Ongoing training is also a main focus: improving the knowledge base and skill levels of our workforces, which will provide added benefits every aspect, including production and efficiency, enabling us to pass on greater benefits to our customers. The accreditations and qualifications continue to be gained, with many high level NVQ passes and ILM Team Leading successes, in partnership with local colleges.

With the Safestyle order book continuing to grow, production continues to increase. The volumes ordered and produced at our factory, Safestyle Manufacturing, are impressive and encouraging, particularly considering the industry's meant to be in a recession. New product updates and developments include improvements to inhouse composite door production with full PAS 23/34 and integrated stock management systems.

Our production team like to play hard as well as work hard and, as with all at Safestyle, our competitive streak is deeply ingrained. Recently they took to the racing track at P&R Karting Challenge Cup 2009, with Safestyle beating the Anglian windows team on the way to a respectable 4th place finish.

On the marketing and advertising front, the Safestyle Window Man has literally been in action in a new TV ad, the first of several coming very soon. Watch this space!

While there have been encouraging signs that the recession is possibly easing up, including increases in UK industry output, house prices on the up, as well as ever-improving supermarket growth, this is tempered with expected job losses in the public sector, and rising overall UK unemployment. The knock-on effect has been quite hard in particular on sectors like the car sales industry, with May sales down nearly 25% compared to last year, despite 60,000 orders under the scrappage subsidy scheme.

Double glazing sales, though - at least at Safestyle - have been on the up and more new people are coming on board to work with us, knowing they have the backing of multi-million pound advertising campaigns, with new and exciting products coming from continuous development in technology.

Fitters, Salespeople and Canvassers have been joining the Safestyle team as new incentives, prizes and bonuses are being introduced to reward good performances. We are getting a fantastic response and encouraging more newcomers on board, you can even apply online. Now really is the time to get in touch with Safestyle and see what you could be earning with the nation's leading energy saving glazing company.

Our Market Research teams have kicked off their new June Canvass competition, which is Star Trek-themed this year, and has the best prizes yet. The better the performance, the better the prize you can win, and everyone can win a prize! The prizes get more impressive the harder your work - ranging from 4GB MP3/Video Players, Sony digital cameras, Diesel watches, PSPs, Nintendo DS, DVD tablets, camcorders, XBox 360, iPod Touch, Acer Netbooks, Nintendo Wiis, to laptops and PS3s. The top prizes are Apple iPhones and 32" LCD TVs - all to encourage our 800+ strong canvass force to work hard and prosper (as one famous Vulcan might say!). If you fancy winning some of this but are not already working for Safestyle, then it's not too late to join! Fill in the online application form - Safestyle is the place to be!

Other competitions are up and running for different roles within the company, including a Terminator Salvation-themed "Judgement June," which invites all Safestyle's Senior Canvass Agents to win Acer Netbooks, Armani watches, Siemens laptops, PlayStation 3s, Hugo Boss watches, Sony Vaio laptops, Xboxes, Nintendo Wiis and Raymond Weil watches.

And our Safestyle Appointment Agents are also in on the action with their own Transformers-themed competition: the prizes up for grabs include 4GB MP3/Video Players, Sony Cyber-shot digital cameras, Diesel Watches, Nintendo DSs and Wiis, PSPs and PlayStation 3s, DVD camcorders and tablets, Acer Netbooks, laptops, 32" LCD TVs and Apple iPhones. The prize line-up really is incredible and as it's related to how good your performance is, the best really do get the best rewards!

If you're not already part of the Safestyle team, then join us today and get a piece of this fantastic action!

“What is more pleasing is that productivity is improving, without any reduction in quality,” says Keith, “Which goes to prove you can have the best of both worlds: excellent productivity and excellent quality. The continuous improvements which have been achieved are attributable to the whole team at the Barnsley site, our performance is a credit to everyone. They are a culmination of a number of small projects which have resulted in a massive leap forward in output, while reducing our costs.”

The buzz word undeniably is “waste reduction” and now with greater emphasis on improving performance whilst minimizing wastage all round, the efficiency of our window and door production lines has never been better. Coupled with a more efficient and widespread recycling policy where we are recycling everything that can be recycled, the overall benefit to the manufacturing operation is huge.

With new developments coming online all the time, Keith is one of the key members of our Safestyle Manufacturing team who will be ensuring that all projects get the attention required to deliver them successfully. “We have an abundance of new projects just waiting in the wings to replace the ones reaching completion,” he says, referring to the multitude of ongoing product developments in the pipeline. “The focus for the projects will be predominantly based around reducing waste, costs and improving products and quality, which is the life-blood of any business. We are definitely winning the war on waste.”

Take a look at the company background, advertising and marketing campaigns, and the different ways of getting in touch. You can meet the sales team, see how a surveyor measures up, gain an insight into the workings of our vast factory, the window and door manufacturing process, as well as the installation of Safestyle double glazing in the home.

What’s more, you can watch some fantastic out-takes and bloopers from our TV ads! Watch Cannon and Ball having a laugh on set, the Safestyle Window Man and other characters all on location and fooling around. It’s fun to watch!

• Be smart with your energy usage – its been shown by the Energy Saving Trust that UK families are using over two billion pounds per year just on house lights. Safestyle recommends you make sure all your bulbs are energy saving and that appliances are switched off instead of being left on stand-by can save you a small but good amount over the year.
• Get the best prices for your energy – have you compared suppliers to see if you could be saving by moving elsewhere? There are now several websites where you can compare and make a decision based on the results.
• Check your electric meter regularly – keeping an eye on how much energy you are using and cutting back when necessary will help you reduce your bills in the long run. Also getting a precise reading means you may be charged less than with estimated readings.
• Online billing and direct debits – another top Safestyle money saving tip is that many suppliers are now offering the paper-less alternative to printed and posted bills, which usually comes with a small but worthwhile discount. Check for this, you could be missing out on those small savings that will all add up in the long run.
• Investment in energy saving home improvements – the initial outlay for home improvements in the short term will be worth it as they pay their dividends in the long-term. For example, investing in wall and loft insulation, an energy efficient boiler, and Safestyle energy saving double glazing can all be massively beneficial in cutting your bills and reducing your carbon footprint.

Remember, there are lots of small, easy things you can start doing today, without much effort. See how you can make a difference today and ACT ON CO2 with Safestyle.

Reports are that the average rate for a personal loan of £2,000 is currently standing at almost 20%, as a result of a number of issues. It is also evident that borrowers may not be aware of the rates for the various forms of credit, the average person assuming that since the base rate have dropped, that loan and credit card rates has also fallen, and when they come to borrow money they are confronted with a harsh reality. Financing your home improvements could prove to be a headache.

However, with Safestyle, we have a tremendous business relationship with lenders such as GE Money and Hitachi Capital, partnerships with a significantly high number of customers and approaching a million pounds per week. With Safestyle our customers can not only be sure they can receive loans at competitive rates with the High Street, they are arranged in the comfort of their own home, with no deposit or set up fee.

But one of the most important features about the Safestyle finance package is the flexibility of the loan, as bank loans in the main are fixed term. Safestyle’s Diamond Account payments package gives you the flexibility to pay for your home improvements to suit your budget, a flexibility you wouldn’t normally get from any other source.

Customers writing reviews have a variety of options, including a star ratings system where they can rate specific areas of their Safestyle experience, like home visit. There are also other feedback factors they can provide in the form of a star rating, including product value and quality, the all-important customer service, and finally customer’s rating of the overall experience of buying new windows and doors from Safestyle.

Currently there are over 570 reviews, and you can use the “Find reviews in your area” function to locate feedback from customers with Safestyle installations near where you live, or change the order of reviews according to rating, date, or city/town.

You can also rate any review if you find it particularly helpful. An example is from Droitwich, Worcestershire, where Safestyle customer Mr Richardson said he’d read negative reviews on some websites and so was “Sceptical but no need” as he’d had an excellent price from Safestyle to supply and fit ten windows, and was very glad he accepted. The fitters were on time and professional, covering everything to prevent any mess or damage, and once complete they swept and vacuumed everywhere to make sure the only evidence of their presence was the fantastic new Safestyle double glazing.

You can review all customer feedback about Safestyle windows on safestyle.co.uk/reviews.

Jamie and Ryan won their balance of £4,081, and a winner’s certificate with a bottle of bubbly was presented to the couple by one of our senior managers from the Safestyle Brighton branch.

“It was an unexpected and wonderful surprise to us!“ said Jamie, “We are delighted to have won, and now we can look at further home improvements and getting the rest of our house done.”

"I was very happy to present the latest winners of our Safestyle prize draw," said Steve Wellbourne, from our Brighton branch. "For our salespeople it's an important additional benefit, unique to our customers taking advantage of our flexible monthly payments package, and it's a nice thing to tell people they've won something quite substantial."

To all Safestyle Diamond Account Club customers, look out for the next Diamond Account Prize Draw in August – it could be you!

Product innovations and testing at our Safestyle manufacturing factory have continued relentlessly, with technical developments such as the Ultra Low PVC Threshold already in production and introduced seamlessly into the entire supply chain. This is the culmination of extensive testing and development to hone products to the highest standards, while still remaining affordable to our customers.

Our new “Evolution” rebate door hinge has undergone tests which included weather testing to British Standards PAS 23, then the doors were cycle-tested 50,000 times and then weather-tested again to ensure no deterioration in performance. The new Safestyle hinge performed exceptionally well and will be rolled out to benefit our product range and the entire business.

Safestyle French doors are also undergoing revisions with new single shoot-bolt strikers being introduced to all door sets, giving both improved security and flexibility with ease of set up for our installation teams.

Several other manufacturing projects are in development, as well as collaborations with our supply partners, to continue to bring only the very best innovations in energy saving double glazing to our valued customers – watch this space for more news from Safestyle Manufacturing!

Windows
With standard double glazed windows which are externally-beaded, burglars can remove the beading and sealed units to gain entry into your home. Safestyle Diamond Windows are internally beaded as standard to prevent this, as well as having the latest multi-point smooth-action security locking system for a much more robust defense against burglary. An important safety feature also available is the fire safety hinge, which allows a window to double as a fire escape exit.

Doors
The security level of doors is dependant on several factors, one of which is “key differs” – the number if different key shapes for your lock. Obviously the greater the number of different keys, the greater the security factor, as the less likely someone will have a key that will open your lock. Safestyle residential doors are fitted with 6-pin key locking cylinders for improved security and are of the highest grade achievable for durability, key-related security and maximum number of key differs. Safestyle doors are also fitted with security hinges which can not be removed, critical for the security of outward-opening doors in particular. For an interactive demonstration, see our Safestyle door viewer.

Composite doors
If you want an even greater security upgrade, as well as further improved durability, then the Safestyle composite door – the GuardDoor – is ideal for you, with its British Standards Kite Mark ratings BS PAS 23 and BS PAS 24 being the highest achievable for domestic door security and durability. What’s more, you can choose from a greater range of colours as well as the standard White and the realistic wood effects of Rosewood and Oak, you can choose to have your door in either Red, Blue, Green, or Black.

For the best security and safety improvements for your home, check out the Safestyle website now for the latest double glazing offers to help you save money!

How much does it cost to replace my windows and doors with new Safestyle windows and doors?
We all have different homes with different requirements, different styles and types and also different budgets. At Safestyle we’ve got a range of windows and doors to suit any budget and product styles to suit any home, so to provide you with a free double glazing quote we can visit to assess your property and get your feedback on what you like and require. Remember, we will also beat any genuine like-for-like quote!

What methods of payment can I choose from for my new Safestyle double glazing?
Well you can certainly pay for your Safestyle energy saving windows and doors in one go if you have the funds, but you can also choose to spread the cost with our flexible monthly payments plan, the Safestyle Diamond Account. There’s even a quarterly prize draw where each lucky winner has his or her outstanding balance paid off in full.

What colours are Safestyle windows and doors available in?
In addition to the standard White double glazed windows and doors, you can get your double glazing from Safestyle in realistic wood effects, Rosewood and Oak, and our GuardDoor composite door range also comes in the additional colours of Red, Blue, Green and Black, whilst also having the highest possibly security and durability ratings for domestic doors.

For more answers, check out our extensive Safestyle Frequently Asked Questions section.

Already up and running, it gives SSAs and AAs the chance to hold up a Safestyle Champions League Trophy for their team! To become a Safestyle Champions League winner the amount of business gained from Market Research Canvass in the evenings is part of the all important championship winning criteria.

Each Safestyle sales branch has been placed in one of six groups who will battle it out for a trophy (one trophy per group). The branch that wins the most in a month will be the overall winner! If the trophy is retained 3 times on the trot, then the branch can keep it to add to their expanding trophy cabinet, along with £50 each in M&S vouchers for the SCA & AA. This is the latest in a long line of Safestyle incentives for our agents to get their teeth stuck into, and only one of many ongoing competitions with prizes and bonuses up for grabs. We are also looking to launch 3 colossal new competitions ahead of June, backed by a massive marketing campaign, with the Safestyle Window Man also getting involved - so watch this space!

In this economic climate, many companies are struggling while Safestyle is gaining strength through hard work, constant improvements, and professionalism. Are you (or anyone you know) looking for a job, or a new challenge? Safestyle are recruiting so if you’re looking for opportunities, we want to hear from you! We’re looking for more Market Research Canvassers, Sales Agents, Fitters and installation teams, Service Engineers, Surveyors and various types of Employees. And you can apply online, it’s easy!

While continuing to shout about energy saving windows and doors from Safestyle double glazing, the Window Man has been entertaining in other ways. This new poll relates to T-shirt merchandise and asks if you would be interested in having the Window Man on your chest and, we would expect, with one of his famous slogans, like “Buy One, Get One Free!” You can vote Yes, No, or “Depends” – in which case you can enter some specific details on what you think.

Looking at the votes so far, there appears to be a resounding “yes” to the idea of Window Man T-shirts, confirming that the previous requests for merchandise were not just from a few crazed die-hard Window Man fans (do they exist?!).

Anyway, if you’d like to vote, pop over to the Safestyle Window Man blog poll and let him know what you think.

With Safestyle’s collaboration with the ACT ON CO2 campaign, the Government’s energy saving initiative, we are putting the word out about the various different ways of saving energy, and many of which are in fact very simple and easy to do. Reducing our energy bills and our impact on the environment go hand in hand, not to mention the help to households in fuel poverty.

Our environmentally-friendly initiatives are even more far-reaching, with our Safestyle recycling campaign making a significant impact. Last year we recycled around 15,000 tonnes of general waste, which included 6,000 tonnes of glass, 1,200 tonnes of PVCu, 100 tonnes of metal and 50 tonnes of timber, and we are continuing to drive down waste in all parts of our business.

The energy efficiency message is getting across, and our customers are letting us know they are happy they’re cutting their energy bills by saving money through double glazing. At Safestyle we’re trying our utmost to continually develop and bring to the nation the very best in cutting edge yet affordable energy saving double glazing, to help everyone cut down their energy consumption and impact on the environment – and save us all lots of money while we’re at it!

Currently our Safestyle manufacturing facility is located on a huge 18-acre site, but the plans are to sell and move our 600-strong manufacturing workforce to an even larger factory. With investments of over 8 Million pounds in total to date, Safestyle has continued to invest in state-of-the-art double glazing technologies, machinery and recycling.

Our Operations Director at Safestyle Manufacturing, Mark Scaife, said: “As a progressive, forward thinking company that is very aware of the current downturn, like any business it is imperative that we continue to invest both in our people and our local community.”

Part of that approach is in improvement of production standards, helping to make the nation’s favourite energy saving double glazing even more affordable. “To do this we need a larger production plant,” said Mark. “This will put our improved machinery and production standards to better use and boost our manufacturing capabilities, enabling us to expand our team and raise the skills base within the Barnsley community.”

The public are beginning to realise just how much of an important issue this really is, and it’s the same message Safestyle have been saying all along. A typical household will waste hundreds of pounds every year on lost heat, mostly through the windows, and energy saving has become a crucial issue for the Government. Recycling is also rising high on the agenda.

The fact that at Safestyle we are also working with the Government’s ACT ON CO₂ campaign shows our continued efforts to help the nation reduce those dreaded fuel bills. Our new energy saving Diamond Windows save 90% of the heat lost through windows (compared to a 50% saving using normal double glazing), and we are making them more affordable than ever.

There’s also some great energy saving tips on Safestyle’s ACT ON CO2 campaign page – some of them are very simple and easy to do – see what you can do to save energy today!

While we normally focus on manufacturing and installing the nation’s leading brand of energy saving windows, at Safestyle we also like to show our support for good causes and make donations to charities, with Safestyle’s Window Man also placing himself “in the line of fire” for charity.

Our latest charitable contribution came about when Tom Hudson - better known as Paul Clayton, the wayward son of Vera Duckworth from Coronation Street - approached us to sponsor this year’s Macmillan Cancer Support show, For One Night Only, taking place at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax, on 28th March. Headlining the event are two of Safestyle’s best-known characters, Cannon and Ball, well known to TV viewers for memorable style and fantastic BOGOF offers.

Tom was overjoyed that Safestyle could help out, “I am so grateful to Safestyle for stepping in and filling the gap,” he said. “I was worried that I would have to use some of the money from ticket sales to pay the bills and so deprive Macmillan of much-needed cash.”

The 22-year-old will also be hosting the show and said, “Anyone can be affected by cancer. And because of the economic climate we’re putting a cap on ticket prices - £10 for adults, £9 concessions and £8 for children. Family tickets are also available.

“We are also attempting a Guinness World Record with the help of British yo-yo champion Luke Roberts, who will attempt to spin 10 yo-yos at one time – the current record is nine. With a superb supporting cast of singers, dancers, comedians, magicians and speciality acts, it’s a fantastic show.”

Safestyle’s Head of Operations, Dave Clarke, presented Tom with a cheque for £1,500 and said: “We were delighted to be able to help Tom and support what is a very worthwhile charity that helps so many people who have been unfortunately affected by this disease.”

Tickets are available from the Victoria Theatre box office, telephone: 01422 351158.

There are many different vocations within Safestyle such as installation fitters, technical surveyors, service engineers, marketing canvassers, and sales representatives, to name a few. Don’t worry if you think you don’t have the right skills, there are several induction and training courses available to bring you up to speed.

On the production and manufacturing side, Safestyle Manufacturing is our high-tech manufacturing facility in Yorkshire, one of the largest employers in the area, and you can check out the Careers section and apply online today.

Safestyle is the national company local to you, and wherever you are throughout mainland England and Wales, we’ll have a branch near you. With over 40 branches nationwide we cover just about every area, so if you’re looking for work then Safestyle may be the perfect choice for you.

You don’t even need a stamp, apply now using our online application forms! See our Safestyle website jobs section for details of all our vacancies, including self-employed opportunities.

The Diamond Account was set up in 2007 to give customers who opted for Safestyle’s flexible monthly payments plan added benefits, as well as linking up with partner companies to offer fantastic discounts on various goods, from window blinds to holidays.

Now the fifth winners of the quarterly prize draw, the lucky couple are naturally ecstatic. “When I looked at the Safestyle website and saw our names the fantastic news began to sink in,” said Tammy, “It really couldn’t have come at a better time, especially with the way things are at the moment.”

So what’s it like to be a winner? “It is an incredible feeling,” added Tammy, “and we are very grateful to Safestyle UK.”

The next prize draw will be taking place in May, watch this space!