Leaders of the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) hosted a members’ day at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on 28 September. The event enabled GGF members to gather for the first time in three years. Addresses were made by the current GGF president, Tony Smith, managing director John Agnew and chief development officer Anda Gregory.
John said: “We passed a milestone this year with the GGF marking 45 years as a trade federation. It was important, therefore, that this year’s event presented the GGF as a powerful, unified and progressive organisation that is delivering positive and tangible benefits to its members, and of course for the industry that it represents.”
Frequent references were made throughout the day to the Skills Pathway Scheme, which is set to deliver the GGF’s comprehensive training programme to the industry. John Mannell, GGF’s technical officer, offered an overview of the scheme, explaining that it is providing significant opportunities and funding for member companies who are training their staff.
Dave Mechem, the GGF’s director of assessment and inspection, delivered an update about Fensa, including reporting a record 52.9% failure rate for inspections carried out in August 2022. This followed the imposition of new building regulations at the end of June. Compared with a normal failure rate for the time of year of 25%, the surge was caused largely by breaches of parts L and F of the building regulations, leaders of the business have said.
Dave also confirmed that the Pulse Testing service trialled by the GGF is set to go live. The test allows the accurate assessment of whether proposed replacement windows will require trickle vents or whether the setting is exempt, company representatives have said. The service is now widely available, with significant discounts for GGF and Fensa member companies.
Despite this year’s members day being made possible by the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, the virus continued to make its mark by preventing the GGF president elect, Natalie Little, from attending. Formal presentations were followed by a networking reception at the National Football Museum, which is housed in the Urbis building and has been described as ‘a masterpiece in glass’.
