Kingsland Grange opens its doors

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Britplas recently welcomed over 60 key supplier accounts to its offices on a warm Friday afternoon in Warrington.

Britplas’ first Supplier Day was held with the aim of providing an update on key elements of our procurement strategy as well as our overall vision for the business moving forward. The day provided an opportunity for suppliers to engage with the wider Britplas team, and learn a little more about key pipeline projects as well as receiving a tour of the Britplas factory.

A reliable, high quality supply chain is crucial in helping us to achieve the consistently high standards of service and product which our clients expect and in line with our key business value of Better Together, we are committed to continuing to develop and nurture these relationships.

Our Chairman, Kevin Gorman commented “No matter how well an organisation is run, it can only be as good as the companies that supply the goods and materials it needs to deliver a quality project, having a specific day where we can bring our supply network together to show the big picture, made everyone feel included and appreciated.”

We’d like to thank all those who attended, and with plenty of positive feedback already, we are looking forward to making this a regular event.

The day was rounded off with some drinks locally in Stockton Heath, followed by England in the World Cup!

Britplas take BIM to the next level

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Britplas are proud to announce that we are the first subcontractor in the UK to achieve BIM Level 2 accreditation with Lloyds Register EMEA (LR).

Attaining Level 2 shows Britplas’ commitment to becoming a fully BIM compliant company, along with the advantages that this brings for both our clients and partners. Building Information Modelling (BIM) involves digitally constructing a facility before it is built. The process allows for greater project collaboration, and can bring significant efficiencies in information exchange, training processes and risk mitigation.

Britplas have completed several projects using BIM Level 2, including Project Capella, a new state of the art laboratory building at Cambridge University.

At the core of BIM Level 2 is compliance with the standard PAS 1192. The Lloyds accreditation goes beyond this, however, and also introduces business best practice principles into the scope of assessment.

Areas which Lloyds assessed within the company include

  • advanced 3D modelling tools;
  • appropriate standards
  • methods;
  • procedures;
  • skills;
  • competencies; and
  • infrastructures

Our in-house design and health and safety teams worked closely with Lloyds to ensure that we continue to be compatible with the very latest our industry has to offer. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Stuart Duncan and the team at Britplas on their BIM journey” said Andrew Carter, Lead BIM Assessor (LR).

Presenting their BIM certificate Karl Miller, Utilities Manager (LR) said “We’re seeing a more diverse range of companies now achieving BIM Level 2 accreditation. As a commercial glazing specialist Britplas are showing that this accreditation is not just for architects and constructors”.

Tour d’Italia complete!

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Late last night the intrepid 5 completed the 532 mile, 5 day challenge finally finishing on time in Sorrento, Italy.

They had to overcome landslides taking the road away, the searing Italian heat and several punctures – but still managed to complete the challenge late on day 5. The last day also proved to be the toughest with over 6,000 ft. climbed as they summited the spine of the Italian peninsula.

The ride was in aid of Warrington Youth Zone, raising money to mentor the children of drug or alcohol dependent parents, giving them a break from stressful home situations. The total money raised now stand at £3,200 with hundreds more yet to be collected from forms handed out in the local area, watch this space!

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

We’re all immensely proud of what the lads have achieved; all 4 riders and the support driver are now enjoying a well-deserved holiday on the Amalfi Coast.

Follow the fly throughs of each leg below!

Check out Leg 1 Venice to Rimini 120 miles on Relive! httpss://www.relive.cc/view/1469626362

Check out Leg 2 Rimini to Porto Sanpedo on Relive! httpss://www.relive.cc/view/1471556096

Check out Leg 3 Porto Sanpedo to Vasto Marina on Relive! httpss://www.relive.cc/view/1473074171

Check out Leg 4 Vasto to Campbosa (Strava lost GPS👎) on Relive! httpss://www.relive.cc/view/1474630349

Check out Leg 5 Campobasso to Sorrento on Relive! httpss://www.relive.cc/view/1476782343

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.”