For the UK, 2021 has been a year of recovery. The result is a much stronger economy than expected. In fact, according to the latest data from the independent office for Budget Responsibility, the UK economy is set to grow by 6.5% in 2021, that’s the fastest growth rate since 1973.

For Senior too, 2021 has been a year of recovery. Whilst sales took a dip because of the pandemic in 2020, in 2021 we bounced back, with turnover up 16% on the previous year and we confidently expect to grow by at least the same amount in 2022.

All furloughed staff have returned to work, although some are now working from home, and we have recruited additional employees to keep pace with the upturn in sales.

This success is down to the hard work of our staff, the competitiveness of our innovative products and the quality of our legendary customer service. We were determined to “Build Back Better”, with improved products and a focus on sustainability, enabling us to play our part in combating climate change. Here are just a few of the highlights of 2021:

• Improved products

  PURe^® Windows

  Our PURe^® range of windows and doors are some of the most energy efficient on the market, thanks to their innovative patented thermal break. In fact, they can achieve U values as low as 0.71 W/m²K when calculated as a commercial CEN standard window. Now we’ve gone one step further, by improving the design of the PURe^® Tilt & Turn window.

  

  With the same outstanding thermal performance and PAS24:2016 Enhanced Security as the original, the new improved PURe^® Tilt & Turn System has concealed hinges for a sleeker aesthetic, is quicker to install with no need for end cuts, and faster to fabricate with base sets for the new gearing supplied in time-saving kits.

  SF52 Curtain Wall

  Already our most thermal efficient curtain walling system, we have now replaced the original rigid thermal break of SF52 with a co-extruded thermal break. This forms a better seal between the thermal break and pressure plate, resulting in an even better performance, by accommodating deviations in glass and system components more effectively.

  

  SF52 curtain walling installed at the new sports centre at the University of Stirling.

• Greater Choice

  We’ve also introduced new options to give clients more choice, architects greater design freedom and fabricators a winning range. These include:

  Ali SLIDE Doors

  – a new range of high-end, stainless-steel hardware has been added to our most popular aluminium sliding doors. This includes a Pull Handle, Mini Lever and Escutcheon. High quality, endlessly elegant and built to last.

  Ali VU Windows

  – this slimline range of aluminium windows is now available in three new frame options, Ali VU Deep Ovolo Casement Window, Ali VU Flush Ovolo Casement Window and Ali VU Deep Flush Ovolo Casement Window.

  PURe® TILT & TURN Windows

  – as well as improving the design of these windows, you can now choose from two new handles with a clean contemporary design. The TBT handle is available in Satin Nickel, Black and White, and the Plug-In handle is available in Silver, Black and White.
  

  TBT – Locking

  

  Plug-In Handle locking

  

  Plug-In Handle non-locking

• More efficient manufacture

  We know how important a quick turnaround is to our customers. So, to speed up production of our Ali VU windows, we introduced a non-handed polyamide strip dramatically cutting manufacturing time whilst achieving the same thermal performance with an identical fabrication process.

• Better information

  To save our customers time, we’ve now published all the acoustic information for our most popular products in once single booklet, which can be easily downloaded from our website here. We’ve also updated and restructured our technical manuals to make them even easier to use.

• Stronger relationships

  Our team of Architectural Advisors has worked hard to establish agreements with some of the UK’s largest and most respected main contractors, including Willmott Dixon, Bowmer & Kirkland, Morgan Sindall, John Sisk, Galliford Try, Interserve and Robertson Group. This has resulted in stronger relationships and a more collaborative approach to new projects, which has led to cost efficiencies, better use of tax payers’ money, smarter ways of working including use of BIM, specification of more energy efficient products and improved outcomes all round.

  

  Andrew Cooper our National Specification and Main Contractor Relationships Manager receiving Morgan Sindall’s National Supply Chain Family Member Award from Dean Jetson, Supply Chain Manager for Morgan Sindall, Midlands and Thames Valley.

  At the start of this year Senior was named as the overall winner of the Morgan Sindall’s national ‘Supply Chain Family Member Award’ for 2020 which recognises and rewards the team’s positive work ethic, from early tender support to help with design and estimating, and offering practical assistance during the fabrication and installation stages.

• Stand out projects

  In 2021, we have been involved with some of the UK’s most prestigious projects. This includes the regeneration of Doncaster town centre with the completion of both the stunning Danum Gallery, Library and Museum and the contemporary Cinema and restaurant complex in the new cultural quarter of this historic railway town.

  

  The spectacular façade at the new Danum Gallery, Library and Museum in Doncaster

  We’ve also supplied glazing packages to several University projects, including student accommodation at the Arts University Bournemouth, where extensive use of our thermally efficient windows and doors enabled a “Very Good” BREEAM rating to be achieved. Over the border into Scotland, we also helped to deliver a new state of the art sports centre at the University of Stirling, helping it to cement its status as Scotland’s top university for sporting excellence. The glazing provides tantalizing views of the Sport’s Centre’s focal point – a cylindrical drum housing the main fitness suite. Vertical timber frames are spaced around the cylinder to give the illusion of motion, animating the views from both inside and outside the gym.

• 30th Anniversary Celebrations

  In April we celebrated our 30th anniversary. Founded in 1991, Senior has grown to become the UK’s largest privately owned fenestration systems company with a turnover of over £42 Million and more than 170 employees. Our Managing Director Mark Wadsworth attributes this success to putting the customer first, developing innovative products, embracing new technology, investing for the future, protecting the environment and providing ongoing training for both staff and customers.

• Looking forward to 2022

  With the New Year in sight, we’ve already made exciting plans to make 2022 an even better year than 2021:

  New Showroom

  Covid restrictions over the last 2 years meant that we had to close our showrooms. This gave us the perfect opportunity to completely revamp our main showroom in Denaby. The brand-new showroom will open in early 2022, and will be the perfect place to showcase our innovative systems to customers. There will also be a display section with samples highlighting colours and hardware, plus a state-of-the-art meeting room and entertainment space for future events. To arrange a visit, simply call us on 01709 772600 and we will make sure that someone is available to guide you through our showroom.

  Ready for Changes to Part L

  June 2022 is now set as the date for the changes to Part L of the building regulations for both non domestic buildings and dwellings to come into force. The aim of these changes is to reduce CO2 emissions for new homes by 31% compared to current standards. Further changes are expected over the next 4 years to reach the Government’s goal of a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions for new homes by 2025 (The Future Homes Standard). And looking further ahead more changes will be needed to meet the Government’s target to bring the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

  Part of the way in which the Government hopes to achieve this reduction is to require the use of more thermally efficient glazing. For example, minimum U values for windows in new non-domestic buildings will be significantly lowered from 2.2 W/m²K to 1.6 W/m²K for windows.

  Fortunately, we’re ahead of the game and have been working hard to develop more energy efficient products. Because of our forward thinking, our PURe^® range of windows and doors already greatly exceed these requirements. Indeed, our PURe^® windows offer U values as low as 0.71 W/m²K when calculated as a commercial CEN standard window. This means our products will more than satisfy UK Building Regulations for many years to come, and provide an easy solution to complying with the new regulations.

  

  The thermal efficiency of the PURe^® range of windows and doors will more than satisfy UK Building Regulations for many years to come.

  
  

  Focus on Sustainability

  Following COP 26 in Glasgow in November, there is now even more world-wide interest in how we can all work together to combat climate change. At Senior, sustainability and looking after our environment has always been a priority. We have already introduced many initiatives to reduce our impact on the planet, make the best use of the world’s finite resources and protect our environment. And we’re committed to continuing to reduce our carbon emissions to play our part in saving the planet for future generations. Last year we signed up to the Government’s climate change agreement. This means that we are committed to reducing our energy usage by 8% every year until 2025. To help us achieve this, we will be introducing a new fleet of eco-friendly trucks in 2022.

  Thank you to all our customers for your support in 2021. We wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. You can find our Christmas and New Year opening times here