Guild welcomes newbies
July 2016

Start-ups and new entrepreneurs entering the door hardware industry are being targeted in a membership drive by the GUILD OF ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERS, which has launched a new category, Enterprise membership, specifically for businesses with just 12 months’ trading record.

Maria Powell, president of the GAI, said: “Trade associations can quickly suffer and decay if they become just an ‘old boys’ club’. The Guild is not intending to fall into that trap – we have a vibrant and successful future ahead. We are here to provide support and encouragement to the new generations coming through, and I’m very excited by some of the businesses starting up with a genuine passion for the architectural ironmongery industry.

“This new Enterprise membership offer tells these entrepreneurs that the Guild is as relevant to them as we are to the most established and prestigious brands in the market, and we can learn from each other.”

The GAI saw another increase in its membership numbers last year, including 30% of new applications coming from overseas.

Members benefit from activities in three key areas: education, technical support and community. The GAI’s qualifications, education and CPD programmes are widely respected in the UK and overseas, including the GCC and Hong Kong. Its technical information service is said to be the only specialist service of its kind, providing GAI members with comprehensive advice on issues relating to the legislation, regulations and standards governing the use of architectural ironmongery and related hardware.

http://www.gai.org.uk/gai