As another year comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on all that we have achieved in 2018, and think about the challenges which lie ahead in 2019.

For us, it’s been a year of amazing highs – being accepted onto the LHC windows and doors framework for the first time, becoming the first company in the UK to achieve a Gold rating in the GGF’s GLASS health and safety scheme, and winning a record third G-Awards Installer of the Year title.

That’s been down to the incredible commitment of our entire team of course, who have not just worked harder than ever before but smarter too, implementing new process and service initiatives to make us even more efficient, and even more responsive to customers.

Just twelve months after it installed windows and doors in a brand new extension at Demelza Hospice Care for Children’s Eltham hospice, The Window Company (Contracts) has been helping the charity out again by repairing and refurbishing all of the fire doors at its hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent.

Demelza provides specialist care and emotional support for children with terminal conditions, whether in family homes across East Sussex or in the family hospices in Sittingbourne and Eltham. Demelza can help families and their loved ones enjoy their time together, for as long as they have.

With fire safety currently under such intense national and local scrutiny, The Window Company (Contracts) has ensured that all 110 doors in the children’s hospice now meet the most up to date requirements.

When Rehau launched its co-extruded PVC-U window and door profile at the start of this year, we were quick to see the potential.

Part of the established Rehau TOTAL70 range, this is a new profile which wraps virgin material around a recycled core. It is a more sustainable alternative to traditional PVC-U profiles, but without any compromise on finish, colour, performance or durability.

While we are not seeing any great clamour for eco-friendly PVC-U windows from many of our clients as yet – their main focus is on how we collect and recycle the PVC-U windows we remove – we do think that it’s important for us to have this product in our range so that we can help to drive demand.

I’m thrilled to announce that we have been nominated in the Installer of the Year category at this year’s G-Awards – the Oscars of the glass and glazing industry.

This is the fifth time we’ve been nominated in this category and we have twice been winners – back in 2014 and 2015, so we’ve definitely got our fingers crossed that we can make it a hat trick this time around.

Winning an award like this is obviously great for our marketing and publicity, but the boost it gives to every single member of the amazing team here to be recognised as the best of the best by colleagues in our own industry really can’t be underestimated.

Award winning commercial installer The Window Company (Contracts) has become an LHC Appointed Company for the first time, after being appointed to the public sector procurement group’s Framework Agreements for both PVC-U and timber window and door products.

From 1^st August 2018, the Chelmsford based company is listed on the Home Counties, London and East Anglia frameworks for PVC-U and on the South East England framework for timber.

This was the first time that the Chelmsford based company had tendered to join any LHC framework, so it was a significant achievement to be named on both at the first attempt.

The Window Company (Contracts) has appointed a new Order Processor to ensure that it delivers a seamless service to Basildon Council, where it has recently won the window and door replacement contract.

Natalie Bell will be dedicating most of her time to this single contract, processing and inputting orders from the company’s range of specialist window, door and glazing suppliers.

With more than 10 years’ experience in the window industry, Natalie brings with her significant industry and technical knowledge and will be assisting with everything from building control queries to estimating and pricing.

Direct working delivering value for money for Moat: Just 20 weeks into its window and door replacement framework for Moat, The Window Company (Contracts) completed its 500^th installation – and presented chocolates and flowers to the lucky customer.

The specialist commercial installer is working on Moat properties throughout Essex, London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex as part of the current programme, and is delighting residents, with average KPI scores on the project running at 9.9/10.