The Door Industry Journal

Monday, 6 April 2026

Hörmann Employee Hermione Farmer Selected for Leicester Tigers

Hörmann is proud to announce that Hermione Farmer, a valued employee at FBS Hörmann, has been selected to join the Leicester Tigers Women’s squad competing in the Premiership Women’s Rugby league. To support this achievement, the company are providing Hermione with a 12-month sponsorship, reinforcing its commitment to supporting sporting excellence and opportunity.

Hermione’s route into rugby is an inspiring story – one of late beginnings and rapid progression. Having first picked up the sport at the age of 16 during a touch rugby session at Kesteven Rugby Club, she quickly demonstrated natural talent and joined the club’s Under-18 team soon after. Her passion for the game grew, leading her to secure a sports scholarship at Newcastle University, where she played for the university’s first team for four years.

“The support from Hörmann has been incredible,” says Hermione. “Having the opportunity to play in the Premiership Women’s Rugby league is a dream come true, but it comes with significant travel and training commitments. Hörmann’s sponsorship and flexibility have made it possible for me to pursue this opportunity and continue developing as a player.”

In May 2025, Hermione attended an Under-23 trial day with Leicester Tigers Women. Her impressive performance earned her an invitation to pre-season training , and by August, she was offered a contracted place within the squad. Typically playing in the back row as a flanker, Hermione now has the opportunity to compete at the top level of the women’s game.

Balancing a demanding rugby schedule with her role in the Reactive Purchasing Department at FBS Hörmann has required commitment and teamwork both on and off the field. Thanks to a flexible working arrangement, Hermione is now able to finish early three days a week, allowing her to attend training sessions in Leicester.

“We’re incredibly proud of Hermione’s success and delighted that our backing is making a real difference in helping to support young and talented athletes like her,” said Wolfgang Gorner, Managing Director at Hörmann UK. “Her dedication, teamwork, and determination reflect the very values that drive our business.”

www.hormann.co.uk

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Sunday, 5 April 2026

A BESPOKE CELEBRATION OF MARINE CRAFT AND DESIGN

Rolls-Royce presents Cullinan Yachting: four Private Commissions celebrating the aesthetics, materials and spirit of contemporary yachting. Each motor car is defined by one of the cardinal points of the compass – North, South, East or West – a subtle thematic thread expressed through both interior and exterior details.

All four commissions feature marine-grade teak detailing, hand-painted nautical fascias, Mediterranean wind-pattern Starlight Headliners, and distinctive exterior finishes. Together, they reflect Rolls-Royce’s longstanding relationship with the world of maritime craft – from Charles Rolls’ own family yacht to contemporary client collaborations with leading yacht designers.

HAND-PAINTED FLOURISHES: AWASH WITH COLOUR

Hand-painted elements are an increasingly sought-after form of Bespoke expression, with Rolls-Royce now employing full-time artisans dedicated to this specialised craft. In each of the Cullinan Yachting motor cars, the fascia and picnic tables include artworks that capture the trailing wake of a tender at speed, bound for a yacht at anchor. The direction of the wake reflects the orientation of each commission – North, South, East or West – ensuring each motor car is a true one-of-one.

Development of the composition required two months of experimentation, refining paint hue combinations, application techniques and lacquering processes. To achieve the lifelike wave effect, pigment is airbrushed onto the wet lacquer before being shaped by hand with a fine brush. By directing air across the surface and manually guiding the paint, the artist achieves a natural sense of movement.

The painted composition sits within a broader treatment spanning the full width of the motor car. The fascia is finished in a Bespoke paint named Piano Milori Sparkle: a rich, metallic blue that evokes the deep, crystalline tones of the Côte d’Azur.

Beyond the fascia, Open Pore Teak is used throughout the interior, including the rear Waterfall, rear centre console lid and door panels. Commonly found on yacht decks, this material was selected for its maritime authenticity, natural tactility and understated visual warmth.

On the rear Waterfall, a marquetry compass motif anchors the theme. Each design comprises more than 40 individual pieces of veneer in Sycamore, Teak, Ash and Black Bolivar, precisely cut and assembled by hand.

BESPOKE INTERIOR: A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

The interior is finished in Arctic White and Navy Blue leather, with contrast stitching, piping and headrest monograms in Navy. The seat inserts feature a Bespoke rigging pattern, hand-stitched in diagonal bands using Rolls-Royce’s signature thread. Created by an artisan with a personal connection to the Royal Navy, and trained in yarn, weave and embroidery construction, the piece has been carefully orchestrated to echo the twining of rope, where multiple strands are twisted together to create strength. The direction of each stitch reflects this structural composition, elegantly translating the craft of nautical ropework into embroidery. A rope motif also appears on the illuminated treadplates, visible when opening the coach doors.

STARLIGHT HEADLINER: STEER BY THE STARS

Each Cullinan Yachting is fitted with a unique Starlight Headliner, combining static and animated hand-placed fibre-optic ‘stars’ in patterns inspired by Mediterranean wind maps. The shifting air currents – charted and interpreted by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective of designers, craftspeople and engineers – are rendered in subtle motion across the roof of the interior suite.

FOUR DIRECTIONS, FOUR IDENTITIES

The exterior finish of each Cullinan Yachting reflects the cardinal point of the compass it is named after. North is presented in Crystal over Light Blue, evoking the colder waters of higher latitudes; South captures warmer climes in a deep, serene Crystal over Arabian Blue IV; East is rendered in Dark Silk Teal, suggesting the calm and mystery of deep water; while West appears in Sapphire Gunmetal, echoing a storm-lit ocean sky. The motor cars are finished with a hand-painted compass motif on the front wings, in which the corresponding directional point is highlighted in red, complemented by a hand-applied Twin Coachline in Phoenix Red and Arctic White.

Each commission is resolved with 22-inch Fully Polished alloy wheels, subtly recalling the mirror-polished brightwork and deck fittings of contemporary yachts.

ROLLS-ROYCE’S YACHTING LEGACY: MORE THAN A CENTURY OF CONNECTION

The connections between Rolls-Royce and the world of yachting are deep and longstanding. In Rolls-Royce's design language, the lower line of the bodywork – known as the ‘waft line’ – borrows directly from yacht design, creating an uncomplicated sense of motion by reflecting the road passing beneath it, much as a yacht hull reflects the water as it cuts through it.

Many heritage motor cars, together with Goodwood-era series models including Phantom Drophead Coupé and Spectre, as well as the contemporary coachbuilt Boat Tail commissions, have incorporated design cues and material influences from racing yachts. A particularly potent reference-point is the peerless J-class, built in the 1930s to compete in the prestigious America’s Cup. With their elegant proportions, long overhangs, sweeping lines and large sail plans, these classic high-performance vessels combined beauty with breathtaking speed, and are still revered as floating works of art.

There is also a more direct, personal link between the marque and the maritime world. Long before he met Henry Royce, Charles Rolls’ family owned the substantial but graceful Santa Maria – a schooner-rigged steam yacht, with two masts and auxiliary steam power, typical of fashionable late Victorian and early Edwardian nautical society. After graduating from Cambridge in 1898, the youthful Rolls briefly served as her Third Engineer in what was one of his earliest engineering roles, before fulfilling his true vocation as a pioneer of both motoring and aviation.

Logbooks and records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries show Santa Maria taking the family on frequent cruises from Shoreham, less than 30 miles from the Home of Rolls-Royce, on the south coast of England to the Mediterranean, where her ports of call included Naples, Malta, Algiers and Côte d'Azur. The latter – still a favoured destination and home port for many Rolls-Royce clients who are also yacht owners – provides the creative focal point for Cullinan Yachting.

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Saturday, 4 April 2026

Hörmann UK To Go Bigger and Better at FIT Show 2027

Hörmann UK has announced it will be returning to the FIT Show with its largest and most ambitious presence to date, underlining its long-term commitment to the UK domestic door sector. This expanded footprint will give visitors the opportunity to discover, experience and engage with Hörmann’s extensive range of garage and entrance door solutions.

2027 will see Hörmann UK with double the floor space compared to previous years, located prominently at the entrance of Hall 9, across two adjoining stands, L20 and M30.

Stand L20 will be dedicated exclusively to Hörmann’s front door portfolio, creating a clear and focused environment in which visitors can explore the full breadth of the company’s entrance door offering. The stand will showcase the Hörmann Truedor composite range alongside their steel and aluminium entrance doors, allowing visitors to examine design flexibility, construction quality and advanced security features in depth.

The adjoining stand will feature Hörmann’s market-leading range of garage doors. The display will represent some of the most popular door types currently specified in the UK market, including sectional and roller doors - demonstrating product functionality, performance and end-user benefits in a practical and accessible way.

Wolfgang Gorner, MD at Hörmann UK said, “While preparations are still at an early stage, our plans for FIT Show 2027 signal a bold and confident approach. The 2027 show will see us with increased space, clear product focus and enhanced engagement activities all designed to deliver maximum value for visitors and reinforce Hörmann’s strong position within the sector.”

Bringing both stands together will be an overarching show theme titled “The Hörmann Home”, designed to illustrate how Hörmann’s entrance and garage door solutions integrate seamlessly into everyday living environments. In addition, Hörmann is exploring plans for a Wednesday evening networking event, alongside a programme of visitor engagement activities, with further details to be revealed closer to the show.

Nickie West, FIT Show Event Director added, "Hörmann has been a cornerstone of FIT Show for many years, and their decision to come back in 2027 with a bigger, bolder presence is a huge vote of confidence in both the event and the UK domestic door market. Doubling their footprint at the entrance to Hall 9, with a clear focus on ‘The Hörmann Home’, will set the tone for visitors from the moment they arrive and underlines exactly what FIT Show is about – showcasing best‑in‑class innovation, creating meaningful engagement on the stand, and helping brands and their customers do better business together.

“By joining the line-up ahead of the year-out mark, Hörmann will be able to maximise collaborative campaign planning that extends far beyond three impactful days at the NEC. It’s about sustained, year-round exposure through segmented email marketing, social amplification, and strategic PR - building serious momentum long before doors open, and showing exactly why early commitment delivers such powerful, measurable ROI for best-in-class brands.”

www.hormann.co.uk

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Friday, 3 April 2026

Fire Shutter Compliance: A Tested Solution for Servery Applications

With fire legislation under increasing scrutiny, compliance in fire-rated shutter installations has never been more critical. Leading industrial door manufacturer and trade supplier Alliance Door Engineering is responding decisively to recent clarification surrounding fire shutter certification.

Following guidance issued by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), the industry has been alerted to the fact that certification for fire-resistant roller shutters applies only to products tested in their exact configuration. In particular, shutters that do not close fully to the floor — such as those installed over servery hatches — require specific audited furnace testing for that application.

Although fire shutters have been required to meet EN 16034:2014 and EN 13241:1:2013 since November 2019, ongoing audits by independent certification bodies have confirmed that compliance cannot be assumed for counter-top installations unless the design has been formally tested in that format. Without this evidence, CE or UKCA marking cannot be legitimately applied.

For installers, contractors and specifiers, this presents a clear compliance risk.

Wigan-based Alliance Door Engineering is one of only a select number of UK manufacturers to have successfully completed audited furnace testing for a fire-rated roller shutter in a counter-top (servery) application. This ensures that its solution is not only certified, but certified for the precise real-world scenario in which it is installed.

To further support the trade, Alliance now provides comprehensive structural requirement drawings for steel, masonry and partition wall constructions. These detailed installation guidelines help ensure that site conditions mirror the original test criteria — including correct substrate construction and approved fixings — safeguarding compliance from specification through to handover.

In an environment where responsibility and accountability are under increasing scrutiny, specifying a fully tested and application-specific solution removes uncertainty. By choosing Alliance’s fire-rated roller shutters, installers and end users benefit from demonstrable compliance, reduced risk and complete peace of mind.

For more information about the comprehensive range of high-performance industrial doors and shutters that Alliance Door Engineering supplies to the trade, contact their sales department on 01942 683601, or email: sales@alliancedoors.co.uk

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Thursday, 2 April 2026

Trojon’s bright idea

New integrated LED light strip and box strengthener combines two common installer requests.

A new integrated LED light strip and box strengthener from Trojon Roller Doors has been developed to address two of the most common requests from garage door installers, bringing lighting and structural support together in a single component.

Set to launch this spring, the product combines an LED lighting strip with a box strengthener, offering installers a practical way to enhance both the functionality and finish of a garage door installation.

Two installer requests in one solution

When specifying garage doors, installers are frequently asked for two things: external lighting above the door, and additional support to reinforce the door box. Rather than providing separate accessories, Trojon’s new design integrates both functions into a single product.

Additionally, the new strengthener will solve another big issue faced by homeowners – that of the hood rattling in strong winds.

The LED strip sits neatly above the garage door, providing external illumination while also acting as a structural reinforcement for the door box. By combining lighting and strengthening into one element, the product reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall installation process.

For John Munday, owner of Trojon Roller Doors, and designer of this new product; it is a straightforward idea, but one that reflects the practical requirements installers encounter on site every day.

Flexible installation options

Flexibility was central to the product’s development. The integrated LED light strip can be installed at the same time as a new garage door, giving homeowners immediate exterior lighting.

It can also be retrofitted to existing doors, offering installers a solution when customers want to upgrade the exterior of their garage at a later date.

The lighting can be configured in different ways depending on the application. For example, it can be set to activate automatically when the garage door is operated, providing immediate illumination outside the door. This is especially useful for driveways, paths, and entryways where extra visibility improves safety and convenience.

Alternatively, the LED strip can function as a standalone light source, offering a permanent exterior lighting feature above the garage.

Designed to integrate with the door

Alongside functionality, appearance has also been considered in the design. The LED strip is supplied in white as standard, but Trojon laminates the units in-house so they can match the finish of the garage door. This allows the strip to blend seamlessly with the door’s design rather than appearing as an afterthought.

As garages increasingly serve multiple purposes and are part of the overall home frontage, homeowners are more conscious of aesthetics. A coordinated finish ensures the lighting feature feels like a natural and integrated part of the installation.

Practical benefits for installers

Combining lighting and structural reinforcement into a single component offers clear practical advantages.

By reducing the number of separate elements required, installations are quicker, simpler, and easier to specify. Installers no longer need to source and fit separate lighting and strengthening components, saving time and effort on site.

At the same time, the structural element helps support the door box, contributing to the long-term durability and stability of the door system.

This dual-purpose approach adds value both structurally and aesthetically without adding complexity to the installation.

A small change that makes a big difference

Innovation in the garage door sector is often about practical improvements that make installations simpler and the finished system more functional for homeowners.

By combining two commonly requested features into a single component, Trojon’s new LED light strip and box strengthener delivers exactly that kind of improvement.

More information is available at www.trojonrollerdoors.co.uk

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Wednesday, 1 April 2026

Strengthening Leadership: Inside Ellard’s New Senior Management Team

As demand grows for smarter products, faster response times and deeper collaboration with our customers, we took a step back to look at how our leadership structure was serving both our customers and our people. What became clear was that to keep delivering real value, we needed a sharper focus where it matters most.

That led to a strategic restructure of our Senior Management Team, splitting what was previously a broad commercial remit into two distinct leadership roles: Jeff Monks, as Head of Product and Adam Robinson, as Head of Sales. We also welcomed a new Head of Finance, Claire Newns, who joined the business three months ago. This addition strengthens the foundations of the business, bringing greater financial clarity, control and long-term planning to support sustainable growth.

This new structure allows us to give equal weight to three critical areas of the customer experience. A dedicated focus on product innovation and development, ensuring our solutions meet real-world installation and performance demands. A stronger emphasis on sales, relationships and service, making it easier for customers to work with us at every stage, and a robust financial framework that supports smarter investment, resilience and scale.

The result is a leadership team built around clarity, accountability and customer impact. It enables faster decision-making, closer collaboration between teams, and a more seamless journey from product development through to sales, delivery and after-sales support.

Online, Mark Molyneux, Ellard's Managing Director, introduces our Senior Management structure and explains how this change helps us stay agile, aligned and focused on what matters most: delivering better outcomes for our customers.

You can also watch individual videos from Adam, Jeff and Claire, to get to know them better, understand their roles, and hear directly how they’re helping shape Ellard’s future.

www.ellard.co.uk

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Tuesday, 31 March 2026

New and Updated Training on ADSA Academy

Three new and updated training courses are being launched on the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) online Academy - reinforcing the association’s commitment to delivering competence, compliance and continuous professional development across the powered pedestrian door industry.

The Academy was recently redeveloped using Totara, a leading learning management system that provides greater flexibility, improved learner experience and enhanced tracking, testing and certification of learning outcomes. It can be accessed by employees of all ADSA members.

The new additions include:

EN 17352 Safety in Use Renewal Course

The BS EN 17352 Safety in Use Standard for speed lanes and turnstiles is now three years old and those who completed the original ADSA standards training are approaching their renewal period. Between March and December 2026, more than 100 learners will require renewal.

While there have been no changes to the standard itself, the three-year point represents an ideal opportunity for learners to refresh their knowledge and ensure they remain fully up-to-date with regulatory and safety requirements.

The renewal course takes approximately 2.5 hours, followed by an online examination using multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. It revisits all key elements of the original learning, including legal responsibilities, essential health and safety requirements and the identification and mitigation of specific hazards such as impact, shearing, drawing-in and crushing.

The course is structured into six mandatory sections, using a blend of video content, interactive quizzes, checks on understanding, on-screen reading, diagrams, visuals and links to external reference documents hosted within the Academy. Learners must complete all sections in sequence before accessing the examination. While the course can be completed flexibly in stages, both the learning and assessment must be completed before the individual’s renewal date.

Updated Foundation Course

ADSA has also produced an updated version of its Foundation Course - originally introduced in 2017 as a prerequisite to standards training. The course was designed to help individuals within member businesses – including office, sales and support teams – understand the fundamentals of the powered pedestrian door industry, as well as new engineers, prior to technical standards training.

The refreshed course features updated references to sensor and drive technologies, modernises the structure and presentation, and fully aligns the content with ADSA’s current branding and learning approach. It offers greater fluidity, improved knowledge testing and the ability to formally record and certificate learning outcomes.

Key inclusions are references to BS EN 16005:2023, ensuring learners are familiar with current safety requirements for powered pedestrian doors.

The course is free to access for all Academy users. And while there is no formal renewal requirement, ADSA recommends that all relevant personnel retake the course to maintain awareness and understanding. The course comprises seven sections and takes approximately one hour to complete. It is available now.

CSCS Health & Safety Course

A new CSCS Health & Safety course has also been developed – replacing its 2017 predecessor with more construction-industry content. Completion of an approved construction site H&S course is mandatory for anyone applying for an ADSA CSCS card.

The course includes up-to-date accident reporting statistics, relevant legislation and industry-specific risks. There is greater emphasis placed on practical, industry-relevant scenarios.

This course has a duration of approximately three hours, is structured across 12 sections, and is included within the cost of applying for an ADSA CSCS card.

Said Ken Price, Managing Director of ADSA: “Our Academy is central to how we support competence and compliance across the industry. The move to Totara has given us the ability to revisit and author more engaging, flexible and measurable learning, and these course updates ensure our training remains current and relevant.

“Whether it’s refreshing knowledge against established standards, supporting new entrants into the industry or ensuring health and safety competence on site, these courses reflect our commitment to raising standards at every level.”

www.adsa.org.uk

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Monday, 30 March 2026

Still the Original. Still the Best.

Why the SeceuroGlide Original remains the roller garage door to beat after 25 years

More than 25 years after its launch, the SeceuroGlide Original from SWS UK continues to lead the way in the UK roller garage door market. Despite increasing competition and a growing shift towards lower-priced alternatives, the Original remains SWS UK’s best-selling roller garage door - proof that proven quality, innovation and support still matter.

A Market-Changing Innovation

Introduced in 1999, the SeceuroGlide Original was the first insulated roller garage door designed specifically for homeowners in the UK. Prior to its arrival, aluminium security shutters intended for commercial use were commonly adapted for domestic garages.

SWS UK recognised the need for a purpose-built solution and developed a product tailored to residential requirements, combining insulation, security and ease of use. The innovation was significant enough to inspire its name - the Original - and it quickly established a new standard for the industry.

Designed to Perform

From the outset, the SeceuroGlide Original improved upon existing products with a series of engineering advancements that delivered real benefits for installers and end users alike.

These included a unique webbing system that made the door quieter in operation, reduced abrasion and improved resistance to attack, alongside a high-security locking system, wider guide rails and an installation-friendly design.

Security remains central to the product’s appeal, supported by features such as a 100mm fluted axle, robust locking straps and an extruded top rail - all contributing to enhanced strength and durability.

The door has also achieved the prestigious Secured by Design accreditation, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most secure roller garage doors available.

Continuous Development

While the market has evolved, SWS UK’s in-house product development team has ensured the SeceuroGlide Original remains at the forefront of design and technology. Security, safety and style come as standard - features that are often optional extras on lower-cost alternatives.

This commitment to ongoing improvement has helped the Original maintain its position as a premium product in an increasingly price-driven marketplace.

Trusted Across the Industry

The SeceuroGlide Original’s longevity is built not only on product performance but also on the support behind it. Designed with installers in mind, the door offers straightforward installation backed by SWS UK’s highly regarded technical and customer support teams.

As one customer explains: “The SeceuroGlide Original combines everything. Quality, security, safety, design and ease of installation, and it’s all supported by one of the best customer support teams.”

Each door is supplied with a 7-year automation warranty, giving both installers and homeowners added confidence in long-term reliability.

Still the One to Beat

Even as budget products enter the market, the SeceuroGlide Original continues to set the benchmark for roller garage doors in the UK - balancing innovation, reliability and support in a way competitors continue to chase.

Andrew Dootson, SWS UK’s former Managing Director, and the creator of the Original, commented: “The launch of the SeceuroGlide Original was a defining moment in SWS UK’s history, and we are incredibly proud of the success it has achieved across the industry. It transformed the garage door market when it was introduced, and its continued popularity demonstrates the lasting value of quality engineering, innovation and strong customer support.”

More than two decades on, the message remains clear: the SeceuroGlide Original isn’t just a long-standing product. It is still the standard by which others are judged.

After more than 25 years, the Original remains true to its name - and still the one to beat.

www.sws.co.uk

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Sunday, 29 March 2026

“Cars so fast, they need parachutes to stop them” – Santa Pod at 60

Sixty years ago, “Cars so fast, they need parachutes to stop them” was a slogan Santa Pod Raceway used to advertise its unique arrival on the British motor racing scene. And parachutes remain vital braking equipment to this day.

Conventional brakes have improved beyond measure, but so have dragstrip speeds. Late-1960s dragsters astonished fans with finish-line speeds pushing 160mph. Today’s track record is 321mph – that’s 0-321 in 3.7 seconds, performance figures far exceeding the most fevered imagination when Santa Pod opened its gates as Europe’s first permanent dragstrip on Easter Monday 1966.

Santa Pod’s 60th Anniversary calendar taps a rich vein of motorsport and musical attractions. The dragstrip remains the heart of the matter, but Santa Pod has expanded to become much more than just a racing venue.

It is a busy place. Every weekend from the beginning of March to the end of October (except August bank holiday, a well-earned weekend off for the staff) yields an event of some kind. Alongside the dragstrip, the Live Action Arena presents Monster Truck and stunt shows, fine family attractions, and a music stage often occupies the acres beyond.

Across the strip, the vast, paved paddock can accommodate more than 300 teams at the big races – with their vehicles, transporters and trailers and weekend living facilities – and music stages, funfairs and all manner of displays at the venue’s lifestyle festivals. And there is space too for the regular midweek Public Drift Days.

Music is an integral part of the Santa Pod programme, whether as night-time entertainment at the multi-day race meetings or on a grander scale at the festivals, with leading artists often featured.

Santa Pod’s 60th Anniversary celebrations will focus on the two FIA/FIM European Championship events, The Main Event (22-25 May) and the European Finals (10-13 September), and on the venue’s historic drag racing centrepiece, Dragstalgia (26-28 June).

Of the two major automotive lifestyle weekends, Bug Jam 39 is just one year short of its own significant anniversary. The massive Volkswagen festival (24-26 July) has been a Santa Pod staple for almost two-thirds of the venue’s existence. A week later, USC-Ultimate Street Car (31 July-2 August) bills itself as “the largest, loudest, hottest and fastest modified car festival in Europe”.

To mark the 60th Anniversary, Santa Pod will release an exclusive branded FIA Championship clothing range and a limited edition anniversary jacket. A special bookazine will celebrate the venue’s entire history on a year-by-year basis, and a range of limited-edition paintings will be issued.

Some 400,000 spectators a year pass through Santa Pod’s gates to experience the exceptional and varied programme of events offered by the Raceway. Visit https://santapod.co.uk/events/ to see the full programme.

Tickets for all events may be booked online at https://santapodtickets.com/ or by telephoning the Box Office at 01234 782828.

PS: So how did the venue come by its memorable name? It’s an amalgam: ‘Santa’ to evoke the spirit of Southern California, the cradle of drag racing; ‘Pod’ for Podington, the WW2-surplus airfield on which it stands. Imaginative fellows, those brave business types who launched the venture on a wing, a prayer and a derelict aerodrome, six boisterous decades ago.

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Saturday, 28 March 2026

DIJ Hits the Road for DHF’s Training Launch

Two men walked into a bar… It may sound like the start of a joke but it was actually the start of something that will seriously change the landscape of building hardware training.

One night turned into 18 months of development and the UK’s first Ofqual-regulated and ABBE-accredited qualifications dedicated to the building hardware industry was born.

The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has shifted the gears of professional training in our industry. Held at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, its launch event put the spotlight (or should that be headlights?) on competence, collaboration, and the future of the sector – and DIJ was there to experience it first-hand.

Innovation on display – in more ways than one

The museum proved the perfect backdrop, with some of the most iconic vehicles in British automotive history reminding attendees that innovation is often the engine of progress. Inside, almost 100 industry professionals were all focused on the future of competence in the sector.

The launch showcased a significant change in how competence in the building hardware industry is developed, measured, and recognised. The day began with a presentation mapping out the journey of creating the Core Competence in Building Hardware programme and explaining its practical applications.

A journey mapped out – forge your own learning path

The programme is comprehensive, covering 178 learning outcomes and 750 assessment criteria, from the history of door hardware to modern smart locking systems. One of its standout features is flexibility: learners can build their own path and select the modules most relevant to their role.

As attendees were reminded; customers don’t want to see a salesman – they want to talk to a product expert. This approach ensures that the training equips professionals with the skills and recognised competence to advise, support, and innovate confidently.

Fuel for thought – collaboration is key to success

The Q&A session was a highlight, with attendees asking insightful questions and a panel discussion exploring assessment methods and the wider impact on industry standards. The presence of representatives from organisations including the Construction Products Association, Master Locksmiths Association, Police CPI, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, CITB, Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards, Clearview Group, and BRE reflected a strong, collaborative effort to improve competence across the sector.

Driving the future of competence

The Core Competence in Building Hardware programme aligns with the Construction Product Competence Standard set out in the Construction Products Association White Paper, placing it at the forefront of wider competence reform. DHF members will have exclusive access for the first six months, with a full public launch scheduled for Spring 2026.

The programme represents a much-needed jump start for the industry, providing a structured, credible, and flexible approach to training that addresses current challenges, including a talent pool that is shrinking faster than it is being replenished.

Full Speed Ahead – after this landmark launch

Beyond the presentations, the event offered opportunities to network and discuss ideas with peers across the sector, all over a lovely lunch. The combination of practical insight, collaboration, and friendly conversation made for an engaging and informative day.

DHF’s efforts in creating and launching this programme mark a significant milestone for building hardware competence in the UK. It demonstrates how the industry can innovate while keeping professional standards and practical training at the forefront.

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