I received the following comment from Alan Fielder at Edgetech in regards the continuing campaign for reduced VAT on Energy Rated windows:
As we are one of the companies leading the campaign to reduce VAT and indeed our MD has been given a mention in this discussion, we thought we should offer a contribution. Talking from my own experience at a previous consumer facing company – while it may be true that small companies are relying on VAT for cash flow, they shouldn’t be! VAT is never ours – we are just the conduit to take it from the consumer to the exchequer. Relying on VAT for cash is not how businesses should be run or should need to be run if they are making the most of the opportunities that still exist in the market place.
As for reduced VAT making a difference – I still absolutely believe it will. When its introduction on home improvements was announced in 1984, homeowners rushed to complete work on their houses before it was introduced and the company I was working for did one year of business in just three months! This is exactly the kind of Governmental support this industry needs. Energy Saving Recommended windows are already helping installers increase sales, and reduced VAT would give these proactive installers an extra helping hand when marketing their product to the homeowner.
Opportunities are only opportunities if people identify them and take advantage of them. Those that are using energy saving windows and who would use reduced VAT as the powerful marketing tool that it could be, will be the ones reaping the benefits in the long run.
Alan Fielder
Edgetech
Alan – I completely agree and am confident that the industry is behind the campaign for an incentive for consumers to upgrade their windows to energy efficient windows. I have added a poll to the right hand section of this website and encourage people from the industry and consumers alike to demonstrate their support!
Tags: Edgetech
