint Gobain Interior Solutions, working with the British Gypsum, Celotex and Isover brands. I’ve been in the role since 2020 but have worked for the company for almost 10 years I previously worked in other marketing and product roles in manufacturing and distribution, but my passion has always been to understand customer needs and develop propositions to match their requirements.’

Prior to entering the construction products sector, I worked in the paper, adhesive and sealant industries and have been responsible for leading teams, growing portfolios and customer insight development to propositions for those companies

QWhat are your day to day responsibilities?

AOne of my key objectives is to ensure that the British Gypsum portfolio delivers the best solutions for specific industr y requirements and brings additional value to our customers I’m responsible for British Gypsum's entire product portfolio strateg y, including all system specification and individual products within the range

This involves conducting market analysis, forecasts and gaining customer insight to deliver a long term plan of product portfolio evolution that will meet industr y and customer needs.

QHow are you responding to customer feedback?

ACustomer feedback is crucial to the success of this role As a business we ’ re constantly innovating and looking for ways to make life easier for installers while also enhancing end user benefits

We’ve brought several products to market or increased our range based on our market research and customer forums

A recent example of this is ThistlePro® FastSet Finish, a premium plaster that typically sets in half the time of standard skim finish plaster, with no compromise on performance We found that people were mixing plaster with other materials to get a faster curing time, but this impacted on performance, so we created a product to help

QWhat are you most proud of ?

AIn 2021 we undertook an in depth review of how we approach marketing and data integrity when it comes to product and specification performance data. Along with several other measures, the website was updated to automatically ser ve EN standards as priority over BS standards, through the White Book Specification Selector tool

Testing to EN provides a far more rigorous set of requirements designed to help people specify and install products and

systems that perform as needed However, we will continue to offer support for specifications to BS standards while they remain an acceptable route to compliance

I’m proud to work for a business that takes its position as market leader seriously and understands that it has a responsibility to do the right thing, especially when it comes to safety and wellbeing

QWhat are your focuses for the next 12 18 months?

A

Testing is a key area for us We’re proud to have an independent, UKAS accredited Building Test Centre on our East Leake site, which means we can do more extensive testing than many of our competitors and even test product prototypes for R&D because we don’t have to send them off to an external lab

The centre is fully independent, meaning British Gypsum staff are not allowed on site, which among many other measures ensures the integrity of our testing process is protected

The team is looking at the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) impact of our products to understand better how they impact their environment. We have a product called ThistlePro® PureFinish which is proven to remove formaldehyde from indoor air for up to 50 years and we ’ re testing the positive impact that this could have for people with asthma and allergies, as well as other VOCs that it may be effective against

Another vital area of focus is fire safety Due to the renewed importance of the fire rating of building products we are constantly reviewing how our products perform, both on an individual basis and when specified as part of a system with different variables, so we can equip customers with the knowledge to keep occupants as safe as possible

To maintain its status as an industr y leading testing facility, upgrades have been commissioned for the Building Test Centre which will double the testing capacity and allow us to provide even more critical fire safety data across our product ranges.

“As a business we ’ re constantly innovating and looking for ways to make life easier for installers while also enhancing end user benefits. We’ve brought several products to market or increased our range based on our market research and customer forums.”

Paul Cassidy, Portfolio Development Director at Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions, reflects upon his role and discusses the latest market developments and the products to solve current industry needs.

Skills remain a priority amid market challenges

Earlier this year, the Construction Leadership Council warned that recruitment, retention and related wage inflation “ may supplant product availability issues in 2023 among the key risks facing the industr y ” Alarmingly, it also found clear evidence that some smaller building companies have already become reluctant to take on new projects as they cannot access the skilled tradespeople necessar y to complete them.

Following extensive discussions with key industr y bodies and feedback from UK federations and sub contractors regarding the difficulty of recruiting competent plasterers, we knew that more needed to be done to support new entrants to the industr y. So, we launched the Site Ready Skimming Course in 2021, which has already proved an excellent springboard for aspiring tradespeople.

The main aim of the course is to prepare college leavers for the working world and provide the missing link between finishing college and becoming site ready By working closely with our college partners around the UK, we can help to level up students’ skills with the experience, confidence and

professionalism needed to make an immediate impact on site

In addition to this, The Site Ready Skimming Course helps our partner construction customers to retain and develop the skills of existing employees by teaching their drylining tapers, plastering labourers, general labourers, or employees with basic trowel skills, how to skim plasterboard on site

The course is focused on training students to the highest standard in a timely fashion in response to the urgent need for more skilled workers We aim to not just develop their physical trade skills, but also their confidence, professionalism and ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

All participants undertake a comprehensive final assessment to test all the skills they have developed over the six week period, and demonstrate they are able to produce a volume of finished work in one day.

To help support their ongoing professional development, participants will be connected with members of the British Gypsum training team upon completion of the course, should they need any additional support or encounter any issues once on site They will also receive a complete new set of tools

enabling them to begin work immediately.

By supporting individuals, we are also supporting contracting businesses in the commercial and residential sectors in sourcing skilled employees who are ready and willing to work We are proud to say that almost 60% of people who have completed the course have now gone on to work in the industry.

One example of how the course has supported sub contractors is in its endorsement by Taylor Hart. Managing Director Phil Lewis attended one of our academies and was so impressed that he offered two members of the cohort trial employment Both recruits are now actively working in the industr y, putting ever ything they learnt on the course to good use

With the acceleration of interest rate rises and forecasts that the UK economy is heading for a difficult 12 18 months, the skills shortage is just one of the issues facing the UK construction industr y at the moment However, the sector has already demonstrated significant resilience to market challenges, and we remain dedicated to doing ever ything in our power to help retain skilled workers and encourage more people to take up jobs within the sector.

Sam Blacknell, Head of Skills Partnerships at British Gypsum, discusses why the skills gap remains one of the biggest issues facing the sector and how the manufacturer is supporting new entrants to the industry.

Supporting merchants

British Gypsum explains how it helps merchants maximise their selling potential.

Using a good quality plaster product is key to enhancing the professional finish of projects Whilst some alternative finishing methods have become more widely used in recent years, many would still argue that plaster is the original and best method for smooth walls.

Manufacturers like British Gypsum continue to innovate and bring new, premium products to market which aim to solve common industry needs, such as speed of application, durability and improved indoor air quality. is means that merchants can offer extra value to customers by considering how the different plaster products available might match with their needs

Being able to communicate the features and benefits of high performance plaster products is key to selling effectively, as well as providing training for trade customers to give them added value, drive footfall and help them to promote the product to the end user

For example, time is usually of the essence during building projects and other tasks must be completed aer plastering erefore being able to recommend a plaster product which can reduce the time spent on a job and allow plasterers to move onto their next projects sooner whilst also ensuring client satisfaction with a smooth,

professional finish would be highly valued by customers

Enter istlePro® FastSet Finish: a high performance skim finish plaster, ideal for a wide range of repairs and use on smaller internal walls and ceilings due to its fast setting attributes. What’s more, istlePro FastSet Finish typically sets in half the time of standard skim finish plaster, with no compromise on performance.

A complete, all in one bagged product, it also negates the need for plasterers to use additives or other methods to speed up setting times a practice which can impact on overall plaster performance and potentially void the product guarantee

Following its launch, merchants have highlighted how popular it has been with customers, commenting that “branches that have taken stock are (saying) their customers love the product it’s an easy sell”

While in many instances the product is being used for patching and repairs, merchants have also reported numerous examples of istlePro FastSet Finish being employed on other jobs where there is a tight schedule

To support the launch of ThistlePro FastS et Finish, British Gypsum worked with a number of builders’ merchants to make them aware of the new product offering. It

created bespoke pallet wraps for use in store whilst alongside this, ThistlePro FastS et Finish was showcased at a number of industr y events and exhibitions including the National Merchant Buying S ociety exhibition and the Travis Perkins Virtual Exhibition. British Gypsum also created a variety of free literature available for merchants to hand out to customers and use in store.

In addition, British Gypsum offers merchants the chance to attend its istlePro Finish Coat Performance Plasters training course is practical one day course allows merchants to learn how to apply the range of istlePro finish coat performance plasters Relating to plastering across all industr y sectors, the course provides a great opportunity to not only improve knowledge, skill and professional experience but also give merchants a better ser vice for customers, which will make them stand out amongst others within the industr y and lead to more sales for the merchant

British Gypsum’s istlePro range helps merchants stand out from the crowd, by offering their own customers a choice and chance to earn more and retain loyalty And for merchants interested in solving a wide range of customer needs, the other products in the range include istlePro® PureFinish, istlePro® DuraFinish and istlePro® Magnetic, which are designed to provide better indoor air quality, a 60% more durable finish and the option of creating interactive spaces with a magnetic finish.

“Being able to communicate the features and benefits of high per formance plaster products is key to selling effectively, as well as providing training for trade customers to give them added value, drive footfall and help them to promote the product to the end user. ”

n For more information on British Gypsum’s ThistlePro range, visit british gypsum com/plaster