Living our values with a team trip to the rugby

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At Britplas, teamwork is at the very heart of our culture and operations, and we express this through ‘Better together’ – one of the three key themes which sum up our corporate values.

One expression of this theme is our annual programme of staff social events – organised by our people for our people, they provide a perfect opportunity for everyone to get together outside a work environment, meet people from outside their own department and enjoy social interaction away from the pressures of work.

It was perhaps apt then, that the first social of this year involved two of our most famous local teams, with a large Britplas contingent taking in the Super League match between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors, at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Everyone enjoyed a meal before braving the sub-zero temperatures to watch the Wire beat Wigan 16-10, a scoreline which didn’t reflect Warrington’s dominance throughout. The result, played at the top level of the English Rugby League structure, ended Wigan’s winning start to the season as Warrington deservedly won the local derby.

Having been founded and always based in the Warrington area, Britplas has strong ties to the local community with the majority of staff based nearby and regularly attending games.

Britplas pedallers take on the “Tour d’Italia” for Warrington Youth Zone

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Two staff members from Warrington-based glazing specialist Britplas along with three of their friends are undertaking a mammoth cycling challenge next month to raise funds for Warrington Youth Club’s new Youth Zone.

Britplas employees Martin Finnegan and Terry Reid will be leaving the UK on the 23rd of March to complete a 532 mile bike ride across Italy over 5 days. They aim to raise a total of £5,000 in sponsorship for the new Warrington Youth Zone, of which Britplas is a founder patron.

Lyndsay Darlison from Warrington Youth Zone commented, “We’re thrilled to have such amazing support from the team at Britplas, they are Warrington people working for a Warrington company, raising money to give young people in Warrington a brighter future. With the support of local businesses like Britplas we really can make a difference and ensure young people will always have somewhere to go, something to do, and somebody to talk to”

Warrington Youth Club is currently raising funds to create a new purpose built Youth Zone at Winwick Street, Warrington, which will provide them with a permanent base from which they can continue to provide excellent social and educational opportunities for children and young people from across Warrington.

Martin Finnegan, Britplas’ Special Projects Manager, had this to say: “All the riders are from Warrington and know how much a centre like this would mean to the community. We’ve done a few similar rides like this before, including one across Spain and Portugal in 2016, and we’re delighted to do something similar for this cause.”

The “Tour d’Italia” bike challenge will see the team complete 11,500 feet of climbing over the gruelling 5 day ride. Terry and Martin will be starting in Venice, working their way down the Italian Adriatic coastline before cutting across and finishing on the Amalfi Coast for a well deserved holiday.

The team’s Virgin Money Giving page can be accessed here httpss://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Britplas2018

Continuous improvement for Britplas Fabrications

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Following another year of record sales, Britplas has modified the layout at its 42,000 square foot Warrington fabrication facility in order to further streamline its manufacturing operations and cope with increased demand going forward. The changes have been designed to help ensure continuous working lines for both aluminium and uPVC, with a newly consolidated façades area dealing with curtain walling and door orders.

The Britplas factory manufactures the company’s patented Safevent window, allowing for tight quality control of this specialist product, and is also now set up to deal with the various different product types and systems required by the wider commercial facades market.  A number of factory staff have been cross-trained, and supplemented with specialists brought in to ensure we remain at the forefront of manufacturing best practice.

The new modifications mean that lines can be adapted for free flow of product on any given day, with the following results already achieved:

  • Improved workflow
  • Adaptable workforce
  • Efficiencies expected to be plus 20%
  • Designated visitor route with information points
  • A safer environment to work in.

Further amendments will continue to be made as we look to adapt and optimise to keep providing the best service possible to our customers.

Britplas proudly become founder patrons for Warrington Youth Club

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Commercial glazing specialist, Britplas, based in Woolston Grange, has recently become a founder patron of Onside Warrington Youth Club. The company led by Kevin Gorman, John Blackwell and Colin Duncan has been working closely with the charity to gain a clear understanding of the impact that the new Warrington Youth Zone will have in the town. Employing over 90 people locally, the company is firmly grounded in Warrington and has strong connections with the local community.

Warrington Youth Club is the largest voluntary sector youth club in the town and currently works with over 2000 young people each month from ages 7-25. They believe in “Inspiring young people to achieve”. As well as their action-packed school holiday clubs they support young people with social, emotional, fitness, educational and personal development programmes. The club is currently raising funds to create a new purpose built Youth Zone at Winwick Street, Warrington which will provide them with a permanent base from which they can continue to provide excellent social and educational opportunities for children and young people from across Warrington every day of the year.

Britplas’ support as a founder patron includes a financial commitment over the next four years and the company will be encouraging staff to get involved in fundraising and other volunteering opportunities. Through this invaluable support the charity will move a step closer to making the vision of a new Youth Zone in Warrington a reality.

Colin Duncan of Britplas, commented “We are very proud to be associated with OnSide Warrington Youth Club and the development of a purpose built Youth Zone in Warrington. As a local business, we are always keen to give back to the community in which we operate and our staff are really looking forward to getting behind the cause and doing some fundraising.

The new facility will allow the charity to give local young people the same excellent support and opportunities they have in many other towns across the country.”

Dave McNicholl, CEO said “I am delighted that Kevin, John, Colin and the team from Britplas have decided to support OnSide Warrington Youth Club, we recently had the opportunity to talk at their staff conference and one issue connecting us both is mental health. One of our members explained how the Youth Club had provided a support net for her when she was faced with severe mental health issues. As a registered charity we are not guaranteed funding and rely on supporters and fundraising. Founder Patrons give us a regular source of income towards the development of the Youth Zone and its running costs which currently stand at £1,250,000.

We are absolutely thrilled to have them on board as we enter the next stage of the development of the charity which was established in Warrington in 1930.”

Annual Britplas Team Conference

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Britplas recently held its Annual Team Conference at Craxton Hall near Chester.

A fixture in the Britplas calendar since 2014, the day sees all employees coming together for a review of business progress over the past year and an update on strategy and targets moving forward, followed by some fun team-building activities. Staff also received an introduction to Warrington Youth Club, which Britplas will be supporting as a founder patron from 2018. “Our annual away day is an important fixture in the Britplas calendar” commented Britplas Chairman Kevin Gorman. “Bringing the team together helps reinforce one of our core values, being Better Together, and it’s important to reflect as a business on where we’ve been and where we’re going next.”

Following the morning’s presentations, the latter part of the day consisted of 90+ employees competing in the Crystal Maze, luckily, in some nice Cheshire weather.  The mixture of mental and physical activities tested the 12 groups with the Blue team coming out on top by one extra ticket collected in the Dome.

Britplas reach finals of Building Awards Specialist Contractor of the Year

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We are delighted to announce that we have reached the finals of the Building Awards 2017 in the Specialist Contractor of the Year category.

The Building Awards are the industry’s longest running and most prestigious recognition of excellence, celebrating the best of the UK’s construction sector.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday 7th November.

For a full list of finalists click here.

Britplas shortlisted in Construction News Specialists Awards

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BW54_CN_SPECIALIST-AWARDS_LOGO_FINALIST_PURPLEBritplas are delighted to announce that we are finalists for the second year running in the Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover up to £25m) category of the Construction News Specialists Awards.

Highly commended in the same category last year, Britplas has since gone from strength to strength. Making the shortlist again recognises the talent and hard work of all our employees.

The Construction News Specialists Awards bring together members of the construction industry who have excelled in their area of expertise over the prior year. The next stage of the awards will see all finalists presenting to a panel of judges, with the winners being announced at an event at the Hilton Park Lane, London on 24th February 2016.

“We are delighted to make the shortlist for the Specialist Contractor of the Year award, being recognised by our peers is the best praise we could ask for” notes John Blackwell, commercial director.

“The team we’ve built at Britplas is really geared towards continued excellence, not just in terms of sales but performance and delivery – and I think this is reflected in this accolade.”

Britplas security fencing is a winner at the Building Better Healthcare Awards

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Britplas have won an award for their innovative Fortress Fencing at the Building Better Healthcare Awards.

The awards celebrate innovation, architecture, people, products and services that are helping to transform patient care in the UK and Britplas learned of their success at an awards ceremony held at The Brewery in Central London on the 5th November.

Fortress Fencing is an innovative perimeter security system which allows the use of digital images (end user art, landscapes, photos, graphics) to enhance the patient experience by creating an aesthetically pleasing and calming environment, all within a safe, enclosed area.

This product was initially developed, without art, to enhance the privacy, safety and security of mental health patients in outside areas and incorporates a perforated mesh cloaking system that is strong, anti-ligature, anti-climb and prevents the passing of contraband.

The clever design of the fencing, and its associated mesh, allows patients to view the outside world whilst making it difficult for passers-by to observe the enclosed area. The product won the Best Product for Improving Privacy and Dignity category at the awards because of these unique characteristics.

“Our fencing was developed after we recognised a genuine need in the market for something which could enhance surroundings whilst also fulfilling an important security function, providing protection to both patients and members of the public” commented Britplas Chairman Kevin Gorman.

“We’re delighted to receive this award, but even more rewarding for us is the knowledge that we are contributing to an improved patient experience for service users.”