Shelforce partnership ‘top notch’ for housing association installer
Posted on 30/03/2022
A West Midlands double glazing and installation company that specialises in housing association projects has said it ‘couldn’t ask for more’ from its partnership with Shelforce.
Lutley Windows has been working with Shelforce since last year and have described the Birmingham window and door manufacturer as ‘top notch.’
Shelforce specialises in providing high-quality PVCu and aluminium products to local authority building projects and employs some of the city’s most vulnerable people with 75% of its workforce disabled, and for Lutley Windows MD Mark Taylor the company was well known to him.
Mark started Lutley Windows nine years ago working mainly maintenance for one housing association with a bit of response fitting. By the time the company was asked to do planned works as well as maintenance, it was working with two housing associations.
Now Lutley Windows works with Midland Heart, Black Country Housing Group and Birmingham Civic Housing Association and, while the company also takes on domestic work, housing association work has tripled – meaning the partnership with Shelforce will be crucial moving forward.
“I’ve been in the business for over 30 years and knew all about Shelforce,” said Mark. “When Stuart Stimpson from Winkhaus suggested trying them I jumped at the chance; it was a great idea, and we are absolutely over the moon with them and haven’t looked back since.
“Anything we do we go to Shelforce first, whether that’s windows, doors, fire doors and we only use another company if they can’t do it but most things they can do.
“They really are top notch, and we feel comfortable with them; pretty much everything they do is to the highest spec and when they say they are going to do something they do it. That’s rare and while it’s a difficult time for everybody currently, Shelforce still deliver.
“They are always on the phone and if there are any issues they get them sorted straight away and you can’t ask for more than that. And, of course, with their experience in social housing and local authority projects they really know their stuff.”
With around 20 people working at Lutley Windows, the company is looking to continue expanding next year, and Mark sees the partnership with Shelforce as important in that too.
Mark added: “We are currently trying to get registered for our PAS 2030 Certification and we’re hoping towards the end of this year that we’ll be working in partnership with Shelforce’s Business manager Howard Trotter so Shelforce will be supplying the frames for Birmingham City Council and we’re hoping to supply the labour.”
Howard commented: “We have developed a hugely valued partnership with Lutley Windows in a short space of time which I feel is testament to both companies. It’s been a pleasure to work closely with them and we’re looking forward to a lasting relationship with Mark and the team.
“It’s great to align ourselves with Midland Heart, Black Country Housing and Birmingham Civic Housing Association, who all do a great job looking after our communities.
“We understand the challenges Housing Associations and Local Authorities face and what is important for both them and their tenants; they are under pressure to complete maintenance and refurbishment programmes on time and within budget and our flexibility and quick lead times are why we are such an attractive proposition.”
From high rises and new builds to schools and colleges, Shelforce has experience with all types of social housing refurbishment and maintenance. To find out more, call Shelforce on 0121 603 5262 or visit www.shelforce.com.