This week #madeinsandwell Monday is celebrating the achievements of Fire Glass UK, a Tividale-based glass manufacturer that has just been shortlisted for two major industry awards.

Fire Glass UK supplies and installs fire rated and other specialist glass, including acoustic glass, safety glass, double glazed units, mirrored glass, glazing units with integral blinds, which allow users complete control of light, heat and privacy by the controller which is designed to tilt, raise or lower the blind, and special heritage units for situations where standard double glazing units won’t fit. Fire Glass prides itself on providing customers with all the information and resources they need to make the right decision for each project, and also offers an in-house estimate and survey service.

The company has been shortlisted in two categories at the G Awards, the biggest awards in the glass industry. Not only has it made the finals for Glass Company of the Year for the third year running, but UK branch manager Sam Hawthorne is also a finalist in the Unsung Hero category.

This is an amazing achievement for a company that started life in 2008 as a single cutting bench in a corner of a small factory with just two employees. In the decade since then, it’s grown to be a market leader employing around 120 people across five sites nationwide, in Manchester, Derby, Colchester and Edinburgh. It moved to its current head quarters on Hainge Road in Oldbury in 2017 where it now occupies over 30,000 sq ft of factory and office space. In November 2018, Fire Glass invested in a new toughening plant at its Oldbury headquarters. This was part of its ongoing expansion project, enabling it to add to its range of specialist glass products and meet the growing demand for toughened products.

Managing director Sean Haynes said that being shortlisted for Glass Company of the Year is “a company-wide achievement and recognition for the hard work and dedication all staff across our branches put in to supporting our customers and delivering an excellent service. We’re extremely proud of all our staff who have worked so hard to build our reputation for excellent customer service – nothing can replicate being good at what you do and our staff demonstrate that time and time again.”

Of Sam’s nomination for Unsung Hero, Sean said: “It’s an amazing achievement and one that recognises the improvement and growth within the branch under her leadership. Sam has built an excellent team around her and she is the epitome of the type of hard work, commitment and dedication to customer service that Fire Glass UK has been built on.”

The G Awards winners will be announced on 29 November 2019 and everyone here at Think Sandwell will have fingers and toes firmly crossed for the Fire Glass team.

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