Shadow Chancellor calls in on Anglian Home Improvements

(02^nd February 2015)

Anglian Home Improvements welcomed the Shadow Chancellor, Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, to its Ossett branch in West Yorkshire on 23 January to discuss key industry issues, including how to boost energy efficiency within the UK housing stock.

The visit was organised through the industry body, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), as part of its strategy to lobby GGF members’ MPs on industry concerns in the run-up to the General Election on 7 May.

Ed Balls with Anglian staff
Following the visit, Ossett branch manager, Mark Allen, said, “It was a successful meeting and a pleasure to meet Mr Balls. He was very receptive to our concerns and the broader campaigns that the GGF is lobbying for our industry, including issues around the overly complex and bureaucratic Green Deal and the GGF’s ‘Cut the VAT’ campaigns on home improvement, maintenance and repair work and on energy efficient windows.

“We discussed the sales of energy efficient windows to the residential market and outlined how reducing VAT to the rate of 5 per cent instead of the standard rate of 20 per cent would benefit the customer, putting A Rated and A+ Rated windows within more homeowners’ reach financially, as well as helping to reduce carbon emissions and enable companies like Anglian to boost the economy by providing additional employment opportunities.”

While being shown around the depot, Mr Balls was interested to learn that Anglian is the only vertically integrated manufacturer and direct seller of windows in the UK. He expressed an interest in finding out more about the company and indicated that he would like to visit Anglian’s main manufacturing base in Norwich, which covers over 300,000 square feet, to learn more about the industry and issues.

Giles Willson, GGF Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Technical Affairs, said, “It was a pleasure to support Anglian for this high profile visit and I am pleased our campaigns resonated with Mr Balls. We are delighted to offer further opportunities to meet with the Shadow Chancellor and to provide more detailed information on our multiple campaigns.”

Return to Current News