VIEWPOINT


NAVIGATING MODEST POST-BUDGET GROWTH


Shane Kerlin, managing director (UK & Ireland) of Keylite Roof Windows


THE BUDGET OUTLINED plans for £5 billion in housing initiatives, including increasing the supply of affordable homes and hiring additional planning officers to support housebuilding. While these measures align with Labour’s target of delivering 1.5 million homes over the next five years, the road ahead will require careful navigation to turn these ambitions into meaningful outcomes for the industry. Against this backdrop, the industry is seeing a cautious sense of optimism. According to the latest National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) report, nearly half of roofing contractors expect their workloads to increase in the coming year.


At Keylite, we remain focused on what matters most – our customers. By enhancing our product offerings and maintaining a strong commitment to service, we aim to support the evolving needs of our partners and stakeholders while contributing to sustainable progress in the construction sector.


Improving margins Although 2024 started with weather-related delays that impacted the entire industry, there are promising signs of recovery as new-build activity rises and merchant footfall increases. Improving the margin for merchants is paramount to Keylite. Last year we proudly supported our merchant partners to improve their margin by up to 70% compared to competitor products.


With pioneering design and the latest precision manufacturing, Keylite offers quality, value for money and award-winning customer service across our full range of roof windows, blinds, timber loft ladders, flashings,


electric operation kits and accessories.


Customer-centric I firmly believe that Keylite’s personalised approach to customer service sets us apart. Our dedicated customer and technical teams are deeply commitmented to supporting our merchant partners with expert advice, product knowledge, regulatory compliance and sustainability guidance. This approach places the customer at the heart of every interaction. We take pride in working closely with our customers, understanding their needs and delivering tailored, innovative solutions quickly and reliably, with the agility to respond to shifting market conditions.


This year, we introduced new systems to enhance commercial analysis, enabling the business to provide deeper insights for our customers. Internally, we have fostered a customer-centric culture, empowering every team member to anticipate needs and deliver a highly personalised service.


And just recently, merchants voted Keylite ‘Roofing Supplier of the Year’ at the BMJ Industry Awards – underscoring our dedication to the merchants who drive our success.


Investing in tomorrow, today


With new regulations on the horizon in 2025, Keylite’s product development remains focused on both technical and commercial needs.


The Future Homes Standard (FHS), for example, will come into effect in England in 2025 to improve the energy efficiency of new homes.


Keylite’s Integrated Expanding December 2024 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 15


Thermal Collar is just one feature that helps meet Part L and FHS requirements by addressing cold bridging at the window-roof junction. Designed as a standard feature and included at no extra cost, this innovation exemplifies our commitment to energy efficiency and regulatory readiness. Over recent years we have invested substantially in our manufacturing facilities to modernise and automate production and distribution. These upgrades ensure that Keylite can deliver quality at scale to meet the growing needs of


merchants and their customers. This year we strengthened our leadership team with the addition of James Malkin as sales director and Joan Esmann as finance director, bringing fresh expertise to the company.


Keylite also continues to invest in product innovation, with several exciting new product launches planned for early 2025. As one of the core brands of the Keystone Group, Keylite has innovation embedded in its DNA and is ready to help shape the future of the UK construction industry.


BMJ


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