Supplying quality product to the trade for 10 years!

Established 2002

It is 10 years ago this week, since Pinnacle Consulting was founded and there have been many changes in this time. Our industry has seen good times and not so good times, but one thing that has remained is the reason behind our formation in the first place.

Having worked in both recruitment and the building product industry ourselves, we knew that there was an opportunity to provide expert industry-specific recruitment services to the sector with a real difference.

We wanted to bring some integrity back to the recruitment industry by providing a professional and personal service to both clients and candidates. Our mission was to build long term relationships for long term gain; guiding candidates through their career and helping clients add real value to their business by providing them with high quality candidates that would develop with their business.

It has never been about just filling a vacancy for us - that would be the easy fix and not fair on either the candidate or the client. This is where our philosophy of integrity and professionalism plays a vital role.

We want to earn our fee by finding the right person for the right job by selecting from a pool of high quality candidates. We are able to give clients access to candidates not available elsewhere and save them time, effort and money during the process. However, we are always available to offer specialist advice whether the company is in recruiting mode or not.

To our candidates, we want to offer the best sales, marketing and management jobs with manufacturers, merchants or distributors across the whole building, construction and interiors product spectrum. The roles need to match the person's skills and potential and always be beneficial to their career - not just another placement fee for us.

We do this by really getting to know our clients and candidates, so we intuitively know what they need, resulting in confidential advice that is invaluable and hard to find elsewhere.

Put simply, over the last 10 years, we have lived and breathed the industry and feel like a supplier of a building product ourselves - the product that helps to build successful businesses.

We would like to thank all our clients and candidates for their support over the last 10 years and we are delighted to have played a small part in your development.

From everyone, past and present, at Pinnacle Consulting.

www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

Encouraging news can be found in the latest CPA Survey

The Construction Products Association's latest State of Trade Survey, shows some encouraging signs, despite concerns of the prospect of an economic slowdown in the major European economies and increasing energy and raw material prices becoming major threats to continued recovery in the UK construction products industry.

We are pleased to report the start of some positive news coming through from the market:

• At +7%, the heavyside sales balance entered positive territory for the first time in three quarters

• 36% of heavyside firms anticipate that sales will increase over the next year

• Lightside firms are equally optimistic, with 34% anticipating sales growth in the next 12 months

Construction Products Association senior economist, Kelly Forrest commented overall that "It is encouraging that sales rose in the first quarter, but manufacturers also highlighted the key factors that threaten growth throughout 2012 and into 2013, these factors include the continuing uncertainty within the euro zone, and significant concern regarding rising costs, especially fuel costs"

To find out more on the CPA click here.

Don't forget to vote in our poll this month on how confident you are looking for a new job in the current climate.

Pinnacle Consulting has the best selection of UK wide construction product sales jobs.

RIBA is ‘positive about future work'

Some encouraging news from The Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) Future Trends Survey for March 2012 as it has revealed that its practices are increasingly positive about their future workloads.

The majority of UK regions returned positive workload forecast figures last month. The two exceptions were the North of England and Northern Ireland.

Private housing continues to be the best performing sector, with London, the South of England, the Midlands and East Anglia doing particularly well.

Director of practice, Adrian Dobson said: "We are cautiously hopeful in reporting that for a third
consecutive month, the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index has continued its upward path.

Hopefully, this good news will soon show its effect throughout the whole of the building products industry.

Don't forget to vote in our poll this month on how confident you are looking for a new job in the current climate.

Original source here

David Cameron halts compulsory green deal policy on home improvements

Ministers will reject moves that require homeowners to make their properties energy efficient before building extensions

Will the public now be encouraged to invest in home improvements? Is this good news for the merchants as it might generate new business? Equally, the loss of the potential 'add on' business might hit the merchants as well as the energy efficiency drive. Read on and judge for yourself.

All the mandatory elements of the government's "Green deal" for homes are to be scrapped following an intervention by the prime minister.

The decision, which is a blow for the Liberal Democrats, means that the government will reject proposals currently out for consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government that would have required homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient if they were undertaking home improvements, such as extending a garage or replacing windows.

It is also a blow to the Liberal Democrat communities and local government minister Andrew Stunell, the advocate of the proposal in the department run by Eric Pickles.

Stunell had proposed that any homeowner intending to make a property more energy-hungry by building an extension, should redress the balance by improving insulation, upgrading a boiler or adding better heating controls.

The homeowner would be required to spend 10% in addition to the cost of the main works; so if building a £1,000 new patio, an additional £100-worth of energy efficiency measures, such as loft or cavity insulation would have to be installed.

The money would go to local contractors, paid for through cheap finance provided by the green deal and repaid through subsequent lower energy bills.

A government source said: "The idea that people are going to be forced to improve their energy efficiency or install a new boiler because they want to extend their garage or make their house better is not going to happen. It is not policy now. It is out for consultation, but the prime minister is opposed to it, and it will not become policy. It is not fair to ordinary people trying to improve their homes."

The source stressed that Number 10 was not opposed to the green deal itself so long as it remained voluntary.

The collapse of the compulsory proposals puts new pressure on the target of persuading tens of thousands of homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient, with only the incentive of saving money on energy bills in the long term. It will also be a blow to the construction industry.

When it launched the consultation in January, the department had been enthusiastic, saying a typical home could save as much as £150 a year.

Stunell himself claimed that "a quarter of the carbon emissions produced each year come from our homes, so it is vital we get to grips with energy efficiency to tackle this problem".

Around 45% of UK carbon dioxide emissions come from buildings, principally space heating and cooling, water heating, lighting and other fixed systems – energy uses which are covered by the building regulations.

Consequential improvements are already required for buildings over 1000m² which have an extension added, but this excludes most homes.

Around 200,000 domestic extensions, loft conversions and integral garage conversions are carried out per year. These are works which generally result in increased energy use and carbon emissions from the home.

Find out further information on the Green Deal.

Don't forget to vote in our poll this month on how confident you are looking for a new job in the current climate.

Original article can be found here

Patrick Wintour - The Guardian

Pinnacle Consulting reach Wembley!

We are on our way to Wembley to visit the PHEX exhibition in April - so why not arrange to meet us for an informal and confidential chat about your career or recruitment requirements.

Call us on 01480 405225 or contact us by email at recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk to make your appointment.

Take a look at our current vacancies, there might be one of interest.

For more information on PHEX go to www.phexshow.co.uk/wembley

PHEX is at Wembley Stadium, London, between 24th - 25th April 2012. We will be there on the 25th.

PHEX is the leading series of regional exhibitions for the UK domestic and light commercial plumbing and heating market.

First launched in 1993, each two-day event brings our visitors together with some of the leading manufacturers, suppliers and distributors in the industry.

These key brands span many different market sectors including boilers, renewable energy, plumbing, controls, underfloor heating and the bathroom market, allowing exhibitors to promote their products and promotions first-hand to their key customers.

Looking for a new job? - meet us at a location near you this month

Our network of consultants cover the whole of the UK. If you are looking for a new job, we are holding interviews in the following areas:

• Tuesday 17th April - Warrington
• Thursday 19th April - Dartford
• Tuesday 24th April - Birmingham
• Thursday 26th April - Nottingham

We also attend many of the specialist trade exhibitions: 

• Wednesday 25th April - Phex, Wembley 

Contact us today and arrange to meet one of our specialist industry consultants. It could be your most important appointment to help you develop your career in the building and construction industry.


Tel: 01480 405225
Email: recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

Check out our latest vacancies of marketing and sales jobs in the building product industry - there might be one we can discuss.

Five great reasons to sign up to our social media sites

Looking for a new job is difficult at the best of times, especially when you already have a job. 

Sometimes the last thing you want to do when you get home is start searching the web or spend time honing your interview technique. And, often, it is when you are not even looking for a job that the best opportunities present themselves.

Pinnacle Consulting want to make it easy for you to find new opportunities and with our social media sites we can - whether you are actually looking for a new challenge or not.


1. Maximise your exposure to the jobs available, when they become available – avoiding the disappointment of finding out that the vacancy has already been filled

2. Let the opportunities come to you as part of your normal routine, so you don't miss out on the perfect opportunity you never knew existed!

3. Know when we are in next your area, so that we can meet for an informal and confidential chat about your career

4. Gain expert industry specific recruitment advice and guidance

5. Keep informed on key news in the building and construction industry

Keep in touch by clicking on the links below:

• Facebook
• Google +
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

In addition, we also have our regular eNewsletter, Pin Points - if you subscribe today, you could win the new Apple iPad – now that is a great reason to sign up!

Featured Jobs - April 2012

This month we are focusing on some excellent opportunities in portable buildings, doors, heating & plumbing and structural building products.

• Call us on 01480 405225 to discuss any of our current vacancies
• Or email us at recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk
• Go to our new website at www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk for more details on all our services

See below for the featured jobs.

The 'Green Deal' starts to take shape and the merchant sector is at the forefront

Builders' merchant Grafton Group is among the among 22 organisations set to become the first to provide the government’s Green Deal scheme.

All the organisations, that include contractors Carillion and Willmott Dixon and social housing provider Keepmoat, have signed an agreement with Department for Energy and Climate Change to work to become the first providers of the scheme.

Providers of the Green Deal are central to the scheme as they will broker the deals with consumers and provide the finance necessary to fund the energy efficiency installations, which consumers then payback with a charge on their energy bills.

Energy minister Greg Barker said the announcement was a watershed moment: “The commitment shown today highlights the opportunity organisations see in the Green Deal from community groups, small and medium enterprises to big business, which only bodes well for the scheme’s future success.”

Paul Roche, director of sustainability and renewables, Grafton Group said: “As a builders and plumbers merchant, we have an important role to play, supporting installers and product manufacturers on a daily basis. We take our commitment to sustainability very seriously and are proud to be part of the MoU, and all it stands for. This initiative brings together major players within the industry and demonstrates how we are all working towards that common goal, to reduce carbon emissions.”

Check out our latest jobs at www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk and view the best UK wide opportunities in the merchant sector.

The full list of 'Green Deal' providers is:

• Ampere GDP
• Anglian Home Improvements
• BritishEco
• British Gas
• CarbonLow Group
• Carillion
• Empower Community
• Enact Energy
• E.ON
• Gentoo Group
• Grafton Group
• Insta Group
• Keepmoat
• Kingfisher
• Mark Group
• ReEnergise Finance
• SIG plc
• SSE
• Stroma
• Toriga Energy
• Willmott Dixon Energy Services
• Yorkshire Energy Services

Original source here

Poll: Are you confident looking for a new job in the current climate?

DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE?

There have been encouraging signs that the building and construction industry is starting to turn the corner this year and we have seen an increase in the number of high quality employment opportunities available in the industry.

So, are you ready to start looking for a new and challenging role which has potentially greater rewards? Alternatively, you might prefer to stay where you are in the short term, as it brings you extra security.

Check out our latest jobs at www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk and see the best UK wide opportunities in the building product sector. We have some excellent Sales, Marketing and Management positions currently available.

Even, if you are not ready to make a move, we are more than happy to discuss your career, concerns and aspirations - so call us on 01480 405225 for a confidential chat.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Happy Easter from Pinnacle Consulting – time for a new challenge?

Everyone at Pinnacle Consulting wishes our candidates and clients a restful Easter weekend - hopefully indulging in good food, drink and company. Perhaps you might also spare a few moments to consider a fresh challenge?

Easter is traditionally the time to make a new start in your life - so why not take that first step and make it happen in your career?

If you are thinking about your making a move, take a look at our latest vacancies on our new website.

You can also contact us by telephone on 01480 405225 for a free and confidential chat about the options available.

If you are a sales or marketing professional in the building product sector then Pinnacle Consulting offers expert and industry specific advice and access to the best UK wide opportunities in the market.

Image: Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Merchants must push for greater eco growth

Post Ecobuild the message is really starting to get through.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change's annual figures on energy prices and consumption highlight the need for merchants to push for growth in the renewable and micro-generation market.

Gibbs & Dandy welcomed the publication of the 2011 statistics on UK energy usage, supply and prices as further evidence of the need for renewable technologies to become a mainstream source of energy.

The statistics reveal a record high in the import of oil and natural gas, equivalent with levels seen in the 1970s, this is despite a fall in overall energy consumption, which is down 18.5% in the domestic sector and 2% for primary usage when compared with 2010.

In addition, household electricity and gas bills rose by 12.3% and 20.3% respectively, despite being among the lowest price in Europe – these trends all signalling a shift toward and increased demand for effective renewable energy sources.

"Some of the most revealing figures from DECC were the statistics on the growth in the renewables market," said Gibbs & Dandy group marketing director, Tania Tams.

"Low carbon electricity share increased from 23% to 28.5% and renewables share of generation increased by 2.5% to a record 9.5% of the total This shows a growing interest and investment in its production and consumption.

"When combined with pressure on UK gas and oil sources, energy price hikes and reduced domestic consumption of electricity and gas, partly driven by a conscious effort to live more sustainably, it is clear the market is in need of a renewed effort to introduce renewable technologies to the mainstream.

"Builders' merchants are ideally placed to make renewables and micro-generation a more accessible technology and should be looking to introduce greater range depth, as well as offering training and support for installers."

Original article published here

Saint Gobain completes Build Center acquisition

The OFT has approved the purchase of Build Center by Saint Gobain, subject to the divestment of 23 branches.

The branches to be divested represent collective revenues of £35 million.

The Build Center network is the UK's fourth largest general builders' merchant. At the time of the sale, the Build Center network numbered 148 branches across the UK, including a large concentration in the south east.

It reported revenue of GBP 324 million (€390 million) for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011, with 1,527 employees.

The acquisition will enable Jewson to consolidate its position as leading general builders' merchant in the UK. Saint Gobain's purchase of French Wolseley brand Brossett has also been completed.

"These two acquisitions will add more than €1 billion of sales and strengthen our positions in the sustainable habitat market" Said Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain.

"They will further develop our Building Distribution Sector and complement the geographical presence in two of the Sector's key businesses -- general building distribution in the UK and plumbing, heating and sanitary products in France --, while creating significant synergies, particularly in the areas of purchasing and logistics."


Original article published here