Clearview National March 2019 - Issue 208 | Page 21

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certification (hefty fines and in
some cases, custodial sentences).
Next, Insight Data and
Purplex’s Andy Scott led
the seminar on Using Data
Effectively, with the forum that
followed featuring heavily on
everyone’s favourite abbreviation
of the year; GDPR. The general
consensus being that while it was
really too early to tell of the full
impact it may have had on the
industry, most of us seem to be
handling it so far...
After his presentation, Andy
commented that: “It was good
to be involved with the Forum
and share my thoughts around
data. Some great topics tackling
UK skills shortage and ageing
workforce, potential materials
shortage in light of Brexit and the
latest thinking around building
regulations and energy ratings.
Well done to the organisers and
all those involved.”
Last and by no means least,
Gareth Jones, Managing Director
of Profine UK, injected some
light hearted humour as he
delivered a presentation on
industry issues including Skills/
Training, and the Potential
Materials Shortage. With a
predicted 25% of the industry set
to have retired or left the country
(for various reason) in the next
ten years, the natural question
is ‘how do we get people into
fenestration?’ If it is the case that
we rely too heavily on foreign
labour or that the industry is not
an attractive one to school leavers,
what can be done to change
that at a local or national level?
Apprenticeships, promotional
campaigns, and schemes such
as ‘Building our Skills’ were all
proffered as a response, but as
many of the speakers themselves
including that they never set
out to work in fenestration, it
seemed as though this part of
the discussion could have had a
whole day dedicated just to it.
In his closing speech Paul
Godwin summarised, “This was
a most worthwhile first event
for BFRC. The audience was
very passionate about a number
of the issues raised and future
events should allow more time
for greater expression for those
attending. I was delighted at how
proactive the audience was.”
After the event, Anda Gregory
concluded: “It was a very
enjoyable and productive day.
Thanks to all who braved the
weather and were involved in
making this such a fantastic,
interesting and well-attended
event.” Meanwhile, Lis Clarke
added, “The Fabricators’ Forum
provided a great opportunity for
the industry to come together
to debate the issues. Being
Europe’s number one energy
rating organisation for windows
and doors and being connected
with thousands of companies
throughout the glazing supply
chain, BFRC is well placed to
stage this kind of event.”
To find out more about BFRC
and energy ratings for windows
and doors please visit bfrc.org
manufacturing, installing,
or choosing windows and
doors, you need more than
unsubstantiated claims, you
need impartial proof that they
will perform as promised.
That’s why the BFRC was
founded: to provide scientific
and independent proof
of energy performance in
windows and doors. And it’s
why the BFRC is now the
UK’s most trusted rating
council, with the most widely
used rating system.
The BFRC rainbow rating
confirms products have been
independently verified by
experts in building physics
and have been assessed to
ensure the whole system
will perform as promised.
This gives installers and
homeowners the evidence
they need to make the right
choice for each home’s
window and door energy
performance requirements.
So, when manufacturing,
installing, or choosing
windows or doors, remember
that invisible performance
matters and one visible
verification can be truly
trusted to prove it.
Not everything in fenestration is black and white…
Clearview editor Gemma was at The Fabricators’ Forum 2019 and had this to say after the event:
“For me these events are so important in the industry, and while the planned presentations are the peg
for each topic, the discussions afterwards were even more interesting when it comes to what is really
going on in fenestration. For every challenge or issue that arose during this event, there was at least one
solution offered up during the forum afterwards. And, even though this event was pitched mostly for
fabricators, it was clear that stakeholders at every level have their own part to play in the industry, and
I’ll be very interested to see how they do. Sincere thanks to BFRC for organising and hosting the event,
and I’ll see you all at the next one.”
C L E A RV I E W-U K . C O M » M AR 2019 » 21