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Pioneer Backed By The Ultimate Seal Of Approval: Trading Standards
Consumers can now buy Pioneer’s services with confidence, after the Chelmsford-based Synseal fabricator has been accepted on to an approved trader scheme run locally by Essex County Council.
The local government-run ‘Buy With Confidence’ website is an approved trader scheme set up to provide consumers with a list of reputable local businesses committed to high standards of trading.
Trading Standards Officers vet businesses for trustworthiness and to make sure they comply with consumer protection laws. Only traders that pass stringent checks are accepted on to the scheme and are able to display the Buy With Confidence logo.
Approved businesses will be constantly monitored by Trading Standards to ensure their standards remain high and customers will be invited to give feedback. If member companies fall below acceptable standards, they may be expelled from the scheme.
“There’s been a lot of talk in the trade press recently about protecting consumers against…
9
Anglian Conquers Everest!
Anglian Home Improvements are proud to announce they have officially conquered Everest! Experienced mountain climber, Ian Ridley, received sponsorship from Anglian Home Improvements in order to fulfil a life time ambition to climb the world’s highest mountain.
Sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements and raising money for the Intensive Care Society which aims to advance and promote the care of critically ill patients, Ian chose to go from the least popular side of the North reach following in the footsteps of Mallory and Irving.
Unfortunately, Ian’s dream of personally making it to the top of Everest came to an end when at camp 3, commonly referred to as ‘the death zone’, he was forced to abort the final stages of the climb suffering the effects of altitude sickness and latterly discovering he had contracted Hepatitis E from contaminated water.
A member of the climbing team took Ian’s Anglian Home Improvements flag…
8
Synseal Launches Online Wind Loading Calculator
Designed for Architects, Synseal’s Formulus Wind Load Calculator has gone live on the Synseal web site. Primarily designed to be used by architects and other professional specifiers.
Formulus is available free of charge to anyone wishing to make such calculations to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.
The Formulus Calculator has been designed to be very simple to use, removing the need for complex mathematical modelling and will produce accurate results quickly, with printable results that may be included in reports, attached to drawings etc.
Just choose the preferred window style from a pre-determined list, enter a maximum of three dimensions, the approximate distance of the project from the coast, the approximate location on a map and the height/width of the proposed building. Press the calculate button on screen and Formulus will advise the required re-enforcement for the design.
Jim Clark, Synseal’s Commercial Manager, said “This is another step…
5
GGF’s Gulf Influence Knows No Limit
The GGF held its Gulf regional conference at Limitless’s Dubai office recently.
Thirty-five consultants, architects, designers, and other key figures from across the regional, gathered together at Limitless’s purpose-built, in-house auditorium for the event.
Limitless is a global integrated real estate master developer specialising in large scale, balanced mixed-use communities, and waterfront developments. The firm also drives innovation in urban design, architecture and engineering.
Abdulla Al Janahi, executive director, Limitless Corporate Operations, said: “We are delighted to welcome the GGF to our premises – a new, value-for-money venue for conferences and events in the UAE.
“Catering in particular for small to medium-sized gatherings, our facilities offer state-of-the-art equipment and onsite catering and car parking – everything a hotel can offer but on a smaller, affordable scale.”
It is the first time an external organisation has used the soundproofed theatre, which has 43 seats and in-built state of the art audio…
4
HM Government Window Scrappage Scheme
I am sure most of you are aware that there has been a push to get people to sign the petition on the Number 10 website.
The petition is now closed and the government have responded with this:
The Government agrees that energy efficiency has an important part to play if we are to achieve our carbon reduction targets. The benefits of energy efficiency for households are clear: saving money on energy bills, reducing reliance on imported energy and helping householders reduce their carbon emissions.
However given the high cost of replacement windows (typically £5,000 to £10,000 for a small home), the marginal improvement in performance, particularly when replacing like-for-like double glazed windows; and given that band C windows will be the minimum standard permitted by building regulations from October 2010, a window scrappage scheme is unlikely to be cost effective on energy efficiency and carbon savings grounds.
We believe everyone should have the…
3
Thieves Steal Lead From Conservatory In West Park
Thieves have stolen lead flashing from the roof of Wolverhampton’s historic West Park conservatory.
The repair bill at the Grade II-listed building will cost in the region of £7,000.
The conservatory is currently closed to the public while it undergoes a £50,000 programme for essential repairs and external repainting and is due to reopen later this month.
Steve Wright, Wolverhampton City Council’s head of parks, said: “This theft is appalling.”
“These thieves are not only risking their own lives and spoiling the park for other residents but costing each one of us because it will be the taxpayer who will have to foot the bill.”
The city council and West Midlands Police are working together to monitor the park and its surrounding area.
Mr Wright added: “I would urge residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or behaviour to us or the police.”
The thieves are believed…
22
GGF Gains Sympathetic Voice in Parliament
During a recent parliamentary debate on the progress and prospects for energy efficiency a number of the key issues of the Glass & Glazing Federation were raised by Luciana Berger MP.
The focus of the debate was on the funding available to homes for energy efficiency measures under the Green Deal. Ms Berger began by stating that she was pleased to have the opportunity to join a debate on an issue as important as energy efficiency, and that she was glad that further detail had been given in view of the vagueness of the announcements in the recent Emergency Budget, although she highlighted that today’s debate had raised as many further questions as it had answered.
Ms Berger then pointed out that although energy efficiency measures such as loft insulation had been discussed at length, the benefits of EEWs had not been discussed. She advised the House of the Energy…
20
GGF Attends Breakfast Meeting With Boris Johnson
The GGF Chief Executive, Nigel Rees, attended a Breakfast Briefing with the London Mayor, Boris Johnson in July as part of a campaign by the mayor to deliver his plans and vision for London, with strategies for transport and economic development in the long term high on his agenda.
Nigel Rees attended with other business leaders in the hope of gleaning information about how budgetary cuts may affect the building and refurbishment of homes for Londoners, a major commitment by Boris Johnson made in his ‘London Housing Strategy’ document, published in February this year.
“He was very entertaining and not what you would normally expect” said Nigel Rees. “That aside though, he was able to convey a level of control and direction that was well received. He appreciated the need to ensure that London uses its energy efficiently not only with new build but also with its existing housing stock”.…
