8 • INDUSTRYNEWS
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APECS EXPANSION
TO SUPPORT THE
LOCKSMITHS MARKET
» » APECS HAS
established itself as a pioneer
and a trustworthy partner in
the lock industry over the last
25 years. We are a family-run
business and values close-
knit relations with associates
and customers all over
the world, while operating
from five sites in London,
Beijing, Ljubljana, Kharkov,
and Moscow. We employ
over 600 staff across three
continents.
With the appointment
of Phil Rice as National
Sales Manager of APECS
our expansion in the UK
continues. Phil brings more
than 10 years’ experience
of both electronic and
mechanical products in both
residential and commercial
markets to the business.
Nik Goncharov, APECS
Managing Director
commented: “It’s great to
bring Phil onboard at such
an exciting time for Apecs.
With the imminent launch
of our AP 3* cylinder and
over 10 new product lines
his experience and skills will
ensure our continued growth
in the UK.”
Phil commented: “It’s
a privilege to be given the
opportunity to join APECS
at such an important stage
of it’s growth. I’m excited to
join the team and grow the
business throughout the
UK.”
UK HOLDS FIRE
SAFETY EVENT WITH
WEST MIDLANDS
FIRE SERVICE
» » THE LATEST FIRE
statistics from the Home
Office reveal 261 people died
and there were more than
10,000 non-fatal casualties
from fire incidents across
England from April 2016 to
March 2017.
As part of the nationwide
Fire Door Safety Week
campaign, a special event
has been organised at West
Midlands Fire headquarters
in Birmingham on Thursday
28th September, offering fire
safety advice to architects,
building managers and
specifiers.
Fire Door Safety Week
raises awareness about how
third-party certificated fire
doors prevent life changing
injuries. It also focuses on
the legal responsibilities
of building professionals
when it comes to fire door
safety.
Organised by ASSA
ABLOY UK, the global
leader in door opening
solutions, attendees
will be offered practical
advice, support and
recommendations on how
to save lives by delivering
assured fire safety.
Now in its fifth year,
2017’s campaign will
highlight the critical
role of fire doors in high
rise buildings, houses of
multiple occupancy and
other types of shared
accommodation.
To register your interest
and reserve a place at
the event, please visit
marketing.assaabloy.co.uk/
fdsw-event
www.assaabloy.co.uk
Businesses are missing out
» » RESEARCH FROM THE FEDERATION
of Small Businesses has shown that the
impact of late payments on SME’s and
the self-employed are crushing. Their
research has shown that the issue causes
more than 35% of small businesses to
run into cashflow difficulties while more
than 30% have been forced to use their
overdraft facilities.
At the more extreme end of situations,
cashflow issues can and do cause
businesses to fail. The FSB estimates that
this single issue has caused more than
50,000 businesses to close annually.
Despite most small businesses being
savvy about cashflow, the majority of
late payments (84%) to small businesses
and the self-employed are more than
two weeks late, with an average delay of
about six weeks. It’s worth being aware
that large businesses are the most likely
to pay late – 61% of late payments are
from large, private firms.
Regency Factors has found that late
payments have caused its clients to use
its facilities on an increasing basis.
A spokesperson said: “We have been
able to support clients through hard
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | SEP/OCT 2017
Sponsored by Aldridge Security
times, allowing them to concentrate on
their business, not just their cashflow
as clients know that they will receive
payments for their invoices immediately,
allowing growth.”
Regency Factors PLC is one of the
UK’s oldest and most established
independent invoice finance
companies.
For more than 20 years it has been
structuring innovative financial
solutions for its clients, enabling them
to grow.