A Word from Our Team to Your Team

January 2021

A word from Our Team to Your Team

Not the best start to the new year with ‘lockdown 3’ and our hospitals struggling to treat patients ill with Covid-19, but, despite the rise in infections, business continues and your Association remains ‘on-call’ to support you in the Construction Industry. It is hoped that the immunisation roll out will be swift and, in time, give us all a few more freedoms, but at this time we are ensuring our staff remain safe and work from home where possible.

Next month I hope to have some news on the appointment of a new Chief Executive for CAB who, it is hoped will bring new initiatives to the Association in support of its membership.

CAB has begun to roll out our Webinar Programme for the first quarter of 2021 and I hope to see you joining these throughout the year. It is hoped that these will form a regular feature of CAB Member Support as the Association grows.

Breaking news today is that the FIT show is being put back in 2021 to September. As you know CAB is a supporter of the show and whilst this year CAB will not be taking a stand, CAB will be present over the three days of the show and be on hand to support members and visitors who are attending the show.

Please feel free to forward this month’s newsletter to your colleagues and ask them to sign up for a copy by following this link.

Adrian Toon
CAB Board Director

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FIT Show Organisers Announce New September 2021 Dates

FIT Show organisers have announced new dates for its 2021 event, postponing the Fenestration Industry flagship UK event from May until September 2021.

FIT Show will return to the NEC from Sunday 26th – Tuesday 28th September 2021 with organisers having secured a new, safer timeline in the Birmingham venue heavily disrupted schedule.

The announcement follows a period of unprecedented uncertainty due to the ongoing global impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Organisers have taken proactive steps to move FIT Show into a safer timeline in the Autumn of 2021.

Speaking about the decision to postpone FIT Show until later in the industry calendar, event director Nickie West said: “It will come as little surprise to many that we have been in constantcommunication with the NEC to ensure a safe event which delivers the best possible ROI for our Exhibitors, and the best experience for our visitors.

“The decision to postpone FIT Show 2021 from May until September is a proactive step that we have made in order to create a safer timeline for the industry to work towards. We know that there is an insatiable appetite to get back to face-to-face business. We have taken many factors into consideration as part of this process, including the likely surge in demand for summer holidays and the 2022 Fensterbau timeline. We believe that FIT Show in the Autumn of 2021 will come at just the right time for the industry, steering the ship to reflect the industry’s’ V-shaped recovery.

“The new dateline will see us open the show on a Sunday for the first time. This will create an ideal opportunity for busy installers to visit over the weekend if they are unable to attend during the week. This is something we have been asked to consider by our stakeholders in the past and an initiative we believe to be right for 2021”.

Organisers have confirmed that FIT Show will revert to its usual May slot in 2023, following a biennial pattern thereafter.

Nickie concluded: “The additional time that we now have before the show provides an opportunity to explore new content and features ideas to enhance our proposition. We are already exploring new product focuses, such as our outdoor living feature, and will be implementing new hybrid event features that will extend the value of the show above and beyond the three physical days of the event. We are excited to announce these plans over the coming months.

“I cannot wait to get back to FIT, reconnect with the industry, face-to-face, and see all of the latest products up close and in the flesh. FIT Show really is the main event where people come to see the best in the industry, to allow them to be the best in the business.”

FIT Show is the UK’s number one, award-winning showcase for the glass, glazing, window, door, hardware and components industry. FIT Show will return to the NEC 26 – 28 September 2021, Halls 17, 18 & 19.

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CAB Webinars

We are delighted to attach our Webinar Programme for Q1, 2021 and further details of our first two events are as follows:

Wednesday 20 January at 12 noon – ‘The CAB Route to CSCS Cards’

The purpose of this 1-hour Webinar is to introduce CAB’s 1-day Curtain Walling Essential Knowledge Course and our newly created CAB Curtain Walling Installers CSCS card. Further details of both schemes can be found at the CAB website.

The session will include presentations by the CAB Training Committee regarding the development of the 1-day course and Martin Sadler, Technical Officer at GQA Qualifications, who will discuss GQA’s involvement along with the criteria for obtaining the CAB CSCS card. There will be ample opportunity to put your questions forward.

Since 2017 glass, glazing or fenestration CSCS cards have only been available via GQA Qualifications to allow Installers onto site and this Webinar is intended for all those involved, or with customers who are involved, in the installation of curtain walling. Anyone is welcome to attend and we would encourage you to circulate the details to your colleagues as well as your network of Installers and Contractors.

To register – please reserve your place(s) by emailing julie.harley@c-a-b.org.uk

Wednesday 27 January at 2pm – ‘Marking of Construction products post Brexit’

The UK has left the EU and businesses must prepare for the end of recognition of the CE mark in GB for construction products and affix the UKCA marking using a UK-recognised Approved Body.

It is expected that recognition of the CE mark will end in GB by 1 January 2022, with different rules for NI. This Webinar will set out:
• Changes in conformity marking of construction products after 31 December 2020
• Rules governing the three marks: CE, UKCA and UK(NI)
• Product standards – hEN and UK designated standards
• EU Notified Bodies, UK Approved Bodies and Technical Assessment Bodies
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources of further information

In order that we can tailor the presentations to cover the specific issues of concern to Members, we would ask you to submit your questions in advance.

To register – please reserve your place(s) & submit your questions by emailing julie.harley@c-a-b.org.uk

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A Window Into Aluminium

Replacing ‘Aluminium in Architecture’ the new ezine ‘A Window Into Aluminium’ will offer a fresh new appearance to a wider readership and is aimed at supporting the supply chain for both Residential and Commercial Fenestration. It is due to be released later this month and CAB members will continue to get their company news published for free within the publication and receive reduced rates for advertising banners.

Please contact the following should you wish to appear in the first issue:

Justin Lazenby (Press Releases): justin@awindowintoaluminium.co.uk

Emma Champion (Banner Advertising): emma@awindowintoaluminium.co.uk

Initial circulation is expected to be in excess of 30,000 recipients from across the Home Improvement and Construction Industry and I do hope you will support the publication in making it a success and to spread the work of CAB members in support of Aluminium in the Fenestration Industry.

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CAB & Media Influencers Join Forces with Building Our Skills

Building Our Skills (BOS) has recruited some of the industry’s top marketing agencies and trade publications to spread the love of Fenestration right through the sector and help shine a light on some of the fantastic career opportunities available to young and new people.

Throughout the whole of February, some of the industry’s more familiar marketers, editors and publishers will be sharing the reasons why they love fenestration on social media in the #lovefenestration campaign.

The aim behind the campaign is to help gain further recognition of the industry’s fantastic career opportunities and profile to more people why they should choose Fenestration when looking for a career.

Stephanie Tague, Head of BOS comments, ‘More is needed to spread the word of how great a sector Fenestration is to work in and to attract new people, in particular young people. #lovefenestration will be launched by some of the great marketing people of our industry during February and we want the whole industry to get behind it.’

#lovefenestration will be the first-of-its-kind marketing initiative, focusing on promoting the whole industry. It sets to create positive good vibes from people who love their jobs and have enjoyed a career in Fenestration, proving that it is a sector worth considering.

www.buildingourskills.co.uk

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From your Team at CAB

Julie Harley – julie.harley@c-a-b.org.uk – CAB Events Manager
Justin Furness – justin.furness@c-a-b.org.uk – Technical Director
Martin Ford – martin.ford@c-a-b.org.uk – Technical Support Officer
Jessica Dean – jessica.Dean@c-a-b.org.uk – Membership Support & Finance Officer

Adrian Toon – adrian.toon@icloud.com – CAB Board Director