Positive Q3 2019 for CAB Members
October 2019

After a volatile first half of the year distorted by Brexit stockpiling it was extremely positive to see the CAB Q3 2019 State of Market Survey results showing 43% net balance of CAB members forecasted growth in Q4 and 57% net balance, growth in the year ahead. The results announced at the CAB members’ meeting in Manchester last week showed that in Q3 a sizeable 50% of members saw sales volumes up by more than 5% on Q2. Capital investment in the year ahead still clearly remained a priority with 65% net balance forecasting an increase in spend on product improvement closely followed by 55% net balance for plant & equipment.

28 New Members in 25th Anniversary Year
Echoing the positive vibes emanating from the latest survey, 2019 has seen one of the highest levels of increases in approved membership in CAB’s 25th Anniversary year.  To date, we are delighted to have been joined by 25 new members across the aluminium in building supply chain: 3D Aluminium; Acorn Aluminium; Allied Glazing Systems; Aluminium Shapes; AOV (UK); Azon (UK); BSI Assurance UK; Contrasol; DUCO Ventilation & Sun Control; E P Consultants; Epwin Window Systems; Fentrade; Glasshus Facades; Hoppe (UK); Kestrel Aluminium Systems; LP Window Controls; MBE Glazing Systems; OnLevel; Presstek; Promac ; Prosale Automatic Doors; Safeguard Glazing Supplies; Saint-Gobain Glass; Soft Tech (England); The Design Solutions Business; The Rooflight Company; United Anodisers and Window Ware.

It was great to see around 75% of these members attending the meeting at the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester (supported by nearly 150 CAB members and their guests in total). The event kicked off the CAB autumn programme and included a short seminar on ‘Collateral Warranties’ presented by Geraldine Fleming, Operations Director, Driver Trett. The main mini conference element saw members of the CAB Training Committee and GQA Qualifications present some of the new course content for the CAB Aluminium Curtain Walling Installers course (CSCS) while Simon Misra, Creative and Operations Director, Agency Spring spoke about the ‘Psychology of the Architect’. He focused on what architects believe, what motivates them and what they want from manufacturers.

Contracts Seminar ‘How Do We Get Paid’?
Geraldine Fleming will return to present a fifth contracts seminar in 2019 on12 November in Birmingham entitled, ‘We’ve done the work – now how do we get paid?’. Content for the day includes, The importance of the contract and contract documentation, Applications for payments, discount and retention, Variations and Remedies for non-payment, including interest, suspension and your options

Geraldine will cover a mixture of up to the minute case studies and scenario building that draws on her wide experience with Balfour Beatty and as a trained lawyer and QS. A full programme for 2020 will be announced shortly.

Marketing Seminar: ‘Social Media & Web Analytics’
This essential marketing workshop day in Birmingham on 11 November welcomes two experts in their field. Firstly David Glenwright - Head of Training, JC Social Media will consider ‘Posting with intent - building an effective social media strategy’. From coming up with engaging and relevant content, to using search tools to identify and reach out to specific prospects and opportunities, David will leave attendees with the skills, knowledge and confidence to both grow and demonstrate the effectiveness of their social media presence.

In the afternoon Pritesh Patel - freelance Digital Marketing consultant will look at ‘Website performance & measuring what matters’. In this ‘hands on’ session Pritesh will consider how marketers and directors can use website data to help them understand which part of their marketing efforts are working and which part is not.

CAB will soon be launching its full 2020 programme which will include new events and activities to create an even stronger set of member value propositions. In times of uncertainty especially, every membership pound sterling must work even harder but the message remains the same as always, that our sector supply chain companies are ‘stronger together’ in CAB.

For more details on our work or to find out how to join CAB contact
jessica.dean@c-a-b.org.uk, telephone the CAB office on 01453 828851 or go to
c-a-b.org.uk/about-cab/why-join/