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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.”

The growing partnership between TG Lynes and Albion Valves is built around four key shared values: quality, huge stock availability, investment in people and sustainability.

Albion Valves has been manufacturing quality and reliable valves in Barnsley for more than 30 years.

Despite being one of the more recent entrants to the market, Albion is now an established brand providing customers with a trusted alternative to premium-priced products.

Albion has been a key supplier to TG Lynes for 12 years – and business has grown year-on-year since 2014.

Darren Baxter, Sales & Marketing Director at Albion, said: “We have been able to grow our market share significantly in recent years and much of that has been down to building really strong relationships.

“Our partnership with TG Lynes is a great example of that. Our team works extremely closely with the TG Lynes reps, talking at least weekly.

“We also spend one day a month on-site at TG Lynes. It is a genuine partnership to ensure the right products are on the shelves and that the price is competitive.”

TG Lynes prides itself on holding huge amounts of stock so that product is available as and when its customers need it.

Joe Kane, Sales Director at TG Lynes, said: “One thing that stands us out from our competitors is that if we say we’ve got it in stock, it’s physically available in our warehouse to collect right away, or guaranteed for delivery next day.

“Albion also has a huge 45,000sq ft warehouse in the UK and that means lead times are really short. If there are gaps in our stock, we can get it from Albion very quickly.

“In the last five years Albion has grown into an established and credible supplier of valves to the commercial plumbing heating market. We see our customers asking for Albion on a regular basis now, and that’s a great sign.”

Albion is supporting TG Lynes throughout its 110th anniversary year as a gold supplier while also being involved in the companies long standing fishing day.

Like TG Lynes, Albion is keen to invest in its people and promote from within where possible, as seen with Darren, who has progressed from warehouse assistant to Sales & Marketing Director over a 17-year career with the South Yorkshire business.

Albion is also committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility and is working to reduce plastics in packaging and emissions from manufacturing. The business holds the ISO 14001 accreditation for Environmental Management.

Darren concluded: “Our ethos and values are aligned and that’s important.

“TG Lynes is a leading merchant and are one of our core customers.

“We look forward tto the future and increasing product output, as well as working on new projects together.”

A hospice which provides support to babies, children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses across London has been named as the charity partner of TG Lynes.

Barnet-based Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice will receive the support of kind-hearted colleagues, customers and suppliers of TG Lynes.

Noah’s Ark is one of the UK’s leading children’s hospices, providing care for over 350 children and their families every year.

Natasha Davis Whitehead, marketing and communications manager at Noah’s Ark, said: “We are thrilled to be the charity partner of TG Lynes, a leading business in the local area.

“Our commitment is to provide every baby, child or young person who is seriously unwell with access to expert and compassionate palliative care from the point of diagnosis, as well as creating a friendly environment which feels as much as possible like home for them and their families.

“While recognising the extremely tough challenges they are facing, we want to provide a platform for each of the children we care for and their families to live as normal and enjoyable life as possible.

“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.”

Amongst the fundraising events scheduled in by TG Lynes, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2022, are charity golf days and a gala dinner, as well as a number of internal events.

Martin Hastings, Managing Director at TG Lynes, said: “Given the proximity of Noah’s Ark to where our colleagues work, and for the most part live, we are all aware of the outstanding work the charity does for hundreds of youngsters across London each year.

“We have raised funds for Noah’s Ark in the past so, when we were looking for a charity partner to support during our special anniversary year, it was a straight-forward decision from colleagues as to which one we would select.

“The support and care Noah’s Ark provides both the children and their families at an extremely difficult time is outstanding and we hope the contributions we will make throughout the year will go some way to support this incredible charity.”

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.

Leading heating, plumbing and air movement materials supplier TG Lynes has appointed an experienced Plant Hire Manager as the business looks to develop its offering.

Steven Watts has joined the TG Lynes team after more than a decade in the tool and equipment hire industry.

The 31-year-old has a clear vision of where he wants to take the department, focussing on customer service and reliability.

“I started in hire at 20-years-old, really enjoyed it and was able to move through the ranks into a managerial position,” said Steven.

“I was looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to develop my career further so when this opportunity with TG Lynes arose I jumped at it.

“There is a chance to develop the hire department here and make it an even stronger contender in the market.

“People hire from people. If they know we are reliable and the kit always arrives on site when we say it will then that is the driving factor.

“I will be looking closely at all aspects of customer service, while making sure the team are as motivated and happy as possible.”

Steven, who plays football for Old Stationers in the Southern Amateur League, heads up a hire team of six at TG Lynes.

Born and raised close to TG Lynes’ Enfield base, Steven has been impressed by what he has seen at the business so far.

He said: “TG Lynes has a really close-knit team, which is not something I’ve experienced at other businesses I’ve worked at. You get to meet everyone across all departments and get immediate feedback on what is working well and what isn’t.

“I also have a one-year-old daughter so it’s nice to be working close to home so I can spend more time with the family.”

TG Lynes offer hire of a wide range of equipment, including benches, compressors, dehumidifiers, drills, gas bottles, grinders, ladders, hand tools, lifting equipment, lighting equipment, staging and trestles.

TG Lynes has also recently launched its authorised REMS service depot – the only one in London and the South East – with further investment planned to increase the fleet size by 20% by the middle of the year.

Martin Hastings, Managing Director of TG Lynes, said: “We are delighted to welcome Steven into the team and I’m sure our hire department will benefit from his vast experience in the field.

“We are renowned for reliability and availability of hire equipment and I’m confident Steven will help to improve this even further.”

TG Lynes has been working with plumbing and heating powerhouse RWC for almost two decades – and the relationship has never been stronger.

RWC and its family of brands transform performance and efficiency for plumbing and heating, smart homes and specialist industries around the world.

Reliance Valves, SharkBite and JG Speedfit offer a complete range of pipes, fittings and valves that seamlessly integrate together, offering a complete solution from boiler to point of use.

By harnessing plastic and metal push-fit technology, alongside world-leading water control valves, plumbing and heating installations are more efficient than ever before.

TG Lynes and RWC are in constant dialogue to ensure exactly the right products are on offer to TG Lynes customers – just when they need them.

Recent results demonstrate the benefits of the ever-developing collaboration, with RWC reporting a 25% increase in sales to TG Lynes in the last financial year.

“The relationship between RWC and TG Lynes is extremely strong and we are delighted to be on a path of consistent increased sales,” said Sebastian Fleet, RWC National Accounts Manager.

“We now have regular meetings with the TG Lynes team to ensure they are fully versed on our range, to discuss which products the business needs to stock for its customers and at what quantity.

“We’re delighted to be part of TG Lynes’ 110-year anniversary celebrations by being a Gold Supplier for 2022.”

Amongst the RWC family of brands is Reliance Valves, which gives installers precise control over the delivery of water through a robust range of potable and non-potable plumbing products.

The brand specialises in water pressure, temperature and thermostatic mixing valves that protect hot and cold water systems.

TG Lynes has also trusted RWC with the manufacture of its custom-designed white-label thermostatic mixing valves.

The portfolio also includes British manufactured JG Speedfit, which produces world leading plastic push-fit plumbing and heating systems favoured by commercial contractors due to the ease and speed of installation.

That ease of installation is what inspired RWC’s latest innovation – Reliance Valves with JG Speedfit Connections - which is also available from TG Lynes.

Martin Hastings, Managing Director of TG Lynes, said: “The relationship with RWC is based on trust and quality of service.

“One of TG Lynes’ strengths is working closely with suppliers to determine what stock we should be holding. Huge stockholding, allowing our customers to collect the materials whenever they need them, is what we are renowned for.

“RWC are one of our most established suppliers. We look forward to many more years working in partnership.”

As well as being aligned on quality of service, TG Lynes and RWC also share the same sustainability principles.

TG Lynes is fully committed to limiting the impact its operations have on the planet, while also playing a positive role in its local community in North London.

RWC has similar values, including a drive to source raw materials sustainably, implementing lean manufacturing practices and helping local communities overcome challenges.

Martin added: “Working with ethical businesses is important to us and we’re pleased that RWC shares our views on sustainability, both in terms of the environment and on social impact.

“One example of this is when RWC supported us to install a new decking area at Oakthorpe Primary School in Enfield.”

Our kind-hearted employees have donated more than £400 worth of food and everyday essentials to help people in need in the area as the cost of living crisis bites.

We collected items including tinned and dried food as well as toilet paper and cleaning equipment.

The goods were taken to North Enfield Foodbank to help people in crisis.

The foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust network and provided 14,715 people with three-day emergency parcels during 2021.

Laura Janaway, Marketing Manager at heating, plumbing and air movement materials supplier TG Lynes, said: “We’re delighted to be able to make this significant donation to North Enfield Foodbank.

“We ask our people for donations for the foodbank at least once a year and they are always extremely generous.

“As a business, we are fully committed to being involved in the local community and helping where we can.

“We have also recently been involved in litter picks in the local area, as well as helping local schools with materials during the pandemic.”

North Enfield Foodbank handed out 200 tonnes of food and essential items last year.

José Soares, North Enfield Foodbank Manager, said: “We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry.

“That’s why we provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis.

“We’re very grateful to the employees at TG Lynes for getting involved with our work.”

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.

The business is this year celebrating its 110th anniversary.

TG Lynes has demonstrated its sustainability credentials by recycling an impressive 46 tonnes of material in a year – and sending nothing to landfill.

Speaking on Global Recycling Day, Managing Director Martin Hastings said the business’ recycling strategy was an important part of its overall sustainability efforts.

Figures show TG Lynes recycled 46 tonnes in 2021 – 87% of all material in the business operations.

That figure was made up of 19 tonnes of recycled wood and 21 tonnes of cardboard.

TG Lynes also recycled 6 tonnes of waste, while 7 tonnes was incinerated to generate power for the grid.

No material was sent to landfill.

Martin said: “Recycling remains a central pillar of our sustainability efforts.

“We’re determined to limit our impact on the planet. There are many ways we can do this as a responsible business, but ensuring we don’t send anything to landfill is a great place to start.

“We are proud of our recycling stats for 2021 and continue to explore new ways to improve further.

“Switching to workwear made from recycled plastic and installing a cardboard compactor on site are examples of innovative thinking in this area.”

Sustainability runs through the core of TG Lynes. The company has installed a 110KW solar system on the roof of its Enfield headquarters to generate its own electricity while all imported electricity comes from 100% certified renewable sources.

An impressive 90% of its company vehicle fleet is either fully electric or hybrid. From September, the company is moving to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel as an alternative to diesel in some of its delivery vehicles.

Other sustainable initiatives in place at TG Lynes include reusable plastic bottles for staff and a switch to energy-efficient LED lighting across the whole business.

TG Lynes is already on the road to delivering plans to introduce electric vehicles into its commercial fleet, with significant expansion scheduled in the years to come.

TG Lynes is also keen to support groups and good causes in the local Enfield area, whether that is litter picking, volunteering to help on a school project or collecting for foodbanks.

Martin added: “Sustainability is not just a buzz word, it has to be authentic. We are committed to acting sustainably at all levels of our business, across every department.”

Diversity and acceptance in the builders’ merchants industry has improved considerably – and TG Lynes is leading the way.

That’s the view of a number of high-achieving women in the TG Lynes team, including Area Sales Manager Gemma Skelton and Warehouse Supervisor Donna Hart, as they reflect on International Women’s Day.

Gemma has worked in the industry for a decade, while Donna has also worked in warehouses for more than 10 years.

And both agree that women are more accepted in traditionally male-dominated environments than they once were.

Donna, who has been part of the TG Lynes family for a year-and-a-half, said: “Diversity and inclusion means everything to me.

“I started my career as an admin assistant and have always worked in male dominated industries.

“I’ve worked hard to climb the ladder and I’m proud to have done it and reached a supervisor position.

“I think it’s great that TG Lynes is committed to diversity and I’d encourage more women to join the industry.”

Gemma said she had experienced some prejudice when she first started out in sales.

“When I was younger and less confident, I did experience some reluctance to deal with me in a male dominant environment,” she said.

“I’ve witnessed the industry become more inclusive. It has changed over time with people becoming more respectful and accepting that women can do as a professional job as their male colleagues.

“There is still room for improvement, but the industry is certainly moving in the right direction.

“Diversity is about not discriminating against people either professionally or personally and treating everyone the same from the MD to the receptionist.

“It’s about listening and understanding everyone’s different views and opinions.”

Christine Traynor is a new recruit to the TG Lynes team having joined as a delivery driver in November.

The 38-year-old readily admits she is surprised how quickly she has settled into the business and is already eyeing a long career with the company.

She said: “I’ve been a chef for the last 20 years so I’m used to working in a male dominated industry but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started at TG Lynes.

“I have to say, it couldn’t have gone any better. My colleagues at TG Lynes have been extremely welcoming and have helped me settle in perfectly from the first day.

“When I arrive at deliveries, I think a few of our customers are a little surprised to see they are receiving their materials and products from a woman but they are all very supportive and I get a lot of people saying ‘good on you’ which is lovely to hear.”

Emelia Leszczynska is another delivery driver in the TG Lynes team and has seen major progress across the industry in her two years working with the company.

She said: “I love my job and it’s great to see more women working across the industry and in a lot of different job roles.

“The number of females working at TG Lynes and elsewhere in the industry has definitely increased over the last two years.

“I love my job. The staff are friendly and the team at TG Lynes is so supportive.”

One of London’s leading suppliers of heating, plumbing and air movement materials is backing an all-female trade competition to mark International Women’s Day.

Eight female plumbing apprentices will attend Lewisham College on Tuesday to take part in the competition to celebrate the increasing number of women entering the industry.

TG Lynes has provided more than £1,000 worth of plumbing materials for the competition.

Bob Noseda, Interim Skills Advisor for ESG who is organising the competition as part of the group’s Buildsmart Skills initiative, said: “International Women’s Day has become a landmark day in the calendar and there is no better way to mark it than by holding an all-female trade competition.

“As well as a plumbing competition, we will also have an all-female electrical competition running on the same day and there will be some very talented apprentices in attendance from across the country.

“We hope to combine some educational elements as well as a Press Fit challenge and there will be plenty of prizes, including new tools, clothing and tool bags up for grabs for the winners.

“We are hugely grateful to TG Lynes for donating the materials and it’s great to have a major company involved in what is the first event of its kind.”

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.

Laura Janaway, Marketing Manager of TG Lynes which has its headquarters in Enfield, said: “We were made aware of the competition by ESG and we had no hesitation in throwing our support behind it.”

“As a business, we are passionate about attracting, investing in and developing female talent in the industries in which we operate.

“On International Women’s Day, we are proud to be supporting this initiative to showcase the growing number of female tradespeople entering trades such as plumbing.”