Another year enters it’s latter stages and the time has come for another Top 30 Most Influential. Before I start my rantings and analysis, this is the list compiled by Window Industries:
- Matthew Glover – FiT Show
- Jim Rawson – Epwin
- Roger Hartshorn – Liniar
- Roy Saunders – Everest
- Nick Dutton – Door-Stop
- Giles Wilson – BFRC
- Dan Gill – Eclectic Systems
- Gareth Mobley – Solidor
- Pierre Lucien-Brun – SGG for Planitherm
- Martin Randall – Zoom
- Mark Bristow – Guardian Glass
- Adrian Barraclough – Quickslide
- Tony Walsh – Freefoam
- Peter Mottershead – Anglian Home Improvements
- Andy Wallace – CCS
- Martin Buckley – Polyframe
- Dave Barrett – A&B
- David Leng – Synseal
- Mark Warren – Listers
- Justin Hunter – Raynaers
- Lennart Johnson – Senior Aluminium Systems
- Wolfgang Gorner – REHAU
- Richard Bate – Build Check
- Neil Ginger – Origin Frames
- Roy Wakeman – Performance Window Group
- Tony Pickup – DGCOS
- Chris Cooke – Prefix Systems
- Dave Jones – VEKA
- Mark Richmond – Selecta Systems
- White Van Man
To start, I absolutely agree with the number one position. What Matthew did, in getting an industry tired of exhibitions to unite and really get behind the FiT Show is a real achievement and something that many are still talking about now. Many had doubts, but many were proved wrong. So well done on the top spot.
However, this list is still populated with MD’s and Chairmen of companies that really don’t inspire me with their “influence”. For example, Jim Rawson. I am sure he has done some very hard work in his years leading up to being the king of his castle. But other than mergers, buyouts and sales of companies he and his group owns, can anyone tell me what HE has done over the last 12 months that has really influenced the industry? The magazine says that he is credited with bringing PVC windows to the UK in 1976. But with all due respect, that is 37 YEARS AGO!
One thing I do appreciate the list for is the acknowledgement of the BFRC’s total balls up of the WER’s and the surrounding debates and arguments. Those of you who spend more than 5 minutes online will know that the industry’s widely accepted commentary is that WER’s are vastly flawed and that u-values should have been the way forward. Still, the money making machine that is the BFRC rolls on. Hopefully one day they will be able to grasp the frustrations of the industry and clear every bit of confusion up. Maybe one day.
Tony Pickup. I managed to have a drunken chat with him after the Gala Dinner at the FiT Show and invited him to write a guest piece on here pointing out where I went wrong when I have written about DGCOS before. He is number 26 on the list – and for the life of me I still cannot understand why he is the the list at all. I am certain he is very hard working and everyone deserves credit for any hard work they do. But to say that he is the 26th most influential person in our whole industry over the past 12 months is a bit generous. If the DGCOS boss is going to be included then surely the TGO boss has to be included too? They mention that they underwrite all products that Green Deal and Eco measures provide. But lets be honest, Green Deal has been one of the biggest flops ever so that is no huge achievement.
But it’s not all bad. This years lists is far more representative of the whole industry. Last years was quite dreadful and just a rearranged list of previous years. But, it has been good to see some new faces in the mix. However, there is one massive gaping area of the industry that is STILL well under-represented and that is timber. There is plenty of aluminium in that list, but no timber. It is quite appalling that such a specialist sector that is now experiencing a big revival isn’t included in the Top 30. Personally I would have liked to have seen someone like Peter Dyer in the mix. He has truly been one of the main characters of the timber revival and his company Dempsey Dyer has been at the forefront of instigating interest in the timber sector and producing some truly quality products, some of which I saw for myself at the FiT Show.
So, all in all, this years Top 30 is better than last year, but still has a bit to go before I’ll ever say that this is an accurate barometer of who and what truly influences our industry. As always, comments, good or bad are welcome, just leave them down below!
Wasn’t suprised to see some big companies in the top 30, as these are companies that churn out home improvements. Thanks for this blog post, from the team: http://www.thehomeimprovementpeople.co.uk
No one from Safestyle -Largest lwindow installer in the Uk or Ultraframe !!? When there’s someone from the Fascia industry at No 13 , bit if a joke ! Doesn’t Tony pickup sell insurance ? I aso agree RCG should be No1 ! Also good to see R9 Dan , Mark warren and Chris from Prefix ….
Safestyle ‘largest window installer in the UK’..? Since when??
Why do people keep reading this year after year? I suppose it is the only way for magazines to get some attention. Has anyone asked who the judges are? Clearly it is the PR agencies who work for the people listed, the likes of Rigby, and obviously who the magazines biggest advertisers are. Some of these people deserve to be on the list but many do not and should be replaced with people who really have make a difference in the industry. Why doesnt this magazine publish who the judges are and have a genuine, transparent method of judging –… Read more »
Worked in this Industry for over 30 Years and never heard of some of them and for for one to be included where advertising standard agency made them change contents of an advert says a lot for this industry, in the wrong way !
Think I know which company you mean Garry ;-)
Agree with number 1 (over last 12 months) most of the rest…… Comedy! About 6 deserve to be the, the rest either advertise most in the mag or are ‘old friends’
Having been in and out of the top 30 a few times it shouldn’t be taken too seriously, everyone will have their views, comments and opinions etc, however to be replaced at no 30 by the “white van man” is somewhat hard to stomach!
Congrats however to Matthew, he has had the greatest affect upon the industry in the past 12 months.