SEHBAC have launched a new conservatory advert for Spring 2010 promoting their conservatory sale. Made by the people at Stone Productions, it has started airing and will continue thorughout spring.

Chris Mole MP meets apprentice Adam Locke at SEHBAC factory

East Anglian home improvement company, SEHBAC, has been a major employer in Suffolk and Essex since the early 1970s and has recently embarked on a programme of positive youth employment by employing apprentices from the National Apprenticeship Service as part of SEHBAC’s 75-strong workforce.

To recognise SEHBAC ‘s contribution to the region, local MP Chris Mole visited SEHBAC’s show centre at Olympus Close, Ipswich on 19th February to meet two young apprentices where he called on more Suffolk businesses to use the apprenticeship scheme.

Having toured the SEHBAC premises where he saw the production line in action and witnessed the creation of windows from start to finish, Chris met and talked to the apprentices about the roles they now have and the effect the Apprenticeship programme has had on their lives.

Chris Mole MP: “I was pleased to get the chance to shadow the apprentices at SEHBAC windows and to find out more about how the Company is investing in Ipswich by providing employment and training to young people, and continuing to grow a successful business with the help of Apprenticeships.

‘Not only do Apprenticeships play an important role in giving businesses the edge to succeed in the upturn – they are invaluable to the individual, offering a strong route into a career and valuable hands-on experience as well as qualifications.

‘The recession has taught us two key things: that businesses’ long-term commitment to investment in their workforce really pays off, and that young people must be effectively brought into employment.  Apprenticeship programmes, like at SEHBAC, offer both of these factors and I would urge more businesses to consider the benefits of Apprenticeships.

‘Over 300 employers in Ipswich have already signed up to the free Apprenticeship vacancies service which matches apprentices with prospective employers and it would be fantastic to see this number rise.  I would strongly advise companies in Ipswich to consider Apprenticeships as part of their recruitment strategy.”

John Savage, Managing Director of SEHBAC’s retail operations, is a strong believer in the Apprenticeship programme’s benefits: “The Apprenticeship programme ensures we have a structured approach to training and helps enhance the multi-skill levels of our staff. The ambition apprentices demonstrate helps to keep our staff fresh and gives us the opportunity to train young employees in the SEHBAC way. We have ISO 9001 Quality Management System approval and Kitemarks requiring all procedures to be documented and audited; the training these young members receive is all best practise and ensures that going forward, SEHBAC will stay relevant at the forefront of the various sectors we operate in.”

20-year old Jed Barrell works as a member of the company’s Commercial business, SEHBAC Commercial. Jed’s 15 month programme is subject to regular assessment from industry experts and through workplace learning, Jed is now becoming a key player in the multi-million pound turnover company working on contracts across the UK with clients ranging from small companies to multi-national property owners. Regional training supplier WS Training put him in touch with SEHBAC as a strong candidate following their interview process.

“The apprenticeship has changed my life,” says Jed. “Having been made redundant from my previous engineering job I attended a career fair and learned about the Apprenticeship programme. I secured an interview with SEHBAC and have been here since November ‘09. The business skills I’m learning here and the knowledge my colleagues are teaching me are fantastic. As well as in the office I find myself using them in other walks of life – planning living budgets, structuring life plans! I aim to be here for the long-haul and develop my career within SEHBAC.”

Fellow apprentice Adam Locke, 19 and from Ipswich, is responsible for stock management and goods. Previously unemployed, Adam joined the company and worked as a member of the team producing over 500 windows each week from the Ipswich factory. “My apprenticeship is giving me opportunities I might not have otherwise had. It’s changed my life for the better.”

But you don’t have to be an MP to visit one of our show centres.  SEHBAC Windows has a number of centres across the region at Romford, Ipswich, Colchester, Sidcup and Worcester Park in Surrey. Visitors can experience the quality and variety of the products on offer, from orangeries to conservatories and see how they can enhance their living space with a SEHBAC product. For more information on show centre locations, visit www.sehbac.com.

Have a Heart is the charitable arm of Heart FM.

Through the fundraising support of it’s listeners and companies like SEHBAC, Have a Heart award grants to registered charities and voluntary groups working with children and young people in the local area.

Their primary focus is on local projects which address particular needs in our local community. Typically they support projects to support those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage, abuse, neglect, homelessness, violence, crime or those who live with an illness or disability.

On the 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th of December we’re turning our show centres at Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and Romford into Christmas Grottos.

Come along with the whole family - the children can visit Santa and get their photograph taken, and the adults can get into the festive spirit with a glass of mulled wine. There’ll be plenty of mince pies to go around too! We do hope that you’ll come down and join in the fun.

The event is completely free of course, but we will be collecting for the Have a Heart charity - it’s for a great cause and with your help we hope to really make a difference to the lives of children and young people in our local community.

However, perhaps the times they are a changin’ - as Martin Randall, the Chairman of Crystal Direct has created a new initiative to promote the benefits of PVC-U with his new fact sheet: The Truth about PVC-U - Facts & Fibs.

As a consumer it can be really hard to know what to believe, so this new fact sheet really is a great resource. It’s been compiled using a variety independent sources including - Reco Vinyl; Vinyl 2010; PVC Awareness; BPF; PVC Aware; Public Sector News Line; & Friends of the Earth.

The factsheet aims to debunk the myths (or indeed ‘fibs’) we are told about PVC-U and instead present the facts. Highlights include:

Fib: PVC-U Cannot be Recycled

Fact: PVC compounds are 100% recyclable, in fact PVC-U can be recycled over and over again. In 2007 the UK recycled more than 42,000 tonnes of used PVC-U windows and doors.

Fib: PVC-U is dangerous

Fact: Numerous independent studies have been undertaken by such bodies as the World Health Organisation and the European Union, which have repeatedly shown that the material is safe.

“Ministers have made clear that independent evidence such as that from Professor Rappe, the independent scientific advisor to the EU and World health Organisation, demonstrated that PVC is a safe material” - John Battle MP, former Minister of State for Science, Energy and Industry.

Fib: Manufacturing PVC-U harms the environment

Fact: A typical European PVC production plant would have to operate for 30,000 years to produce the same amount of dioxins released into the atmosphere during bonfire night!

“The balance of evidence suggests that there is no alternative material to PVC in it’s major product applications that has less overall effect on the environment.” - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Fib: Alternative materials are just as good as PVC-U when it comes to energy-saving and durability.

Fact: PVC-U is far more thermally efficient than alternative materials and the PVC-U industry is at the forefront of the development of energy efficient window frames. In addition to this, the Building Research Establishment estimates that a typical PVC-U window will have a lifespan of 35 years.

Download the fact sheet in full here - it’s definitely an eye-opening read!

Whether you’re looking to increase the feeling of light and space, or indeed if you’re looking to undertake a bigger project, look no further than SEHBAC.

Use your Conservatory as a Kitchen-Diner

Increasingly we are seeing more people installing kitchens in their conservatories. Whilst at first this might seem like a slightly strange idea, as the trend for kitchen-diners increases, and in many homes, the original space allocated for the kitchen is too small to accomodate a dining space, it really is an excellent solution. When you add this to wonderful feeling of light and space you get in a conservatory - it really is a great way to bring the outside in.

For many, the kitchen really is the heart of the home - not only do they want to be able to cook in their kitchens, they also want to be able to eat and entertain in them. It also means that if you are entertaining friends, whoever’s playing chef isn’t holed up in the kitchen - instead, they are in the thick of it - even whilst they are preparing the food. Of course if you’re a messy cook or are concerned about your guests witnessing your kitchen nightmares first hand, this might not be the best option for you!

French Doors

If you don’t have the funds to stretch to a conservatory, then installing french doors is a great alternative. We have a wide range of styles and finishes, so there’s bound to be something to suit you.

Obviously in the Summer you can open the doors to bring the outside in, and on cooler days simply enjoy the view and the additional light they let in.

Bi-Fold Doors

For others who want to bring the outside in, and increase the feeling of light and space in their kitchens and dining rooms, but want to go a step further than french doors without making the leap to installing conservatory, bi-fold doors are an excellent alternative.

Bi-Fold doors are also known as folding or multi-fold doors. Unlike traditional french doors, they run along a track rather than being hung from traditional wall mounted brackets.

Bi-Fold doors offer more flexibility than French Doors, as you can elect to fully open the doors to really bring the outside in; or you can simply open one or more doors for ventilation. They can be configured to open either inwards or outwards, and right or left hand opening.

They are also available in a wide range of finishes, colours and styles - so it’s easy to achieve the look which you want for your home.

If you’re looking to undertake a home improvement project why not call into one of our fantastic show centres for ideas? We’ve show centres located in Romford, Ipswich, Chelmsford, Colchester, Sidcup and Worcester Park.

Our experienced staff will be happy to talk you through the various options open to you, and whatever your budget, we know that you’ll be delighted with the results. Alternatively arrange a home visit and we’ll come to you!

How long have you worked for SEHBAC?

8 years.

How did you get into the industry?

Originally I was in the building trade. I then worked for another double glazing company for 9 years, before joining SEHBAC in 2001.

Which towns / areas do you cover?

Most of my work’s in Haverhill, Thetford, Bury St Edmonds, Stowmarket, and Ipswich; but I also occasionally cover towns outside this area.

Which products do you sell?

The full range - double glazing, conservatories, doors, fascias, soffits and guttering. 

What do you think consumers are most interested in when it comes to purchasing windows and conservatories?

It’s a combination of quality and price. But particularly at the moment, the market is really very price driven.

Have you seen a trend towards people being more interested in environmental issues / savings on heating bills?

Yes, there is a trend towards this, particularly with the introduction of window energy ratings - but I think that consumers are still struggling to understand what the ratings actually mean, and what the real difference is in terms of energy savings for an ‘A’ rated window, versus a ‘C’ rated window.

What’s the best thing about working in the industry?

The best thing about the job is definitely the people - obviously my role’s very customer facing so it’s just as well I enjoy that aspect! 

What do you do for fun?

I ride motorbikes; mostly I do off-roading. I’ve been doing it for around 15-20 years. 

Who would you get to play you in a film of your life?

Brad Pitt.

Your home is on fire, you can save only one thing - what do you save?

Let’s see - the wife, the kids, the dog… I really can’t pick just one - can I save them all?

If you were a superhero - what would your superpower be?

I’d love to be able to fly.

PVC or Hardwood?

Although PVC is great because it doesn’t require any maintenance, for me it’s got to be Hardwood - just for the way it looks.

What’s the biggest misconception you face in your line of work?

I think that lots of people are still very suspicious of double glazing salespeople - many people think that we’re all liars! Unfortunately the industry still has a bad reputation. 

What industry improvements do you think will come about next?

I think we’ll continue to see more energy efficient windows being developed - it’s definitely going to be something consumers will be increasingly interested in.

How has the internet changed your job? (if at all)

We get lots of our leads from the internet now, it’s also made it much easier for customer’s in terms of research.

What are the biggest challenges the industry faces?

Probably saturation - the market’s shrinking as lots of people have already had double glazing installed. That said people are replacing some old double glazing for more energy efficient alternatives.

What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months?

Holidays! I’ve not booked anything yet, but as Summer’s been a bit of a non-starter I’m keen to get away for a bit of sunshine.

Image credit wikipedia

How long have you worked for SEHBAC?

I started in May 1989, so 20 years.

How did you get into the industry?

I’ve always worked in the manufacturing side of the business rather than being customer-facing. Like most people I started working for SEHBAC by responding to an ad in the local paper. They were looking for a line inspector (quality control), in the double glazing factory.

I then got put into the testing department, where all of our products are tested - e.g. glass is tested to ensure it doesn’t shatter, doors and windows are tested for security, etc.

I then moved into head office, in the replacement parts department, for three years.

The role then became more technical as the business changed, and I went into managing the manufacturing software, for the machinery in the factory. Basically I dealt with translating customer orders into our manufacturing system, to create bespoke windows, doors, conservatories etc.

Now I’m totally technical, so I still manage the manufacturing software, and oversee any customer queries of a technical nature. I also deal with technical issues in the factory, and the creation of any new products. I also get involved in pricing etc, it’s a very varied role which I really enjoy.

Which towns / areas do you cover?

I divide my time between Romford and Ipswich where our two factories are.

Which products do you sell?

I don’t sell per se, I help the salesman meet our customers technical requirements. But I’m obviously involved in the technical side of the manufacturing of all of our products - double glazing, doors, conservatories, fascias and soffits.
 

What do you think consumers are most interested in when it comes to purchasing windows and conservatories?

I often get queries about energy ratings and security, people who are trying to compare quotes often require more technical details to ensure they are comparing like for like.

What’s the best thing about working in the industry?

The people!

What do you do for fun?

I’m really into photography and music and of course spending time with my family. I have two children, aged 14 and 11.

Describe yourself in five words.

Efficient, happy, helpful (occasionally!), reliable, friendly.

If you weren’t in double glazing/conservatories what would you be doing?

I’d love to be able to do photography full time.

Who would you get to play you in a film of your life?

Ben Stiller.

If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead who would it be?

Elvis Presley.

Your home is on fire, you can save only one thing – what do you save?

My hard drive (and my family, obviously).

If you were a superhero – what would your superpower be?

I’d love to be able to control time, so I could fit a few more hours in the day.

PVC or Hardwood?

PVC – it’s maintenance free!

What industry improvements do you think will come about next?

I think we’ll see leaps in the thermal efficiency of double glazing, which will allow people to save more money on their heating bills.

I also think that we’ll see greater improvements in security of windows and doors, it’s certainly something which I’m asked about a lot.

Has the internet changed your job?

Yes, it’s now much easier for people to find information – particularly with regard to things like building regulations.

What is the biggest challenge the industry faces?

The pressure to continually innovate - coming up with new ideas, new products, etc.

What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months

Further new product developments… Oh and Christmas!

Elvis Presley image - wikipedia

Yesterday we stumbled across this entertaining blog post - you’ll need to be a Star Wars fan, otherwise it’ll go straight over your head; but if you loved Star Wars as much as we did, you’ll enjoy this very much indeed.

We’ve included a taster here:

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, every window in the Star Wars universe shattered from the underwater shrieks of a million dying Gungans. Yes, the Jar-Jar Binks clan had to go. And no, they won’t be missed.

But now, the Rebel Alliance faces the impossible task of intergalactic window replacement and thus created the aptly named Allied Forces Inter-Galactic Window Replacement Task Force (AFIGWRTF).

Which parasitic species require anti-ooze sealants for their two-foot tongues?

Who or what is a Lumpawaroo?

And does a long acronym defeat the purpose of an acronym?

All this and more shall be answered in CalFinder’s edition of Star Wars Window Replacement.“

Read the full post here: Star Wars Window Replacement - enjoy

How long have you worked for SEHBAC?

20 years. Prior to working for SEHBAC I worked for two or three other double glazing companies. Before that I used to work for Ipswich Borough Council in their social housing department.

How did you get into the industry?

I was made redundant from Ipswich Council, and at the time I’d really had enough of the public sector and wanted a change. I saw that Zenith were looking for staff, so I thought I’d try my hand. Despite really liking the industry I left Zenith because I didn’t believe in the high pressure sales tactics that they wanted us to employ. I finally settled at SEHBAC (or SEH as it was then), because I much preferred their approach to selling.

Which towns / areas do you cover?

As the Sales Manager I’m in charge of the Ipswich, Chelmsford and Colchester showrooms; and cover Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire & Essex (down as far as Chelmsford).

Which products do you sell?

Now my job is to manage the sales teams, so I don’t sell as much anymore; but I used to sell Double Glazing, Conservatories, Fascias, Soffits, Doors - the lot!

Now I only sell to my own customers. As I’ve been here for 20 years; some people ask for me, as I’ve sold to them in the past, it’s nice to continue the relationship, so I’ll sell to those people, but will pass the new customers on to my sales team.

What do you think consumers are most interested in when it comes to purchasing windows and conservatories?

Value for money! But people are also interested in getting the right product, be it a conservatory, double glazing etc, and of course they’re keen to make sure that the workmanship is up to scratch.

Ultimately they’re looking for a reliable company that they can trust. 

Have you seen a trend towards people being more interested in environmental issues / savings on heating bills?

I have seen a trend towards people asking about heat insulation values, but I think that people are unsure of the difference between the various window ratings. I think that there’s still a job to be done in terms of educating customers, as window ratings are a little more complex than the rating which they place on white goods which are arguably easier to understand.  

What’s the best thing about your job?

Every day is different, and brings about new challenges which I enjoy. I’m a people person, which you definitely have to be as it’s a very customer facing role. I also like that it’s not strictly office based, and it’s certainly not 9 to 5.

What do you do for fun?

I play Bridge - funnily enough quite a few members of my Bridge Club are customers.

I’m also an Ipswich Town season ticket holder, so between football, Bridge and my five children I’m kept pretty busy!

If you weren’t in double glazing/conservatories what would you be doing?

I’d probably still be in social housing, or perhaps in another sales job.

Who would you get to play you in a film of your life?

Order my windows, go ahead, make my day...

Clint Eastwood. Because I really like him as an actor.

If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead who would it be?

Jimmy Page, guitarist from Led Zeppelin. I’m a big fan.

If you were a superhero - what would your superpower be?

I’d like to be able to read people’s minds.

PVC or Hardwood?

When it comes to double glazing, I’d choose Hardwood for looks, but PVC for practicality.

What’s the biggest misconception you face in your line of work?

Some people think that all double glazing salesman are rogues, and indeed some are. Of course at SEHBAC we don’t employ those sort of dishonest practises, but unfortunately the industry is still blighted by those that do. 

What industry improvements do you think will come about next?

I imagine that in the not too distant future we’ll see window manufacturers moving away from UPVC to another material - e.g. composite windows. We already do composite doors, and the potential for a wide range of colours and finishes is much broader.

We’re also seeing aluminium making a comeback; mainly due to commercial demands; but also because of the look, - it has a slimmer profile, and sleeker lines - it can also be made any colour you like. We’re having an aluminium orangery installed in the Ipswich show room later this year, and Chelmsford will follow.

What are the biggest challenges the industry faces?

I think we do need to stamp out the rogue traders, they give the industry such a bad name.

I also think that at some point we’ll see a saturation of UPVC windows - because they last a long time - people won’t need to replace them. I think that as an industry we’ll need to diversify and offer other products.

Clint Eastwood image Wikipedia