L-R Mark Wadsworth (Managing Director, Senior Architectural Systems), Peter Hansford (Chief Construction Adviser to the Government) and Bernard Harrison (Business Development Manager, Senior Architectural Systems).

Peter Hansford, Chief Construction Adviser to the Government, has visited leading fenestration design and manufacturer Senior Architectural Systems as part of his ongoing fact finding tour of the UK construction industry.

Mr Hansford chairs the Government Construction Board, created to deliver the Government’s Industrial Construction Strategy “Construction 2025”, which aims to reduce the cost of construction procurement to the public sector and progress the transition to a low carbon economy.

Peter was welcomed to Senior’s Head Quarters in Denaby by Chairman Lennart Jonsson, Managing director Mark Wadsworth, Director Steve Wightman and Business Development Manager Bernard Harrison.

Discussions covered a wide range of topics including problems facing the construction industry. Lennart Jonsson explained that the main problem was late payment (and sometimes non-payment) by contractors, which was creating cash flow problems and putting many suppliers and sub-contractors out of business.

Mr. Hansford was able to see the contribution that Senior is making towards “Construction 2025” with reduced CO² and energy savings initiatives throughout the company. He was particularly impressed by Senior’s product development and delighted to hear that the company’s new PURe range of aluminium windows can significantly improve a project’s carbon footprint thanks to an innovative polyurethane thermal barrier which gives ultra-low U values.

Peter Hansford viewing the powder coating facility at Senior Architectural Systems

As for the future, Mark Wadsworth explained that Senior works with local schools and academies to promote construction as a valuable career option. This year Senior is sponsoring a competition called ‘Buildings of the Future’ which encourages pupils, aged 6 – 18, to draw their interpretation of how buildings will look in the future. The winning entries will be displayed at Senior’s head office.

After lunch Peter was given a tour of the Denaby facility, including the state-of-the art waste reducing powder coating line and new Biomass boiler installation, which generates enough energy to provide free heating throughout the factory.

Commenting on the visit Mr. Hansford said “Companies like Senior Architectural Systems are the backbone of the UK construction industry. Innovation and a strong environmental ethos are vital if the Government are to achieve their vision for the construction industry and from my visit today, it is clear to see that both are in strong supply at Senior. We now need to make renewed efforts to address the issue of late payment by main contractors to put the construction industry on a firmer footing for the future.”