News

Sales of pipe insulation have boomed since energy prices soared to unprecedented levels, a leading supplier has revealed.

TG Lynes, a leading heating, plumbing and air movement supplier, has seen sales of Armacell pipe insultation double in the last 12 months as people look for simple ways to lower both domestic and commercial heating bills.

Pipe insulation can help lower energy consumption by reducing the amount of heat lost as hot water travels around the property before it reaches radiators or taps.

Eray Guleryuz, Commercial Team Lead at TG Lynes, said: "We have certainly seen a significant increase in sales of Armacell products and the brand’s ArmaFlex range over the last year.

“People are more aware than ever of the measures that can be taken to reduce energy bills. Some estimates suggest that up to 25 per cent of all heat produced escapes through the pipes before it reaches the final destination.

“The Armacell products are industry-leading and can be installed with self-sealing technology. Our customers, including heating engineers, are recommending the products to their clients more often and that is driving the demand we are seeing.

“That can be for domestic properties and blocks of flats, but also large commercial buildings, offices, industrial premises and leisure facilities."

Eray said the growth in sales of Armacell foam products could also be partly attributed to an increase in the number of properties switching to ground source heat pumps.

“Heat pumps work at lower temperatures than a traditional heating system, therefore good insulation is key to getting the most out of the system,” said Eray.

“Without good all-round insulation, including loft insulation, wall insulation and double glazing, some people will find heat pumps do not produce enough energy to keep the building a comfortable temperature.

“With a third of Britons reported to be considering a switch to heat pumps, we expect to see sales of Armacell foam and other insulation products continue to rise.”

Insulating pipes has additional benefits beyond reducing energy consumption, including condensation control, frost protection and noise reduction.

Jamie Bomber, National Sales Manager at Armacell, said: “Increasing energy efficiency, thus reducing costs, has become one of the main drivers in the specification of our products for the built environment, both in the domestic and commercial HVAC building sectors.

“Whether the heating and cooling sources are heat pumps or conventional equipment, system performance, system longevity and the working and living environments are significantly enhanced with the inclusion of ArmaFlex insulation materials fitted to pipe-work, ductwork and within the building fabric.”

TG Lynes stocks industry leading brands and supplies thousands of products including valves, steel and copper tubes and fittings, press systems, composite and plastic plumbing, drainage solutions and support systems and tooling. An extensive plant hire service is also available.

TG Lynes has given a thriving women’s rugby team a sponsorship boost as they prepare for a tour of France.

Heating, plumbing and air movement materials supplier TG Lynes has agreed to sponsor the back of Streatham-Croydon Ladies RFC’s shirts as they head overseas at the end of May.

TG Lynes has teamed up with one of its customers – mechanical and electrical contract, Gloster – to complete the sponsorship. Gloster’s logo will feature on the front of the shirts.

It’s the second time TG Lynes and Gloster have joined forces to back Streatham-Croydon Ladies RFC having supported the women on their tour of Wales last summer.

The funding forms part of TG Lynes’ International Women’s Day and Women in Construction Week celebrations.

Gemma Skelton, Area Sales Manager at TG Lynes and Gloster Account Manager, said: “We’re delighted to support the club as they travel to France.

“It’s fantastic to see women’s rugby growing and developing, and we’re pleased to be playing a small part in that.”

Andrew Ingram, managing director at TG Lynes added: “Diversity and inclusion is a high priority for TG Lynes as having a range of opinions and views has proved very beneficial to our business.”

Emma Leyton, Operations Coordinator and Marketing Executive at Gloster, said: “We are big advocates of inclusion and diversity and have a great relationship with TG Lynes, so it’s good to come together again to support the rugby club.”

A total of 27 women will embark on the France trip, including 12 who have never toured with the club before.

Streatham-Croydon Ladies RFC are currently top of the National Challenge 1 South East East League with two games to go having gone the entire season unbeaten.

Their special tour shirts have been designed with a French influence and after the tour they will be used for training.

Helena Solomon, of the club, said: “It’s fantastic to have this support from TG Lynes and Gloster. Funding can be difficult to come by, especially at the moment, so we are very grateful.

“We have had hugely successful season and continue to grow as a club. It’s exciting to see the women’s game progressing at pace and more and more people taking an interest.”

TG Lynes stocks industry leading brands and supplies thousands of products including valves, steel and copper tubes and fittings, press systems, composite and plastic plumbing, drainage solutions and support systems and tooling. An extensive plant hire service is also available.

As Pride month is celebrated, TG Lynes managing director Martin Hastings highlights the importance of a fully diverse and inclusive working environment.

It is vitally important to our culture at TG Lynes that every individual is given the opportunity to be themselves in the workplace.

Throughout the entire business, we work exceptionally hard to ensure diversity is embraced and individuals can be as open and honest as they wish with regards their personal lives, regardless of gender, religion or sexuality.

I’m incredibly proud of the rich diversity we have at TG Lynes, not only in our own workforce but also through our customers and suppliers.

Creating an environment where people can express themselves without fear of prejudice not only provides diversity of thought but also allows every individual to express themselves, innovate and fulfil their potential.

Pride Month has been a major part of our internal activity throughout June.

We have featured a wide range of informative and educational articles on internal communications platform, providing background and context to the wider development of the LGBTQ+ community.

All our colleagues will also enjoy special Pride cup cakes while – on the last day of Pride Month - we will also join our Grafton Group colleagues in listening to a special presentation from award-winning author, commentator and lawyer Mohsin Zaidi, a significant advocate of LGBTQ+ rights, BAME representation and social mobility.

Our commitment to delivering one of the most progressive and forward-thinking sustainability programmes in the industry doesn’t stop at our numerous environmental credentials.

It also encapsulates supporting our colleagues and providing a fully inclusive and diverse environment for them to operate in.

Pride Month has provided a fantastic opportunity for us, and the wider trade and construction sector, to reflect on that.

Our tee-rrific golf day raised more than £1,300 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

TG Lynes suppliers demonstrated their skills at the Marquees Course at the prestigious Woburn Golf Club for the annual Charity Golf Day.

A raffle and a Beat The Pro Challenge was held as part of the event, raising a total of £1,370 for our charity of the year.

Laura Janaway, Marketing Manager at TG Lynes, said: “The Charity Golf Day is always one of the highlights of the fundraising and social calendar.

“A huge thank you to the 49 customers & suppliers who dug deep to help us raise more than we ever have done before.

“The money will make a big difference to Noah’s Ark and the invaluable work the charity does.”

The winning team scored an impressive 88 points collectively and the overall player winner scored an astounding 39 points.

There was extra excitement this year as players were given the chance to win a sparkling new Vauxhall Vivaro Van, worth £30,000, if they scored a hole in one at the 176 yard 17th hole.

There were also prizes up for grabs for an ace on the remaining par threes, including a three-night golf holiday.

Laura added: “Though no-one managed to hit a hole in one and win the van, the competition certainly added an extra buzz around tee shots on the 17th.

“One of our players won a £100 golf voucher as a competition winner but very generously donated the value back to our chosen charity.”

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice provides support to babies, children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses across London.

Natasha Davis Whitehead, Marketing and Communications Manager at Noah’s Ark, said: “We’re thrilled to be TG Lynes’ charity partner and thank everyone for taking part in this wonderful golf day at one of England’s most prestigious courses.

“Support from companies such as TG Lynes makes a very significant difference to the offering we can provide, particularly in the wake of the pandemic which has stretched the resources of all charities.”

We are also planning a gala dinner and a charity football match against Brith Services, as well as a number of internal events throughout the year to raise funds for Noah’s Ark.

Polypipe Building Services and TG Lynes have fostered a close working relationship over a quarter of a century – and sales have risen exponentially during that period.

Polypipe Building Services hailed the strong relationships with the TG Lynes team for the longevity of the success, which has seen sales quadruple over the last 10 years.

This year, as part of TG Lynes’ 110-year anniversary celebrations, Polypipe Building Services was one of the first to sign up as a Gold Supplier.

“We work very closely with TG Lynes and have multi contact points from our MD to the sales teams,” said Polypipe Building Services Regional Sales Director Damian Farrell.

“We’re as open as we can be with each other, which is really refreshing.

“We understand their customers and that enables us to come up with new initiatives regularly and helps introduce new products that we know are going to be of interest to them.

“We deal with a lot of the big end users in the industry and I can honestly say you seldom hear anyone say anything bad about TG Lynes.

“They have an outstanding reputation and their service is very good. Their customers hold them in high esteem.”

Polypipe Building Services, part of Genuit Group Plc, is one of the largest manufacturers in Europe of materials for the Civil Engineering, Residential and Building Services markets and their products are specifically designed for use in the commercial arena.

The Group work with national and local housing developers, plumbing and heating engineers, general builders and groundworkers to deliver above and below ground drainage systems, rainwater solutions and hot and cold plastic plumbing products.

Polypipe Building Services offer a specialist offsite fabrication facility to design and deliver solutions to Mechanical and Public Health Engineers and M&E contractors, as well as Local Authorities.

Just like TG Lynes, Polypipe takes seriously the role it has to play in improving the environment by becoming a low carbon business as well as delivering sustainable solutions at scale.

Damian said: “We are in the cusp of launching a new market-leading product manufactured with up to 65% recycled plastic.

“Just like TG Lynes, we’ve signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative with a view to reach zero net carbon by 2050.

“We’re also moving towards a fleet of electric cars and have a full CSR programme to help the local community.

“Sustainability is important to us – and we know it’s also important to TG Lynes. It’s these shared values that make the partnership special.

“We’re delighted to be a Gold Supplier and congratulate TG Lynes on 110 years in business.”

The longest day of 2022 could prove to be a truly unforgettable one for competitors in our annual Charity Golf Day.

On Tuesday, 13 teams will take to the Marquees Course at the prestigious Woburn Golf Club.

As part of our 110th anniversary celebrations, we will be offering players the chance to win a sparkling new Vauxhall Vivaro Van, worth £30,000, if they hole in one at the 176 yard 17th hole.

There will also be plenty to play for on the remaining par threes with prizes up for grabs for an ace including a three-night golf holiday in Portugal, a two night golf trip for four in the UK and a new TaylorMade driver.

Joe Kane, Sales Director at TG Lynes, said: “The Charity Golf Day is always one of the highlights of the fundraising and social calendar and we look forward to welcoming our suppliers, who are always very supportive

“As it’s a special anniversary year for TG Lynes, we wanted to add an extra twist to our golf day and giving away a trade van, plus a range of other fantastic prizes, for anyone who gets the perfect outcome on a par three should certainly guarantee some extra excitement on the day.”

All funds raised from the day will go to our nominated charity, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, which provides support to babies, children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses across London

There will be team and individual prizes on offer, as well as a special Beat The Pro Challenge in aid of Noah’s Ark.

We hope all our guests have a fantastic day as they put their skills to the test on one of England’s most prestigious courses.

“We are proud of the huge strides we have made when it comes to supporting our people with their mental health.”

Those were the words of TG Lynes General Manager Andrew Ingram as he reflected on Mental Health Awareness Week.

spent nearly two decades working with TG Lynes, Andrew has seen growth and changes in both the business and the industry.

Few, however, have been more tangible than the culture change that began in 2016 when colleagues enjoyed increasing support through the Employee Assistance Programme.

That kick-started an era of increased focus on individual colleague wellbeing, the most recent development of which has seen free access to an on-site counsellor, Elliot Chapman, once a fortnight, which many staff have found incredibly helpful.

“We’ve always cared about our people but six years ago we made a conscious decision that we would actively support our colleagues even further, in and out of work,” said Andrew

“That was the first step towards developing culture with a greater focus on not only wellbeing but also community, engagement and sustainability.

“Having Elliot on board has been a significant step forward and has been so important. I know many of our people have benefited from his professionalism and advice.

“We have plans for further support moving forward and we’re currently looking to name four or five mental health first aiders within the business.

“These will provide colleagues with more options of people to talk to, if and when they need assistance. Crucially, they will be at different levels of seniority as not everyone is comfortable talking to their line manager.

“We achieve together – and that’s the only way we’ll succeed.”

Andrew revealed he and other long-standing members of the TG Lynes team had truly embraced the culture change.

He added: “I’ve always been extremely proud to work for TG Lynes but the enhancements introduced in recent years have taken that to another level.

“Everyone has embraced the changes and how they reflect modern society. The massive strides we have made are celebrated by everyone who works for the business and we know the fantastic progress will continue in the months and years to come.

“The values of TG Lynes are based around caring and it’s fantastic to be involved with a company which has that at the heart of its ethos.”

For TG Lynes Marketing Manager Laura Janaway, Mental Health Awareness Week has provided the perfect opportunity to reflect on the progress she has made over the last 10 months.

Laura began sessions with psychodynamic counsellor Elliot Chapman when they were first offered by TG Lynes last July.

It didn’t take long for her to reap immediate benefits from the sessions.

Laura said: “There was a time just before Elliot came in that I was starting to get unhelpful thought patterns.

“Something would go wrong, as it does all the time in life, and then I would get a spiralling effect when I feared that many other areas of my life would go wrong.

“I wouldn’t have gone to see Elliot if the sessions weren’t on offer from TG Lynes because I always felt there were people worse off than me but, when the opportunity was presented, I decided to go ahead with the sessions.

“I saw an immediate difference. Elliot gave me techniques to deal with the unhelpful thought patterns I was getting and those closest to me could see a change in my mental wellbeing very quickly.

“My husband said he noticed a major change and I was becoming a far more positive and confident person both at home and at work.

“Initially, I saw Elliot each time he came to the office on a fortnightly basis and that was important. I can now recognise the signs when the unhelpful thought patterns are emerging and know what I need to do to eliminate them so I now only need to see Elliot sparingly.

“It really has been a huge change for the better in my life and I’m extremely grateful for TG Lynes for the opportunity.”

The therapy sessions with Elliot provided only part of the support around personal development and wellbeing offered by TG Lynes to Laura.

She added: “I’m also part of the future leadership training programme through TG Lynes and that includes the Live BIG initiative with Stuart Baldwin.

“That is based more around performance and creating an environment to fulfil your potential. It’s very different to the sessions with Elliot but the two combined have made a real difference to me on both at a personal and professional level.”

A long-serving member of the TG Lynes sales team has credited in-house mental health support for helping him get out of a rut and make positive changes in his life.

Michael Brett, who has been with TG Lynes for 33 years, sought the help of counsellor Elliot Chapman after feeling low during the pandemic.

Elliot visits TG Lynes’ headquarters twice a month and employees are free to book sessions with him to talk through their problems and improve their mental health.

Speaking during Mental Health Awareness Week, Senior Sales Executive Michael, 53, said: “I’ve had quite a few sessions with Elliot and he’s a superb guy.

“Speaking with Elliot has benefited me greatly in my personal and home life.

“I was going through a bad time during the pandemic and was stuck in a bit of a rut. I was in a real depression stage.

“Elliot has taught me how to handle situations differently and try things I never would’ve done otherwise.

“I now understand how to take a step back and take a breath.”

Michael, who has a 12-year-old daughter, said he had since spoken with other colleagues and encouraged them to lean on Elliot for support.

“People tend to be reluctant to seek help – and I felt the same at first,” he said.

“I ask my friends would they rather feel a bit awkward for an hour with Elliot or feel low and upset for a month?

“Talking about your problems and listening to advice makes a huge difference and I’d encourage anybody to try it before dismissing it.”

Counselling sessions are just one way in which TG Lynes supports its workforce, with financial advice and volunteering opportunities also available throughout the year.

Michael, who started his career in the TG Lynes warehouse, said he was pleased to work for an ethical company.

He said: “I’m very grateful to TG Lynes. They really care about their people and that means a lot.

“It’s nice that they are thinking about their staff and, in turn, that improves the work we are able to do for the business.

“It’s a fantastic team. There are probably eight of us who have been here for around 30 years, so we’ve grown up together.”

Martin Hastings, Managing Director of TG Lynes, said: “Many of our people have benefited from Elliot’s services.

“A modern, responsible business is one which looks after its people and acknowledges that sometimes we all need a bit of support.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for everyone and we’re committed to giving our employees opportunities to improve their personal lives, as well as their work.”

TG Lynes is offering colleagues the chance to secure in-house mental health support and address any personal issues they may be facing.

TG Lynes Managing Director Martin Hastings invited Elliot Chapman, of Lexden Counselling, to deliver one-to-one sessions to colleagues last July.

With the effects of the pandemic continuing to hit hard, psychodynamic counsellor Elliot’s sessions have proved extremely popular at TG Lynes’ Enfield headquarters, with numerous members of the team reporting positive impacts as a result of the sessions.

Speaking at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, former personal trainer Elliot said: “It’s a real pleasure to go into TG Lynes to deliver one-on-one sessions to make a real difference to the lives of people.

“Initially it was a trial run but the staff have really bought into the opportunity and I’ve got packed diary when I go into the office on a Wednesday every other week.

“I’ve probably seen 25 different people in total over the period. Some of those come to see me sporadically and some find it useful to have more regular appointments.

“It’s whatever suits the individual and their needs at the time.”

Essex-based Elliot specialises in supporting people experiencing depression, anxiety, relationship issues, anger, low self-worth and stress.

He believes the TG Lynes management team deserves credit for going the extra mile to support its staff.

Elliot added: “The last two years have been extremely difficult for everyone and to see TG Lynes offer that additional support network to their colleagues is impressive.

“There is no doubt in my mind that there are people who say they have hugely benefitted from our sessions wouldn’t have come to see me or someone offering similar without it being part of a work programme.

“Seeing their colleagues attend sessions has got rid of the stigma which can come with this type of support and allowed people to make positive changes to their life.”

Martin said the in-house support was the next step in TG Lynes’ commitment to supporting its people in their personal and professional lives.

“We care about our colleagues and their wellbeing and this is further evidence of that,” he said.

“In the past we have given our people access to mental health support through an Employee Assistance Programme. Having Elliot in the building on a fortnightly basis has enhanced our offering and I know many have really benefited from his advice and guidance, or by just having someone to listen.

“We believe that we succeed together as a team and looking out for one another is a part of that.”