News

Summer 2009 Inside... Welcome // Ask A Question // Lightbulb //

Laidlaw Quiz // GAI Specification Awards // Our People // Focus On Liverpool //

Built for Success

This year we have again been praised for our involvement with two exceptional

projects at the GAI Specification Awards. Inside we detail those projects and bring

you photos from the awards event which took place at Lord’s

Cricket Ground.

[See centre pages]

“I was the one who nearly broke

the camel’s back!”

[Turn to page 6]

A magazine for all Laidlaw employees

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to our Summer 2009 edition of Laidlaw News where we feature our success in the recent GAI Specification Awards in which two of our projects won awards – thanks to all of you who contributed to our success. We also get an update from Andy Scott on our Supply Chain programmes and we “Focus on Liverpool” branch - the Top 10 facts are very interesting!

We have some great people insights this month: Ian Hopkinson lifts his mask; Nick Bradley demonstrates that he is a budding Alan Titchmarsh, John Ferguson shares his proud day with us, young Master Dorman is getting bigger (and prettier like his mum) by the day and Phil Bennett gets intimate with a camel! Thanks to all of you who continue to send in some great “bright ideas” a sample of which are also shown in this edition.

We are now entering our busiest period of the year and it is critical we continue to focus on maximising our sales and service to our customers and achieve our year end targets. Whilst the market is down year on year and our trading performance has not been immune from this, I am nonetheless encouraged in that our quote volumes remain firm and activity in our core markets is still quite buoyant – we just need to WIN it. The work going on around the country to maximise our quote conversion process will continue and is yielding positive results. I thank you for supporting this initiative and indeed for working together as ONE TEAM to ensure our business continues to maximise it‟s potential.

I would like to make special mention to Don Johnson who recently retired after 36 years of loyal service with Laidlaw. Don has been a stalwart in our Willenhall warehouse operations over the years and he has made many friends along the way. We wish Don the best of health and happiness in his retirement.

Enjoy your summer holidays and remember to capture some photos and send in some stories to share with us in future editions of Laidlaw News.

John Jefferies Managing Director

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Ask A Question

What did you want to be when you were growing up? A fast jet pilot in the RAF. What was the last film you watched? The last film I saw at the cinema was „Angels and Demons‟. What is your favourite song and why? „Hammer To Fall‟ by Queen because it reminds me of some good friends and happy times from the early 80‟s. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three things with you, what would they be? An iPod, a solar charger and some water purification tablets. Where would you go on your dream holiday? Hawaii, windsurfing at the world famous Hookipa Beach in the autumn. What annoys you the most? People who sit in the outside lane of the motorway doing 60mph. Describe yourself in three words. I‟m still 18 inside, principled and I love the outdoors. (We said three, Ian!) What is your guilty pleasure? Malt whisky, preferably Lagavulin. What does all your money go on? My kids I guess. My wife Penny spends money very efficiently.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? Freddie Mercury, Sharon Stone and Anthony Hopkins. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Parachute regiment training taught me there are no limits to what you can do physically or mentally. What is your secret talent? I am a fantastic shot with a rifle. Who is your greatest inspiration? John Ridgeway. What is your favourite meal? I love a rare fillet steak. If someone offered to buy you a drink, what would you ask for? Depending how thirsty I was I‟d ask for either a pint of lager or a glass of Cape Mental Shiraz from WA.

With Ian Hopkinson Managing Director Doorset Solutions (Willenhall)

“There are no limits to what you

can do physically or

mentally”

Supply Chain Update Having completed my first six months with Laidlaw, I thought it a good time to update everyone with some of the developments within the supply chain function.

A new process to control and authorise XXX purchase activity has been introduced. This has led to much improved use of preferred suppliers which has helped to maximise our rebate deals. We have also updated the matrix of core suppliers for Laidlaw specification products to again provide focus on purchasing from our preferred suppliers. Stock parameters have been reviewed across the business in parallel with increased product despatch from the central Willenhall warehouse. This has led to reduced stocks around the branches. In time this will result in overall stock within the business being reduced as stocks are better tuned to patterns of sales. More recent focus has been on reducing purchase costs by tendering the major product areas such as door trim, closers, hinges and lock cases. At the same time we are also looking to reduce the number of stock units and to incorporate the requirements of Saturn and Laidlaw Gulf. There are some big opportunities to take cost out of the business in these areas.

There is plenty more to be done but we have started to lay the foundations for the future. Thanks to all staff around the branches for their support.

Andy Scott Purchasing Manager

GEOGRAPHY 1) Which town was built on the northern shore of the Taw?

SPORT 2) What did Lewis Cornford‟s golf handicap come down to during the summer of 2008?

HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? 3) What is Martin Anderson‟s most used phrase?

COMPANY KNOWLEDGE 4) Which central function, servicing most branches, is run from Salford?

LANGUAGE 5) Whose name is this an anagram of? Slim Snail

PICTURE ROUND 6) Can you name this member of staff?

7) What about this one?

AND FINALLY... 8) Which member of staff plays for Sutton Coldfield Rugby Club?

3 Laidlaw Quiz Want to win £25 in vouchers? Play the quiz and you could be in with a chance!

When you have the answers, e-mail sian.mills@laidlaw.net, titling the e-mail „Laidlaw Quiz‟. All the correct answers will be put into a hat and a winner will be drawn. Please get your answers in before July 31st 2009! Last issue‟s winner was Lorraine Daly in Kinmel Bay. Well done!

Starters

Paul Robertson Sales Co-ordinator Liverpool Ian Gooding Major Projects Manager Doorsets Marc Doran Estimator/Scheduler Liverpool

Leavers

James Hartill Doorsets Estimator Willenhall Mark Alker Key Account Manager Salford Emily Griffin Credit Control Admin Willenhall

Transfers

Debra Yates in Willenhall has transferred from her position as Corporate Team Leader to Doorsets Estimator.

Laidlaw Quiz (Spring Answers)

1) Sheffield 2) Virtual Private Network 3) Simon Marr 4) A Mojito 5) Laidlaw Latest 6) Liz Bilton 7) Ian Walker 8) Adrian Smethurst

HR Update Lightbulb Scheme

May Winner Mandy Fox (Purchasing - Willenhall)

All locations should use a booking in form similar to the one used by Doors fo r p ro jec ts over £10K. This would allow checks on credit limits & stock, to change non stock items to stock lines, OSMI or preferred suppliers & to ensure all possible registrations have been completed.

June Winner Charlotte Dutton (Receptionist - Willenhall)

When customers ring our main switchboard they only get a ringing tone and think no-one can be bothered to answer the phone, even if all the lines are busy. We need something that tells the customers that „all operators are busy‟, etc., so that customers don‟t get frustrated, causing us to lose potential sales.

More winners since the last issue. They each win a £50 gift voucher! If you have an idea, please send it to lightbulb@laidlaw.net.

April Winner Neil Lewis (Internal Sales - Cardiff)

To allow credit control to access branch PODs for Asprays directly on-line rather than having every request passed through to each branch.

We have had a great response to the lightbulb scheme and really value your contributions. It is great to see so many ideas coming from within our business. With this in mind we would like to recognise a few of the suggestions that have been made which, although were not the overall winners, are worthy of recognition and are either being worked towards or have already been implemented.

Reducing deliveries and cutting costs

Dean Russell Contract Manager (Handrails & Ballustrades)

We should limit the number of Normbau consignments leaving from twice a week to just once a week. As the minimum delivery charge is £135 per consignment, based over 52 weeks this could be a considerable saving.

Ensuring we maximise core range supplier discounts

Mike Busby Scheduling (Willenhall)

Put onto OWL a list of our core suppliers with the standard discount terms and project registration details for everyone to utilise. This would be the first part of a tool to use combined with the suppliers standard price list which should ensure we maximise all benefits when dealing with them. This might be information which all branches should be aware of but might not readily know.

Saving paper & toner cartridges

Donovan Watkins Account Manager (Sheffield)

I work from the sales office in Sheffield and sit next to a very busy fax machine. We have collected a full box of unwanted faxes from unsolicited companies in just over a month. By registering the phone line with the Telephone Preference Service, it cuts down on wasted paper and save on printing cartridges. It cost nothing to register and usually within a month you will see a major drop in unwanted faxes.

Adam Dorman Business Process Controller

Bright Ideas

4 Success For Laidlaw at the GAI Specification Awards 2008/09

Representatives from Laidlaw Solutions collected two prizes at the 25th Architectural Ironmongery Specification Awards for the 2008/09 period on the 30th March 2009, held at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. Many entries were submitted for this year‟s coveted awards, and in order to sort the wheat from the chaff a team of assessors - drawn from respected architects and architectural ironmongers - inspected each building, adjudicating on the scheme's beauty, fitness for purpose, functionality, correct specification and originality, looking for excellence in ironmongery. The winning and commended projects were those which went beyond the ordinary to exceed expectations.

Above: Andy Howland, National Chairman of the Institute of Architectural Ironmongery, along with John Isaacs and Peter Moat.

Front Page: The Investec Media Centre

In the main picture at the top of this page, from left to right, are Steve McAslin (Key Account Manager, Glasgow), John Isaacs (Key Account Manager, Bristol), Mike Brittain (Regional Director), Peter O'Brien (Commercial Director), Peter Moat (architect from Stone & Partners, Taunton), Karen Pickering (architect from Page & Park, Glasgow) and John Jefferies (Managing Director). Laidlaw won the Commercial Buildings category, and was highly commended in the Sustainable Buildings category.

Congratulations to all of our staff who worked hard to deliver a superb service to help us win these awards. Please ensure you begin to log noteworthy projects for inclusion in the 2011 awards.

5 Success For Laidlaw at the GAI Specification Awards 2008/09

Already a landmark by Junction 24 of the M5 motorway, the Robert Wiseman Dairies facility in Bridgwater processes and packs almost 10% of the nation‟s requirement for fresh milk and has an ultimate capacity of 500 million litres per annum. This facility sets new standards in minimising the use of energy, water, materials and food miles.

Laidlaw Solutions had the remit from Taunton based Architects Stone and Partners to supply this £45million project with robust but aesthetically pleasing architectural ironmongery that had a minimum 10 year guarantee. Orbis Commercial was seen as the ideal product and was duly selected.

The 33,500m² distribution depot building also has a plastic bottle making facility. In addition, the 22 acre site contains an effluent treatment plant, biomass boiler and vehicle maintenance depot. This was a fast track project with a negotiated contract; ground was broken on-site in September 2006 with production commencing in December 2007.

To the right you can see aerial shots of the construction in progress, taken in September 2006, December 2006 and March 2007.

Category: Commercial Buildings

WINNER

Robert Wiseman Dairies Architect: Stone & Partners

Ironmonger: Laidlaw Solutions Ltd - Bristol

Category: Sustainable Buildings

HIGHLY COMMENDED

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authorities HQ Architect: Page \ Park Architects

Ironmonger: Laidlaw Solutions Ltd - Glasgow Designed by award winning Scottish architects, Page / Park, and packed with a host of environmental features, this stunning building situated in the national park sets new standards for sustainable development across the UK. Laidlaw Solutions were delighted to be given the opportunity by Page \ Park to provide this award winning building with their comprehensive and fully co-ordinated Orbis range of architectural ironmongery.

Amongst its many environmentally sustainable features, the „Carrochan‟ as the building is known, has achieved the highest „excellent‟ BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating. The building has an indigenous douglas fir timber structural frame, and is heated by a biomass boiler system and solar gain, and is largely natu-rally ventilated with high levels of natural light. Insulation comes from the wool of 2500 sheep.

The expected carbon footprint of the building is 80 tonnes as compared to 200 for a conventional building and 140 for current best practice. The HQ is the largest building with a „green‟ timber structure in the UK, and all the timber used was sourced from the Scottish Borders.

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Ou

r Peo

ple

If you have any stories to share,

please send them to sian.mills@laidlaw.net

The Camel’s Back Phil Bennett (Estimator - Kinmel Bay)

Did You Know?

Phil Bennett was also featured on the front page of our Autumn 2008 edition. His colleagues sent in a photograph of him gagged (left). Phil has worked for our Kinmel Bay branch since October 2005 and is Wrexham Football Club‟s number one fan „or at least you would think so the way he goes on about them all the time‟ says Nick Bradley, Branch Manager.

I recently went on holiday to Sharm el Sheik in Egypt. The hotel, the people, the food and lets not forget the beer were all great. Coupled with the unbroken sunshine an average temperature of 38 degrees, it was one of the best holidays we have ever had.

We went as a family, my wife Gillian, daughter Lisa, son in law Jamie, grandchildren Charlotte & Jack and not forgetting my mother who celebrated her 76th birthday while we where out there.

We all had a fantastic time and we are planning to return next year, If there was a downside it was the airport. Two and a half hours queuing entering and three hours leaving! The airport cannot manage the amount of passengers travelling at the moment. It was chaos.

To the left is me before one of the highlights of my trip, the camel ride I took in the desert. He took one look at me about to get on and decided “no way”, but alas he had no choice, and so I was the one who nearly broke the camel‟s back!

Don’s Retirement Don Johnson (Warehouse Operative - Willenhall)

Don started with Laidlaw in 1973 as a van driver running product all around the country. In total he has been an employee of Laidlaw‟s for 36 years. His other roles during his employment included a brief stint as warehouse manager before taking over control of the door bagging section, which he ran very efficiently.

Asked to sum up Don in a word (or six) his friends at work came up with the following; generous, like Victor Meldrew, a man that likes his holidays, kind, a gentleman, helpful, a male Judith Chalmers. As one friend said, he loves his holidays, in particular America. He flew out there after his last day for a well deserved break after 36 years service. His love of America extends to a keen interest in Westerns. His 60th birthday had that theme, with Don dressed up like one of his favourite cowboys (as you may be able to see in one of the pictures).

John Jefferies gave Don‟s retirement presentation, accompanied by many of his friends. He received a watch along with some vouchers and also a year‟s membership to the National Trust for him and his wife to enjoy as they both retired at the same time. Don was also presented with a sample board which had a plaque commemorating his service and retirement. His friends and col-leagues presented him with some US dollars so he could spoil himself on his trip to America.

Below are a couple of stories that Don regaled his colleagues with on numerous occasions, which show just what a funny guy he is to have around. Chased By The Police Laidlaw used to sell garage doors. One of Don‟s jobs was to deliver them in his van. One day whilst delivering, a police car behind him started its sirens. Don couldn‟t work out why the policeman wanted him to stop. Was it speeding? Was it because he had had a beer? Was it because there something wrong with the van? After a mile or so of being chased by the car with the big blue light and sirens blaring he was stopped only to be asked how much he was selling garage doors for, as the bobby needed one for his house.

The Doll On one of Don‟s birthdays, the girls in the office decided to set up a special surprise for him. They bought a blow up doll, which they concealed in a box in the warehouse. Don was excited to open the box to see what was inside, but in his haste to get it open he managed to puncture the doll with a knife. Rather than popping out of the box as planned, she flew away! On behalf of all of his colleagues and friends at Laidlaw we wish Don the best of health and happiness in his retirement. Article by Gareth Evans (Warehouse Manager - Willenhall) Top: Gareth Evans presenting Don with his „sample board‟ gift

Above: John Jefferies says a few words

7 Father Of The Bride John Ferguson (Branch Supervisor - Perth)

Did You Know?

Hazel Sinclair was asked to dish the dirt on John. She had many stories to tell about him, but most we couldn‟t publish! John is the longest serving member of staff in Perth having been there for about 34 years. He jokes that he was so young and short when he started that he had to swing from the top of the doors to try and stretch himself taller. Hazel also told us that John‟s favourite tipple is cider - a different form of malt!

John Ferguson recently had the pleasure of giving away his youngest daughter, Nicola, at her wedding to Ryan Carroll on Saturday 23rd May 2009. With a tight time schedule, they started to get ready early - especially as John had to put on his full Highland Dress! They made the 22 mile trip down the motorway to Dundee in a 1930 vintage style Beauford. The ceremony took place in the beautiful St Mary‟s RC Church and the celebrations continued at The Invercarse Hotel where a great night was had by all. The happy couple then jetted off on honeymoon to a Sandals resort in Jamaica. What a way to start married life! John is now looking forward to becoming a granddad for the first time as his elder daughter, Sarah and her husband Garry, are expecting a baby in early September. Wedding photography courtesy of Rod at www.creative-camera.co.uk

Did You Know?

Phil Bennett was asked to share some titbits about his boss, and was only too happy to oblige! Nick is a passionate Liverpool supporter (to the dismay of John Jefferies). It is believed that Nick once had a full head of hair, though Phil thinks „it must have been a long time ago‟. His girlfriend of five years, Julie, sings in an all female acapella band called „Furry Cherries‟.

Not So Koi Nick Bradley (Branch Manager - Kinmel Bay) I‟ve been keeping koi carp now for 13 years and had built a large pond in my previous house in Rhyl. I moved to Kinmel Bay in 2007 and put the fish into a temporary large show vat, in which they stayed until I had completed the new pond. As you can see from the first photo, the garden in the new house was very well looked after by the previous owners and it was almost a shame to dig it up. Work started in April 2008 and after having to redesign it to move it through 90° due to a land drain, digging got underway. I filled three roll-on/roll-off skips with soil, all of which had to be dug out by hand as we couldn‟t get a small digger down the side of the house into the back garden. Once that was done a 6 inch reinforced concrete base was laid and then I set about building the concrete block walls, with great help and advice from my dad. The walls were then rendered and waterproofed and the block stone walling was laid above ground to finish off the outside of the walls. The final touches were done and the decking put in to hide all the pipe work and electric cables for the filters and pumps etc. All in all it took me 12 months to complete. The pond holds 2800 gallons of water and is 5 foot deep in the middle and I currently have 12 very healthy fish (11 koi and 1 golden orf).

Dressed Up Adam Dorman (Business Process Controller)

Here is Rory, Adam Dorman‟s „little man‟, dressed up for his uncle‟s wedding, though Adam points out that „at six months he is definitely not little!‟ Inset is a picture of Rory from the Autumn issue of Laidlaw News taken just after he was born. As you can see, he is doing very well since we last saw him!

Did You Know?

Adam became the proud dad of Rory on the 17th September 2008. In his Ask A Question feature (Spring 2008) he told us he loves to read and play golf, which he probably struggles to find time for these days!

Top Left: The happy

couple leaving the church after the ceremony

Top Right: Inside St Mary‟s RC Church

Above: Nicola and John at the wedding

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F cus On Liverpool

1) A view of the docks from the Liverpool branch

2) The exterior of the branch

3) Left to right: Colin Whittaker (Key Account Manager), Paul Robertson (Sales Co-ordinator), Dave Boland (Branch Manager), Tom Gill (Contracts/Buying), Lewis Cornford (Graduate Trainee), Marc Doran (Scheduler), Paul Cowle (Estimator/Internal Sales) and George Kelly (Warehouse).

4) Dave chasing down more orders

5) Colin taking a break to pose for the camera

6) Lewis hard at work

7) Inside the branch

Laidlaw‟s Liverpool branch has now been part of the group since 2005 and is ideally located on the Liverpool waterfront approximately one mile from the city centre. The branch has a staff of eight and whilst they all enjoy youthful looks, their combined experience within the architectural ironmongery industry is a staggering 205 years.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Liverpool

King John granted city status in 1207.

Liverpool is the British city most used for filming outside of London. Films

include 51st State, The Hunt for Red October, My Kingdom and In The Name of The Father.

Liverpool is a World Heritage City, has 2,500 listed buildings, 250 public

monuments and the largest collection of Grade II listed buildings outside of London.

Liverpool‟s‟ Anglican Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain and the

fifth largest in the world.

Liverpool is home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe and the city‟s

Chinatown boasts the biggest Chinese Architecture outside mainland China.

More than 60 languages are spoken in the city today.

Princes Park in Liverpool and Birkenhead Park in Wirral were used as

models for New York‟s Central Park.

The worlds first public health officer Dr William Henry Duncan began work in

Liverpool in 1841.

Football nets were invented by John Alexander Brodie, Liverpool‟s

municipal engineer in 1892.

Liverpool has two football teams - Everton and Everton

Reserves (you can guess who that came from!).

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