GGF members day delivers practical information and healthy debate

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) holds a Members Day every year to update members on new legislation, discuss industry issues and provide a valuable opportunity to network, however this year the event went above and beyond. Attendees were furnished with useful information and a safe space for some serious industry discussion, as well as a chance to unwind with some fun activities making the most of the venue at Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge.  

John Agnew, GGF Group MD said this year was a standout event: “This year’s Members Day was an exceptional success thanks to the level of attendance, the quality of presentations including from our special guest speakers Paul Nash and Graeme Leach, and the enthusiastic engagement from delegates. There were some hot topics up for analysis on the day including a panel discussion on the Future Homes Standard and Sustainability. These topics captured the interest of delegates and sparked some serious discussion and healthy debate, which when done respectfully in a productive space like this, is invaluable for all involved.”

Two highly topical panel discussions created a great deal of interests amongst delegates. The Future Homes Standard was discussed by Kevin Jones, Senior Technical Officer for the GGF; Phil Brown, who is Technical Advisory Service Manager for the UK and Ireland and European Regulatory Marketing Manager for Pilkington UK; and Jon Palethorpe, joint managing director at A Plus Aluminium were hosted by Chris Beedel, the GGF’s Head of Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations. This high level of expertise clarified some of the mixed messages that are circulating in the marketplace ahead of an anticipated launch of the standard in 2025.

The Sustainability Panel comprised Dave Borland who heads the GGF’s Technical Department, Richard Hilson from sustainability advisors Gemserve, and Mike Butterick, marketing director at Saint Gobain Building Glass, with the GGF’s Tom Butler coordinating a session that offered specific insights into what the industry is doing to improve sustainability in terms of carbon footprint, recycling and other related issues. 

Chris Beedel added: “Delegates also enjoyed hearing our two guest speakers share their expertise. Paul who is a previous President of the Chartered Institute of Buildings (CIOB) talked about ensuring quality industry wide and building safety, while Graeme who is CEO and Chief Economist at Macroeconomics discussed the challenges and opportunities the UK economy is facing.   

“As well as the scheduled presentations and panel discussions, there was plenty of time to network with industry peers on the day. There was also ample time to enjoy the surroundings of the fabulous venue, including the Formula 1 simulators that were unsurprisingly popular (congratulations to Paul Miller from Bohle for achieving the fastest lap on the day!). 

“Every GGF Members Day is meticulously planned with delegates in mind, covering current issues and delivering useful advice, but with our special guest speakers and the level of engagement from our fantastic delegates consisting of both existing and new members, this year was one of the best in recent years. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the day such a success.”