To say it was an intense year is an understatement, 2011 has been one of our biggest ever. We broke our long-standing sales record for business written in one day, writing over three quarters of a million pounds of business on Thursday 17th November.

This on the back of a huge, nationwide energy saving media campaign, including TV, radio and internet, right from the start of 2011, and which saw the launch of the new and upgraded double glazing products, including the A-rated Eco Diamond Window, Sliding Sash windows and Astragal Bars range.

It is amazing to think of the successful achievements in the context of another year of economic turmoil, with a "double dip" recession, European financial crisis, and energy bills going through the roof. It's heartening to know that British business can still do well in an adverse economic climate.

Next year promises to be an even tougher economic year, and what with the Olympics and European Championships vying for the public's attention, we'll have to be well on top of our game too! We have several new exciting products that we're really looking forward to launching shortly.

From all at Safestyle UK, have a well-deserved festive break, a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

Let's make 2012 an even better year!

We've been showing our support for Children in Need year after year, raising money through raffles and the very popular 'dress down days' where employees donate £1 or more to leave their suits and ties behind for a day.

The amount raised this year was higher than ever before and to top it off our management team then doubled the total amount.

Thanks to everyone for their generous donations, with a special mention to Lesley Tempest-Mitchell from the Safestyle UK Accounts Department for organising the raffle, and to Victoria Tate for her thorough collection of donations!

Here’s his story:

The Safestyle Eco Diamond Window is going down a storm, and speaking of storms, winter's just around the corner and with our window A-rated as standard it will help customers save energy and cut those dreaded heating bills right down.

The demand means that at Safestyle, manufacturing never lets up, even in these tough economic climes, but we're always trying to improve things – we've got lots of developments in the pipeline to further improve product quality and deliver even better customer service and satisfaction.

And with nationwide concerns over security and safety much in the news lately, our highly-rated windows and doors, with their high security multi-point locking systems and robust construction, will keep the burglars out and give you peace of mind.

But our products and service are not the only things winning awards! We've received another award recognising the hard work put in to achieve our industry-leading safety record, the International Safety Award, which Safestyle have won for the 11th time.

As we continue to grow, we're constantly recruiting and recently the volume of online job applications has been booming even more than usual. Apprenticeships have also been in the offing down at the factory, with an incredible response to a limited number of available apprenticeships. One of our latest recruits has even won an award – 18-year old Sarah Borrino won the Learner Achievement Award from Independent Training Services.

Look out for our latest Safestyle videos and TV ads on the Safestyle YouTube channel.

Well that’s precisely what Safestyle prize draw winners are entitled to! That’s right, winners of the Diamond Club prize draw get their full outstanding balance for their Safestyle windows and doors paid off in full, and the latest prize draw took place in May.

This time the lucky winner was Miss Claire Brawn, of Billingshurst, West Sussex, who has had her balance of £1,557 paid off by Safestyle as a result of her winning the draw. Her partner Mr Phil Cheeseman was presented with a bottle of champagne and an official certificate.

Making the presentation was Safestyle Sales Representative Shahin Rostami, who sold them their windows and doors from our Brighton branch, and he said: “I’m very happy for Miss Brawn and it was a pleasure to present the prize. As a Representative of Safestyle I’m proud that we can make something like this possible, to provide such a fantastic opportunity for couples and families everywhere to have their superb double glazing home improvements paid for them.”

Safestyle’s valued finance customers automatically become members of our Diamond Club, through which they can take advantage of exclusive offers as well as automatic entry into the quarterly prize draw. The first ever draw was in February 2008.

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Miss Brawn!

The Window Man, who has fronted many of our television and radio advertising campaigns since 1999, featured on David Walliams' Awfully Good Ads on Friday 15th April.

The show uncovers a host of weird and wonderful adverts, with highlights including ill-advised celebrity-fronted campaigns and bizarre products from around the world.

Jeff said: "It's an honour to have our advertising campaign recognised on this level, we've clearly made a big impression on viewers which is great news!"

Since taking up his role as the face of Safestyle UK 12 years ago, Jeff has become a household name, instantly recognisable thanks to his "BOGOF" catchphrase used to promote the company's affordable and energy efficient windows and doors.

The double glazing TV ad which propelled the Window Man to stardom was none other than "Pushover", which recently made a return to TV screens across the nation, and can be seen on Safestyle’s YouTube channel.

Jeff attended a charity auction night organised by family and friends of Bev Dransfield, who is receiving life-saving treatment in Arizona.

Jeff, compered the event, including an auction, to help campaigners raise a whopping £12,000 at the evening at Gomersal Cricket Club, West Yorkshire.

Jeff said: "After a whirlwind tour of Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Swindon, I was greeted at Gomersal by warm-hearted Yorkshire folk who gave very, very generously, and we even had a webcam link to Bev in Arizona."

Jeff added, "It was fantastic to talk to Bev and for her to see for herself how much her family and friends are rooting for her. I was also proud to be given the opportunity to represent Safestyle in presenting her Husband Lee with a cheque for £1,000 to add to the night’s total."

The event was organised by relatives of Bev, including Jonathan Fisher, who works at our Leeds branch.

Bev, 42, from Gomersal, West Yorkshire, is currently undergoing revolutionary treatment in the USA in a bid to finally beat breast cancer. After she was first diagnosed with the disease seven years ago, she underwent a full mastectomy with reconstructive surgery, and was given the all-clear.

Over the next few years, Bev and her friends helped to raise thousands of pounds for breast cancer charities by holding "pink parties" at the cricket club. But in November Bev was told the cancer had returned and had spread to her lungs, liver and lymphatic system. Medics gave her between two months and two years to live.

Refusing to give up, Bev and husband Lee left their sons George, 12, and Charlie, 10, on Boxing Day to set off for the clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently undergoing an alternative course of treatment involving low levels of chemotherapy, a special diet and homeopathic remedies.

Bev and husband Lee had already remortgaged their home to pay towards the £60,000 treatment but they still need to raise more so Bev can finish the course of treatment. The proceeds from the charity auction night will go a long way to helping and other events are planned.

At the charity auction, various items were donated by local businesses, including a signed England cricket top and a Leeds United shirt.

Jonathan said: "Everybody I have spoken to said the night was fantastic and Jeff really made the night. He was brilliant.

"We thought we might raise between £3,000 and £6,000 on the night but we have raised about £12,000 and there is more to come."

Jonathan Fisher, who works at our Leeds branch, is organising a charity event to help his sister Bev Dransfield.

Bev, 42, from Gomersal, West Yorkshire, is currently undergoing revolutionary treatment in the US state of Arizona in a last-ditch attempt to beat breast cancer.

She was first diagnosed with the disease seven years ago and after undergoing a full mastectomy and reconstructive surgery she was given the all-clear.

Over the next few years, Bev and her pals helped to raised thousands of pounds for breast cancer charities by holding "pink parties" at Gomersal Cricket Club near her home.

Sadly, Bev found out in November that the cancer had returned and had spread to her lungs, liver and lymphatic system and doctors gave her between two months and two years to live.

But Bev has refused to give up and on Boxing Day she and husband Lee left their sons George, 12, and Charlie, 10, to set off for the clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.

She is undergoing an alternative course of treatment involving low levels of chemotherapy, a special diet and homeopathic remedies.

Bev and Lee have already remortgaged their home to pay towards the £60,000 treatment but they still need to raise more. Now Jonathan and the rest of Bev's family and friends are trying to raise as much as they can so she can finish the treatment.

They have organised a fund-raising auction on February 4th at Gomersal Cricket Club. The fund-raising group is hoping to get local businesses involved to donate prizes for the auction and they have already received items such as a signed England cricket top and a signed Leeds United shirt.

Jonathan said: "The response so far has been extraordinary and we are hoping to raise between £3,000 and £6,000 at the fund raiser. We are also hoping Bev's children will be able to fly to Phoenix to see her during her treatment."

The event is on Friday 4th February from 7.30pm, at Gomersal Cricket Club. Tickets cost £10. For more information contact Jonathan on 07984 342581.

The 750-strong Market Research team have been supplied with the gear to keep them warm and dry during the rain and snow.

The canvassing kit includes clothing to tackle all types of severe weather, including waterpoofs, thermal gloves and socks, umbrellas, hats, jackets, and new innovations such as magic gel instant heat pads, which keep the hands warm.

We think our Market Research Agents are some of the hardest working people you'll ever meet, working outside in sometimes the harshest of conditions, so we feel it's our responsibility to help protect them from the elements.

The kit is certainly unique in the glazing industry and we would be surprised if there was anything comparable in other vocations.

The initial feedback we're getting from out in the field is that the new canvassing kit is going down a storm, giving Market Researchers more confidence to brave the weather and all it can throw at them.

The canvassers carry out market research and gauge public opinion on energy-efficient ways to save money. As they work entirely outdoors, they have to endure everything the great British weather throws at them, including one of the most severe cold snaps to hit the nation recently.

The canvass kit also contains a plethora of paraphernalia, including energy-saving information, leaflets and guides, plus easy ways the public can take advantage of to help improve their homes and reduce their energy bills.

We have even been helping to clear roads for residents near our factory in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Mark Scaife, our Operations Director of Manufacturing and Logistics, said today: “Our big priorities are the health and safety of our staff and our great customer service."

“This is why we needed to get our people into work safely and our delivery wagons out. The hill near one of our factories on Valley Road in Barnsley was covered in ice and snow and local residents couldn't get up it, everyone was sliding down or getting stuck and it was very dangerous."

“We were fortunate to find a local tractor driver with a snow plough who we remunerated for clearing the hill and keeping it and the local road to the factory clear, both for ourselves and local residents.”

We would also like to stress the importance of continuing to keep warm during the severe cold snap that has taken hold of the country, and we are now launching our super energy-efficient A-rated window to help customers prevent heat loss from their homes.

The British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) measures energy efficiency from A to G, with A being the most efficient.

It is vital to stay warm in the current big freeze and it is crucial that people achieve this by preventing heat escaping from their homes. Our new A-rated window will help to prevent heat loss and so will help to cut down on bills.

This is important, especially as energy providers are currently sending out news of their price increases to their customers, so reducing heat loss with double glazing is paramount.

Christian Hyde could not believe his luck when his name was pulled out in the our company’s Diamond Account prize draw. Mr Hyde, from Brockworth, Gloucestershire, scooped the £1,750 first prize after being entered for the draw as one of our thousands of customers.

He was automatically put in for the Diamond draw when he purchased new energy-saving Safestyle UK windows from our Swindon branch a year ago.

As the prize draw winner, Mr Hyde will now have his entire account balance for the installation of the uPVC double glazing frames paid off in full. By buying the new windows through one of our flexible payment packages, Mr Hyde became a member of the company’s Diamond Account Club, which offers an array of benefits for customers, including automatic entry into our famous quarterly prize giveaway.

Mr Hyde said: “Having installed Safestyle UK windows more than a year ago I'd forgotten all about the prize draw."

“It’s both a shock and a very pleasant surprise. I’m over the moon! Overall I am very pleased with the product and even more pleased for winning the prize.”

Our marketing executive Laura Middlemas, who presented Christian with his winner’s certificate and a bottle of champagne, added: “I was delighted to inform November’s winner of the great news. Mr Hyde was very happy to find out he’d won £1,750 and was very grateful for our call. The next prize giveaway will be drawn in February, so good luck to all our Safestyle customers.”

We are proud to unveil the latest in this long line of cult television promos.

Chorley-born Ken – who shot to fame playing randy Reg Holdsworth in Corrie in the 1990s – has reprised his role by starring in our wacky 30-second advert, which can be seen by clicking here.

The advert sees Ken playing a Reg Holdsworth-type character highlighting our latest deals for customers including 60% off windows and free fitting.

Ken is also playing a big part in this week’s Coronation Street 50^th anniversary celebrations, which will see carnage on the cobbles with a tram disaster and a special one-off live episode on Thursday.

He will also cook up a storm in a Coronation Street Come Dine With Me Special on Channel 4 tonight (Monday) when he is seen causing a stir with former co-stars including Julie Goodyear and Phil Middlemiss.

We are also poised to release more adverts in the coming weeks, which will feature Ken and Jeff “The Window Man” Brown.

We are thrilled that the pair have agreed to reprise their roles to promote the company’s latest deals.

Our adverts have already scooped the G05 Award (Best TV Campaign) and have also featured other celebrities such as the late Frank Sidebottom and comedy icons Cannon and Ball.

We appreciate our promotions have a genuine  Marmite effect on people – you either love or hate them – but we are proud of our adverts and it was great to see Ken in top form in the latest one.

We have redesigned the trailers of our Mercedes Axor vehicles with a series of colourful images. And our very own Window Man Jeff Brown, figures prominently on the new-look lorries.

Jeff is normally seen on our famous television adverts and he has recently reprised his role with former soap star Ken Morley, aka Coronation Street legend Reg Holdsworth, in a series of new promos. And, we have decided to place Jeff's distinctive face on our lorries.

The new imagery includes a series of pictures of Jeff on the rear of the vehicles. Other designs promote our award-winning company's energy-saving windows and doors, and ultra-secure composite doors.

The new images will be seen on Safestyle UK lorries on motorways up and down the country as we deliver frames to our firm's depots.

Andy Kyle, our UK Transport Supervisor, said: "Following the upgrade of our HGV fleet to the new Mercedes Axor, with the latest Euro 5 engines running with AdBlue Fuel additive, we felt it only right to also update the trailers with new eye-catching 'Buy One Get One Free' imagery.

"The additional fuel economy will certainly help in delivering our energy-saving windows and doors, together with Safestyle's brand new A-Rated window, which virtually sells itself.

"Economy is certainly the focus at the moment because more efficient delivery not only means savings for us by keeping our costs down and being 'greener' but those savings are passed on to all our customers nationwide."

Keith Jones, our UK Manufacturing Supervisor, said: "We currently deliver around 400 frames a week to each of our ten depots, ranging from Exeter to Darlington.

"We are currently producing around 4,300 per week over a two-shift system.  We believe the new fleet across the organisation will raise our brand awareness even further."

Well it's that time again and the latest winners of the prize draw have been announced: Mr and Mrs Lott of Southport are the lucky winners this time, and they're having their outstanding balance of £2,060 paid off in full!

"I was amazed when I found out we'd won the prize draw," said a delighted Mr Lott, "In the back of your mind you never think that you stand a chance of winning and it's certainly nice to know that companies do reward their customers. The windows are very good as well, so it's definitely a bonus on both sides. I'm still amazed now and thank Safestyle for their great service!"

If you're thinking of improving your home, why not take a look at Safestyle's award-winning double glazing, windows, doors, French and Patio doors? And it's easy to spread the cost with the Diamond Account – the next prize draw winner could be you!

Our customers have been reaping even more rewards with all the evolutions in our product designs, style, security and durability, and also the benefits that come with being Diamond Account Club Members. In the last months the quarterly prize draw, free to members, was held and the lucky winners announced. Miss Stasiak and Mr Kaczynski of Bradford, West Yorkshire, are the latest in the long line of winners dating back to 2007. They purchased their Safestyle replacement windows using the Diamond Account, our easy flexible payments plan, and as a result of winning the draw have had their outstanding balance of £2,430 paid off in full by Safestyle.

It's great to see our Safestyle customers winning in Bradford, particularly as that's where the company was founded and where our Head Office is still located. The Bradford and Yorkshire area were the historic springboard that propelled Safestyle double glazing to wider expansion and a national presence.

Miss Stasiak was overjoyed when informed of her win in the prize draw, especially as it came amidst tough economic times, and, as with previous prize draw winners, has proven to be a source of great happiness and help.

Amongst the many benefits included in Safestyle's flexible finance package are partnerships with companies providing various products and services, ranging from window blinds to holidays, to add even more value to being a Safestyle customer.

Watch out for the next prize draw taking place in the coming weeks – if you're already with Safestyle's Diamond Account Club, or thinking of becoming a customer and joining in the meantime, it could be you!

It all began in 1999 and the now-famous – some say infamous – debut titled "Pushover," coining his catchphrase "You buy one, you get one free" in his dulcet Burnley-accented tones, extolling the virtues of Safestyle's replacement windows and doors.

Decked out in green to begin with, the Safestyle "caped Crusader" made such a sustained impact that he was commissioned to do another ad, the now equally memorable "Swinging Windows," in 2003. This time he appeared resplendent in red, and has remained that way ever since, with the word "BOGOF" becoming a household word emulated by all.

Many more TV personalities were to follow, but Jeff "The Window Man" Brown continued to add to his Adography, having captured the public's imagination up and down the country and become one of the most recognisable faces on TV. Look out for his new ads, coming soon!

Not only can you fit any standard residential or composite door from the Safestyle range, you can choose the colour and profile that best matches your home. If you’re not sure, you’re just a click away from changing to another colour in an instant without having to fit it again. You can try a front or back door in the traditional white profile or the realistic wood effects of oak or rosewood, or if you’d like to try composite door, choose red, green, blue, black, white, oak or rosewood.

If you’d like to keep a copy of the house with your brand new door design, you can print or save the image. Or if you find yourself torn between two or several different designs and would like an opinion from friends and family, this is a really handy feature to use.

While the Door Visualiser contains the huge range of Safestyle doors and composite doors, there are still so many design features that haven’t yet been incorporated into the Visualiser – such as lead designs, coloured glass, bevels, handles, knockers, etc – so you can expect plenty of future upgrades to enable you to see just how good your home would look with the perfect designs to suit you, right down to the finest detail.

Find the perfect door for your home today!

The Safestyle quarterly prize draw is a part of the Diamond Account Club flexible payments finance package, where customers can enjoy various benefits, including discounts from various trusted partner companies, and automatic entry into the prize draw.

Winners are selected randomly and when John's lucky number came up, it meant that he could have the remaining outstanding balance of £1,484 on his windows paid off in full. "I'm thrilled to have won the Diamond Account Club draw," he said, "The money I've saved will go towards further improvements on my house, I'm planning on refitting the entire bathroom in time for Christmas!"

The latest Safestyle double glazing technology has been helping customers up and down the country save energy by keeping their houses warm and cosy, reducing heating requirements so you can turn your thermostat down and save money on your heating bills.

"I'm really happy with the quality of my new windows and the efficient service that Safestyle provided," added John, "I'm looking forward to the double glazing saving me more energy and money off my heating bills every month too."

Safestyle UK's Managing Director, Steve Birmingham, also commented: "It was a pleasure to inform Mr Griffin of winning the prize draw, and having his outstanding account balance paid off in full. We're pleased that our energy efficient windows will help him save energy and reduce his heating bills, not to mention add value to his home too.

"We're delighted that he was happy with the service that we provided and the standard of our products, as customer satisfaction is of great importance to us. I wish John the best of luck with his new home project."

The next lucky winner of the Safestyle prize draw will be drawn in February 2010, so look out for that!

Security, as ever, is one of the most important requirements of any door, so the new Safestyle composite doors have further upgraded security features, including new “Secured by Design” rated handles to give the doors further robustness. If you remember, the Safestyle GuardDoor launched with the highest available British Standards for security and durability in domestic doors, the PAS 23 and PAS 24, and now with these latest new security upgrades, our composite doors are even more secure for our customers’ peace of mind.

Amongst the expanded glass design ranges are stunning new bevels and fusion tiles. These thermally fused tiles are small works of art in themselves, made from coloured glass pieces which are fused together under very high temperatures, giving a startling effect to the finished product, and with various colours available.

Variety of colours is one of the most attractive aspects of the entire Safestyle composite door range, with all GuardDoors available in red, green, blue, black, white, and the realistic wood effects of Oak and Rosewood. The frets for glass designs can also come in the same colour as the door or white.

Finally, one of the most impressive new additions is the arched head formation, which allows you to create an array of designs around your door, including a sweeping arched glass design overhead and glass panels down the sides. This gives a stunning appearance to the entrance of the home, allowing your front door to give quite an impression!