June 2020

Industry News
More news, updates and interviews at www.total-contractor.co.uk
BRANCH MANAGER SEWS FOR CHARITY
VAT LIFELINE
An SIG Roofing branch manager,
inspired by the recent 75th
Anniversary of VE Day, has
been raising money for the NHS
by making and selling Union
Jack embossed facemasks.
Peter Goodson, Manager of SIG Roofing’s Dudley
branch, was inspired to make the PPE after seeing
the extraordinary work carried out by frontline
healthcare professionals during the Covid-19
pandemic.
In total, Peter handmade over one hundred
facemasks all featuring the Union Jack as a
tribute to the servicemen and women who gave
their lives during the Second World War. He sold
them for up to £5, with all the proceeds going
directly to NHS charities, as well as the RSPCA
and NSPCC.
Peter said: “These are truly extraordinary times,
with our brave healthcare professionals
carrying out fantastic work in often
difficult circumstances. I wanted to play
my part in giving something back, and
what better way than making facemasks
that also celebrate the bravery of previous
generations.
“The facemasks started as a small project on my
Facebook page, but once word got out in the local
community, it was hard to keep up with demand!
I’ve been blown away with the response, but I’m
mostly just pleased I’ve been able to a give a little
back to a cause that means so much to all of us.”
Stuart Base, Marketing Director at SIG Roofing,
added: “The whole team here at SIG is incredibly
proud of Peter’s fundraising efforts. In these
uncertain and challenging times, it’s great to see
someone go above and beyond to spread a little
cheer and raise money for such a vital cause.”
It has been announced that the domestic
reverse charge VAT for construction services
will be delayed for a period of five months,
from 1st October 2020 until 1st March 2021,
due to the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic on the construction sector.
In response to the announcement, NFRC Chief
Executive, James Talman said: “I am delighted
that the Government have heeded industry’s call
to delay this disruptive policy. Those extra few
months will be a lifeline for many construction
firms. This change would have dried up cash flow
in the supply chain just as firms started to
recover from the impact of Covid-19. However,
there is no guarantee that the industry will be
ready for the changes next March, and we would
like to have seen a longer delay, or even scrapping
the idea entirely. The Government should keep this
policy continually under review and consider
extending this delay if needed.”
SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS HELP SALES GROW IN TOUGH TIMES
Roofgiant, the online roofing merchant, has
reported unprecedented sales during the
COVID-19 pandemic, largely thanks to its
ability to work with suppliers to ensure
industry and consumers have access to its
product range during lockdown.
While some suppliers have understandably suffered
with issues related to their supply chain and
manufacturing capabilities, Roofgiant says it has
been able to offer solutions due to its large inventory
offering and close ties with the roofing industry. With
close to 30,000 products available to buy online,
Roofgiant has been able to support construction
projects which have continued during lockdown, as
well as the general public who have used the extra
time to complete DIY projects at home.
Having only entered the market in October 2018,
the supplier says the coronavirus pandemic has
been a steep learning curve for the team. A record
month in May saw an incredible 4000% increase
on the previous year and resulted in the sales
team taking on extra members of staff to ensure
customers’ queries and orders could be dealt with
as efficiently as possible in difficult trading
conditions.
Paul Allsop, Operations Manager, said: “When the
lockdown began we weren’t sure what to expect as
we knew a lot of construction projects would come
to a halt. However, what we’ve seen is that plenty of
smaller projects have continued and many
customers are attempting jobs themselves, when
previously they may have employed someone from
the trade to do it for them. Our sales of VELUX
windows in particular have shown that home
renovations or new builds have continued during
lockdown. Between April and May alone we saw a
near 100% increase in our sales of VELUX, along
with large increases in lead flashing, roof tiles and
corrugated sheeting.”
Like every other business, Roofgiant has had to
adapt and adjust to the challenges COVID-19 has
presented. This has included keeping in close
contact with suppliers, many of whom have
furloughed staff to ensure product ranges are still
available, while making sure customers are aware
of increased lead times and the necessary
distancing rules that apply upon delivery.
“As a relatively new business, this coronavirus
pandemic has presented us with our first real
challenge, both operationally and financially”, said
Elaine Gardner, Commercial & Operations Manager.
“We’ve worked hard with our digital and marketing
teams to ensure our website is up to date and we’re
being as open as we can with customers. Now, more
than ever, trust is so important and we’ve made
sure this has been a key consideration in every
decision we’ve made.”
10 TC JUNE 2020