The past 12 months have certainly been interesting but as a business we’ve seen lots of great work and some fantastic achievements. Here, we look at some of our highlights of 2021.
January
Birmingham Healthcare Win Kicks Off The New Year
The year began with another substantial win in healthcare, this time at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham (above). Through the NHS ProCure22 framework, in which we are regarded as a leading supplier, we are supplying Armitage Shanks sanitaryware worth £280,000 for the Ambulatory Care and Diagnostics Centre.
Wellbeing Resources Launched
An increased focus on wellbeing was launched with a programme called Banish The Burnout. Devised by life coach Ali Mortimer of Heal Yourself Happy, it aims to help people improve their mental and physical health as the challenges of COVID-19 continue.
February
Complete Solution ProSys A Potential Game-Changer
ProSys was introduced to the market with high hopes it could be a game-changer for the business in a number of channels. A complete installation system for toilets, basins, urinals and accessories, ProSys is effectively a one-stop in-wall and front of wall solution which includes frames, cisterns and flush plates. The aim is to win more full package business in the UK, which includes the frame, the toilets, the concealed cisterns and, importantly, the flush plates, which has been a target market for the company for some time.
Supporting Our Industry By Funding Plumbing Apprenticeships
We announced that Ideal Standard was to fund a new UK apprenticeship scheme to support the next generation of plumbers. Working with the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), and design education body FIESTA, we aim to address the plumbing industry’s skills gap and attract much-needed new talent into the sector. The scheme comes at a time when plumbing apprenticeships have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with one in 10 apprentices losing their job.
March
Atelier Collections launch
The landmark Atelier Collections (above) were launched in the UK, heralding a new era in our design journey. Created in collaboration with renowned Italian studio PS+A, Atelier Collections strengthen our long-standing design philosophy and look back to our heritage while shaping the bathrooms of the future. The stunning ranges of ceramics, brassware and furniture aim to position Ideal Standard in the premium residential specification and retail markets.
Ireland Project Wins Total €900,000
The Ireland team celebrated two major project wins for residential projects in Dublin worth €900,000 (£770,000) in total. The first specification, with Porteus Pods, is for Abbey Place, a 359-unit apartment development. with an overall value to the business of €350,000. The second win was with BPod, for three large apartment schemes, including Sandyford Central, the largest of the developments (pictured above).
April
Sensorflow E Boosts Sensor Tap Range Ahead Of Intellimix Launch
Sensorflow E – a competitively priced range of taps aimed at the RMI market – was launched this month. Part of our sensor portfolio, Sensorflow E sits below our existing ranges of Sensorflow Wave and Sensorflow 21, our best-selling contract ranges targeted at new build and large renovations.
Together World Tour Wows Viewers From Across The Globe
The first episode of the Together World Tour was hailed as a major success after attracting viewers from different industries across the globe. People from the worlds of architecture, design, media and more tuned in live to watch the then Ideal Standard CEO Torsten Türling visit Milan, home of the group company’s international design centre.
May
Prestigious Product Design Awards For Newly Launched Trio
Intellimix, Conca and Joy scooped prestigious international design awards (above). All three earned accolades from iF International Forum Design and a Red Dot Award, both of which are for product design. iF and Red Dot are highly respected awards from long-standing, independent institutions.
Great Feedback In Response To Training Guides
Training guides intended for new starters got an excellent reaction – from long-standing colleagues too. The suite of guides was created to help people develop their knowledge of our business and sector, using simple terms and avoiding complex terminology and acronyms.
June
Bold Silk Black Finishes Released To Market
New silk black finishes on a range of fittings, ceramics and furniture were released to market in June. Silk black aims to offer a contemporary alternative to traditional white and chrome bathroom suites, enabling customers to elevate any room with a bold, all-black effect, or create visual contrast by adding only a touch of black to their designs.
LDSC Atelier Displays Target Architects And Designers
The London Design and Specification Centre (LDSC) re-opened with the full range of Atelier Collections displays in a major boost to our work with the architecture and design community. The Clerkenwell showroom had been closed to visitors since the March 2020 lockdown but began welcoming people once more to browse the collections, attend events and take advantage of the design service we offer.
July
Karen Retires After More Than Half A Century In The Business
Karen Coates (pictured above) retired after an incredible 51 years with the company. Karen joined in 1970 as a 14-year-old, originally in the buying office and having a number of roles before latterly becoming Materials Controller (Raw Materials, Maintenance and Ceramics) at the Armitage plant
Bathroom Collections Brochure Launch Elevates Our Brand
The new Bathroom Collections brochure launched in the latest phase of our brand elevation strategy. Bathroom Collections features our high end products targeted at retail and also residential specification, sitting between Atelier Collections and Essentials. Designed by Roberto Palomba, the brochure features aspirational photography and messaging, and creates a great showcase for these beautiful ranges.
August
Retail Team Hits Full Strength With Three New Appointments
The UK Retail Team hit full strength with the appointment of three new colleagues. Scott Taylor and Lee Thompson joined the business as retail sales managers while Charlotte “Charlie” Williams is retail sales showroom manager.
Safety Record Earns RoSPA Award For 17th Year In A Row
Ideal Standard UK’s strong safety record has earned one of the highest accolades from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The company received the Order of Distinction for the third time after meeting RoSPA’s high standards of health and safety performance for the 17th consecutive year.
September
Together World Tour London Sets Viewing Record
The UK episode of the Together World Tour (above) took viewers on a tour of the design culture and attitude of London. It was the first time the tour had featured both virtual and physical events at the same time, with the film also screened at Design London.
Atelier Collections Wow The Crowds At Design London
The Atelier Collections captured attention at Design London, the major exhibition held as part of London Design Festival. Eye-catching displays created leads for hotels, spas, new retailers, private residential and even cruise ships.
October
Extra Storage Boosts Retail Proposition As Part Of Project Synergy
The latest phase of the £1.2m Project Synergy saw a mezzanine level constructed as part of ongoing improvements to our retail proposition. The additional storage is currently home to 820 SKUs dedicated to retail customers, with capacity to build that up to about 1,500 SKUs.
Eye-catching Roomset Displays Rolling Out To B&Q
Roomset displays started to be rolled out to B&Q stores nationwide as part of our renewed focus on the DIY channel. The Tesi range is being showcased across 130 stores, enabling customers to see the distinct style and superior quality of our brand when they are in store.
November
Conca Scoops Excellent Award At Designer Ceremony
Our renowned Conca basin from the Atelier Collections was awarded Bathroom Product of the Year at The Designer Awards 2021 (above). Created by Palomba Serafini Associati, the Conca range draws its inspiration from Ideal Standard collections of the 1970s, the ones that introduced considered design to the world of the bathroom.
Launch Of New Public Washrooms Employee Referral Initiative
A new employee referral initiative on public washrooms was launched to run throughout November and December. The scheme aims to help maximise the impact of new products such as Intellimix and Sensorflow E taps and Sphero urinals, and is running alongside an external campaign – Hygiene Redefined – which is running this year and into 2022.
December
Armitage Shanks Wins NHS Award For Third Consecutive Year
Armitage Shanks was hailed as a beacon supply chain partner by the NHS and selected for a national award for the third year running. The brand has won the award for the ProCure22 Efficiency and Productivity Programme In recognition of the NHS capital cost savings for 2021, having earned the same accolade in 2019 and 2020.
First Atelier Flagship Showroom Launched In Belfast
Beggs and Partners in Belfast became the first location in the UK and Ireland to launch a flagship Atelier showroom. The merchant, our biggest customer in Northern Ireland, unveiled a display which included Conca, Extra, Dea, Linda X, Blend and Ipalyss from the Atelier Collections. It also features a silk black display, as well as Strada II, Connect Air and Connect EQ from the Bathroom Collection.