Luxury house builder Mactaggart & Mickel Homes have today (30 January 2017) launched an innovative virtual kitchen styling tool, a first in Scotland. Kitchen Styler is a free online tool which uses state-of-the-art design software to enable house hunters to style and visualise their dream kitchen in their new Mactaggart
With the end of the financial year approaching Albion Valves (UK) Ltd, a leading UK valve supplier to the building services and industrial markets, has reported phenomenal business growth over the last ten years, with the company having more than tripled their turnover during this period and the workforce at
Luxury house builder Mactaggart & Mickel Homes have today (30 January 2017) launched an innovative virtual kitchen styling tool, a first in Scotland. Kitchen Styler is a free online tool which uses state-of-the-art design software to enable house hunters to style and visualise their dream kitchen in their new Mactaggart & Mickel home. Based on the kitchen layout of the Miller house type at the company’s Castle Grove development in Newton Mearns, this easy-to-use virtual planner allows people to mix and match everything from counter tops and door styles to splash backs and handles to find their perfect combination. Further to the free version, a full plot-specific version of the tool will also be available from this Spring. The full version of the Kitchen Styler will be plot specific and based on the design of each kitchen bespoke to each plot. This will be available to customers who reserve one of the stunning new homes at Castle Grove North. Home buyers will be granted exclusive log in access after a reservation has been made, enabling them to view the actual kitchen model in their new home and choose from the options available to them. They can then share their design and make their final choices at their Options Appointment with Mactaggart & Mickel Homes’ experienced sales consultants. Joanne Casey, director at Mactaggart & Mickel Homes said: “It’s often details like choosing tiles and kitchen units which buyers find the hardest. There can be so many choices and sometimes it’s difficult to visualise how all the elements will come together. We want to make sure that moving house is as stress-free as possible. “The Kitchen Styler takes the guess work out of the process, allowing our customers to see exactly how their new kitchen could look and get their loved ones involved from the comfort of their sofa. We want to make sure that moving house is as stress-free as possible and the Kitchen Styler tool means that buyers will have had the opportunity to see what their kitchen is going to look like before the big move. And trying out the Kitchen Styler is a lot of fun too!” To use the free edition of the Kitchen Styler, head to www.macmic.co.uk/kitchenstyler
With the end of the financial year approaching Albion Valves (UK) Ltd, a leading UK valve supplier to the building services and industrial markets, has reported phenomenal business growth over the last ten years, with the company having more than tripled their turnover during this period and the workforce at it’s base in Barnsley growing by over 100%. Albion attributes the secret of success to having a loyal and highly skilled team of people supporting the business and its distributors. During the coming year, one third of Albion staff will have been with the company for ten years or more, with the original core founding team clocking-up over 20 years each in the business. From a commercial perspective, it is Albion’s empathy with customers and their responsiveness to ever-changing industry needs that has helped them build a reputation as a preferred supplier. Whilst the team’s expertise and product knowledge – particularly keeping abreast of new product development has helped the business grow and expand into new areas. The company has also been quick to reinvest in the business. During 2016 Albion invested significantly into expanding its premises in Barnsley, enabling them to increase stock densities and improve stock availability to customers. A new in-house test facility for testing and setting safety valves was also added as was a staff canteen and increased office space to accommodate Albion’s growing team. In recruitment, sustainability has been key in the growth strategy to help ensure the team retains exactly the right balance of skills to best service distributors. Last year Albion recruited dedicated managers in both quality control and marketing for the first time, to further support its sales and operations team. David Keys, Managing Director, Albion Valves UK Ltd commented: “We are very fortunate to have such a great group of people working with us. The team is always willing to go the extra mile for customers and continually strives to provide a first-class service. It is their skills and knowledge that really makes this business the success story it is today. To help us grow further and continue to offer the best possible service to customers, we are also keen to develop young talent and pass the skills developed by our senior staff onto the next generation. As a business, we have always offered apprenticeships and have a one hundred percent track record of extending our apprenticeships into full-time employment. This year we will be recruiting again to fulfill another apprenticeship, as well as adding to our sales team.” Albion currently stocks over 5000 lines of commercial valves, suitable for applications predominantly within the process, water, building services and HVAC industries, all available from its distributor network.