2014 Easter Opening Times for HBS

Good Friday – 7.30am-5.00pm 
Saturday – 8.00am-5.00pm

Sunday – Closed
Easter Monday – 8.00am-1.00pm

Have a good Easter!

Christmas 2012 Opening Hours

Merry Christmas to All! 

Monday 24st December 2012	8:00am – 12:00pm
Tuesday 25th December 2012	CLOSED
Wednesday 26th December 2012	CLOSED
Thursday 27th December 2012	9:00am – 1:00pm
Friday 28th December 2012	9:00am – 1:00pm
Saturday 29th December 2012	9:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday 30th December 2012	CLOSED
Monday 31st December 2012	CLOSED
Tuesday 1st January 2013	CLOSED
Wednesday 2nd January 2013	OPEN AS USUAL (7:30am – 5:00pm)

Christmas 2011 Opening Hours

Wednesday 28th December 9am-1pm

Thursday 29th December 9am-1pm

Friday 30th December 9am-1pm

Saturday 31st December Closed

Monday 2nd January Closed

Normal Opening Hours from the 3rd of January

2011 Bank Holiday Opening Hours

Henlow Building Supplies are open the the following days over the Easter and May Bank Holiday period.

Good Friday 22nd April 7.30-5.00pm

Easter Monday 25th April 10.00am-4.00pm

Friday 29th April 7.30am-5.00pm

Monday 2nd May 10.00am-4.00pm

Monday 30th May 10.00am-4.00pm

We are 30!

It may be difficult to believe but well-loved local company, Henlow Building Supplies began life in 1977 as a small hardware store on Henlow High Street. It was only in February 1981 that the company became known as Henlow Building Supplies and so this year the family behind the company, headed by MD David Curson, as well as their staff, are celebrating thirty years of successful business that has seen the small hardware shop become the thriving local business that HBS is today.

Paul Sapiano, brother-in-law of David Curson has been with the company from the outset and still enjoys his days at HBS. ‘ My wife started the original shop with her brother but after a few months they needed more help, so I joined them. Over the years the company has thrived and we have never tried to hide the secrets of our success – being a family company makes all the difference. We are all – and that includes staff  – invested in customer service, a happy working environment and an ethos that revolves around solid, hardworking commitment.  There is an atmosphere in the shop and the yard which can only be found in a family firm that fosters good relationships with customers, many of whom are on first name terms. Our customers know us and trust us, not only with their building projects, for good advice and so much so that we can make orders on their behalf.

HBS believe in competitive prices for quality products sourced from ethically responsible suppliers. These factors, combined with unbeatable customer service have ensured that the company has grown from strength to strength over the last 30 years. ‘We can obtain special order items and negotiate prices between our suppliers and customers’ explains Paul ‘We have great working relationships with many local companies who employ Bedfordshire people which means we are supporting the local economy too.’

‘I really enjoy my job – working with the public who, of course, are real people – families with real homes and concerns. I celebrate my 60^th birthday this year alongside the company’s 30^th and I couldn’t be happier.’

HBS are well known for their reliable and efficient free delivery service. There have been many local building projects that have depended on HBS and never been disappointed. Phil Thorpe, a lorry driver for the company for the past ten years explains, ‘ I love my work because I enjoy making the customers happy. I deliver when they want and where they want which means sacrifices and early starts but it’s definitely worth it. I like the social side of the job and have got to know many customers well over the years. It means a great deal to me to work for a company that is well organized and well liked. It means I can take real pride in my job.’

Lee Watts, who joined HBS just three months ago and is one of the youngest members of staff, is eager to share his impressions. ‘ I work as a trainee yardsman which means I am outside helping customers with the timber and building supplies. I really like the job as the atmosphere here is so great – between customers and the company as well as all of us who work here. We all get on so well and have the same goal of making customer service and advice a priority.

‘Although I’ve not worked here for very long I am looking forward to a long future here and making the most of the Builders Merchants Federations Apprenticeships and Training schemes that are available to me.’

From youngest to oldest, it’s patently clear that the staff at HBS are a very happy bunch. It may not sound like much, but in my experience, it makes all the difference. It makes the customer care efficient and strong, it makes a huge network of experience and advice available to every customer, it ensures an organized and well-thought out approach to orders and deliveries – happy staff make flourishing, happy companies and that attracts crowds of happy customers – something HBS are proud to have in never-ending supply.

Happy 30^th Birthday HBS

Reproduced by kind permission of Melanie Crocker-Hulse and The Villager Magazine

Hooked on fishing!

Building on the success of last year Henlow Bridge Lakes presents a charity fishing match on Sunday the 18th of april 2010 from 7.30am with cooked breakfast provided. Finish at 2.30pm with prizes being given out at 3pm. The winner nominates their chosen charity. The event is sponsored by waterline and Henlow Building Supplies. Contact Steve Corrigan on 07929 332642 for further information and booking.

Boiler Scrappage Scheme

The Government announced yesterday how the boiler scrappage scheme is going to work. The scheme maintains the established professional supply and installation process with builders merchant selling Boilers to installers. The scheme will advise householders to shop around for best deals.

The scheme will start on18 January 2010 and run as long as the £50m budget lasts.

 Householders can apply by phone or online for a £400 voucher to use when replacing an old G rated boiler (that is in situ and working) with an A rated model.

 A quote from a registered installer (GasSafe, OFTEC, Microgeneration Certification) etc is needed in order to apply.

 Vouchers will have a unique number and will be valid for 12 weeks from date of issue. Those not redeemed within the timescale will expire – the £400 goes back into the pot.

 G-rated gas boilers and the equivalent standard for oil and LPG qualify (electric models are not included).

 Renewable source of heating or hot water will qualify.

 The Energy Saving Trust will administer the scheme, which covers only England.

 The scheme links in with other grant schemes such as Warm Front and Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

 Energy company offers can run along side and complement the scheme.

 For more details, including how to register for a voucher see:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Heating-and-hot-water/Boiler-scrappage-scheme

 For applicants without internet access, the EST’s telephone advice line is (0800) 512012.

Get Britain Building

 

Get Britain Building is a coalition of organisations from within the construction sector who are calling for the creation of a new business environment to help the UK construction industry thrive and prosper in these difficult times. Our campaign focuses on the need to help all those involved in the UK construction industry survive in the current economic downturn with an emphasis on minimising excessive control, regulation, and taxation.

The Importance of the UK Construction Industry:

According to the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the UK construction industry has 250,000 firms employing 2.1 million people, and contributes 8.2 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Construction companies provide employment for every skill level from labourers to architects as well as provide the opportunity to work for every size of firm from family run businesses to major contractors. Its efficient operation and competitiveness is also essential to the fulfilment of the Government’s commitment to improve public services and infrastructure. The delivery of new schools, hospitals, affordable housing, eco homes, all depend on the success of the construction sector to deliver.

The Impact of the Recession on the UK Construction Industry:

The construction industry has been particularly badly hit as a result of the recession and the down turn in the housing market. The industry is facing its biggest challenge for many years. The indicators are that many will struggle to survive in the current market, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors predicting the loss of over 300,000 jobs within the industry and with 52 per cent of SME builders warning that they will be making staff redundant over the coming months.

There is currently a crisis in the housing market with many first time buyers unable to get a mortgage let alone afford a first home. Alongside this there are over 90,000 families living in temporary accommodation and 1.8 million families on council house waiting lists; the case for building new homes is therefore very clear. However, news from the National House Building Council shows new home starts being at their lowest level since 1924.

During the last recession the UK construction industry lost over 500,000 skilled jobs, we cannot allow that to happen again!

http://ht.getbritainbuilding.co.uk/video.asp

Outside Paving Displays Updated

Rob at RJ Landscapes has just updated our Stonemarket paving displays and made a cracking  job.

Cut The Vat

If the Government wants to achieve its aim to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 then it needs to tackle the existing building stock that contributes 40% of the UK’s total carbon emissions.  Cutting the current rate of VAT from 17.5% to 5% for all maintenance and home improvement work made to Britain’s homes would, in a simple single act, do more to motivate homeowners to make their homes greener than any other policy measure. Sign up now!www.cutthevat.co.uk