Our eagerly anticipated annual ‘On the Tools Awards’ took place last Friday the 20th October and wow, what a night it was. 2017 is the second year the awards have been held - and it was definitely one to remember.
The awards were conceived by On the Tools to recognise the hard working and dedicated tradespeople that make up the construction industry. Alongside the construction community, the awards also honour construction based companies and construction brands.
Market-leading European water management specialist GRAF UK has grown its team by more than quarter in response to steadily rising demand for its top-quality stormwater, wastewater, and rainwater harvesting ranges.
The company has made a series of 12 new appointments across its customer service, installations, logistics and finance departments – bolstering its previously 24-strong team to 31. Among the 12 new recruits are four distribution centre operatives, two customer service reps, two accounts specialists, two installations experts, one logistics manager and one technical assistant. The move comes just months after GRAF upsized its UK headquarters to accommodate rapid business growth, relocating to the 10,000 sq ft Regen House premises in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
BRITISH BUILDERS rack up 130 hours per year making tea and other hot drinks, according to new research.
A survey of UK workers in the construction industry carried out by leading household appliances retailer, AppliancesDirect.co.uk, revealed builders spend on average 130 hours annually taking tea breaks, 20.34 hours more than the average British worker who spend 109.66 hours annually making tea.
Last month, Marie Stonall from F & P, Primaflow and Connections took part in a hair-raising fundraising event, ‘braving the shave’ to raise more than £1,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Marie, a Customer Service Team Leader for Primaflow, explained:
“My family has been affected by cancer and I wanted to do something to support the wonderful work that Macmillan does. I have never shaved my head before so I was slightly apprehensive, but my colleagues were so supportive and we ended up turning it into a really enjoyable event.”
HomeServe, the UK’s leading home assistance provider, has taken another step on the road towards an all-Mercedes-Benz van fleet.
HomeServe delivers effortless service to its customers, offering a range of services including plumbing, drainage, electrics, heating, and much more through its nationwide network of approved engineers. Given this, it expects the same, high-quality service from its own suppliers. The Mercedes-Benz Dealer Network’s 24-hour maintenance and repair capability, and free MobiloVan roadside assistance support, were therefore crucial to its decision to switch to the three-pointed star.
Ladders are a fairly common piece of equipment for plumbing and heating contractors and according to the Health and Safety Executive, falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work related fatalities in Great Britain.
Just recently a company was fined £1million after the death of an electrician from a step-ladder fall. In view of this the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors is reminding plumbing and heating employers and operatives to take precautions and follow the Health & Safety Executive’s recommended practices when working at height.
Global workwear brand Dickies will present its most comprehensive exhibition display yet at the international A+A trade show in Düsseldorf (17-20 October 2017), including a rare preview of products due to launch in 2018.
The largest international trade show for safety, security and health at work, the A+A show is a biannual opportunity to experience the latest products and expertise in the workwear field.
As well as focusing on the health and safety aspects of its ranges, Dickies will be showcasing products including items from the new Dickies 1922 selection, which is set to launch next year. This trend-led range will offer tradesmen a look that can be adapted for both work and leisure time, without compromising on functionality.
F & P, Primaflow and Connections has announced the return of its popular Fantastic Cashback promotion, with increased rewards for independent merchants. Until 15th December 2017, customers can claim a cash payment for each unit ordered, from a wide selection of heating, plumbing and bathroom items.
F & P Managing Director Jed Kendrick says that the initiative presents a great opportunity for merchants in the run-up to Christmas:
The humble bathroom is probably the last place we think of when talking about hi-tech gadgetry - but thanks to the Internet of Things, our lavatories are about to become a whole lot smarter. In the following article, we’ll show you some of latest cutting edge bathroom tech - but first, what exactly is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things explained
Bathroom and tile specialist Easy Bathrooms has called for plumbers across the UK to attend its trade day next week on Thursday 5th October.
The Leeds-headquartered firm will open its doors to tradespeople between 8am-12pm for a morning of advice and demonstrations from some of the industry’s leading brands. Free bacon sandwiches and tea/coffee will also be on offer, alongside freebies and additional discounts.
Experts from a total of nine suppliers — including Rocatex, Rubi, Fibo and Tilebacker, to name a handful — will be on hand to discuss upcoming trends and showcase some of their newest products. Easy Bathrooms and tile cutter supplier Rubi will also be offering an extra 10% off its ranges.