The outlook was positive at last week’s Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) members’ day and AGM, in which some 135 attendees gathered at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens.
Guest speakers, who covered topics including the economy, politics, digital marketing and architectural glazing, included business journalist, TV presenter and broadcaster, Declan Curry, who urged the audience to be positive about the future in the wake of Brexit.
Referring to the encouraging manufacturing statistics recently published, Curry stated that there has been ‘no plague of locusts’ as the doomsayers initially predicted and suggested that the ‘shock therapy’ of Brexit on the ‘ageing and stagnant’ European market could ‘force Brussels bureaucracy to end’ creating a better outcome for all. “These are challenging times but we should be optimistic,” he said.
Other speakers included Bruce Nicol, of Dow Corning, who unveiled the future for facades, Matthew Palutikof, of GK Strategy, who looked at the political arena, including the impact of Brexit on the GGF, and Graham Hansell of Sitelynx, who focussed on the importance of digital marketing.
The GGF’s James Lee also gave an update on consumer facing website myglazing.com, a year after its launch, which was followed by a Q&A session moderated by Declan Curry, in which GGF representatives answered questions on topics ranging from training to health and safety.
The day’s formal proceedings were concluded with closing remarks from GGF immediate past president, Brian Baker, who thanked the speakers and delivered the good news to members that there would be no increase to the subscription fee next year. John Agnew of Independent Glass paid tribute to Brian, who has been a member of the GGF board for the past six years, for his tireless work on behalf of the federation, with which he has been associated for almost 30 years.
In addition to the programme of speakers and presentations, a sponsors’ exhibition area included displays from organisations such as The FIT Show, Ritec and Motionlab, while a drinks reception concluded the event and made a fitting prelude to the People in Glazing Society (PIGS) social event which followed nearby at Birmingham’s Pitcher & Piano bar.
