profile
Jim Blanthorne
With a career spanning 20 years in the supply of building materials to merchant and retail customers, including 14 years in a senior capacity at Metsa Group, Jim brings extensive construction industry experience to this category. Recently appointed to Managing Director of Keylite Roof Windows, Jim joined the Keystone Group in 2016 as International Operations Director for the business. During this time he has led the development and implementation of ambitious investment programmes to progress and future proof the business. Central to Jim’s approach and drive is his passion for exceptional customer service, people development and operational excellence.
Keylite Roof Windows
Keylite Roof Windows was established in Cookstown, Northern Ireland in 2001, as a subsidiary of the Keystone Group. Today it is the fastest growing roof window manufacturer in Europe and one of the biggest brands in the UK roof windows market. This success is largely a result of a company which has been driven by an ingrained and intuitive spirit of innovation, continuous investment in R&D and a total commitment in putting the customer at the heart of its business.
Renowned for its award winning innovations, Keylite believes in continually adding value to the Keylite Roof Window as standard without compromise. A combination of unique patented technologies such as the Integrated Expanding Thermal Collar, Flick Fit Brackets, Unique Sash Finger Spring and recessed fit feature in every window.
Keylite offers a full range of roof windows products, designed for every size and category of building project, an extensive range of genuine Keylite Blinds, as well as roof window accessories including timber loft ladders, flashings and electric operation kits. Ongoing expansion of the range includes a range of flat roof solutions including Roof Lanterns, Flat Glass Rooflights and Sunlite systems.
The business has over 300 employees across its sites, with offices in Northern Ireland and Burton Gateway, South Derbyshire. The relocation in 2019 to brand new 40,000 sq ft office and warehouse premises at Burton Gateway greatly enhances Keylite’s ability to service and supply the UK and Ireland markets more effectively. Keylite’s roof windows are manufactured in Poland, in a 160,000 sq ft factory which has benefited from a significant investment programme during recent years, significantly improving the safety, quality and reliability of manufacturing activity.
Find out more at www.keyliteroofwindows.com or visit the Keystone Group website at www.keystonegroup.co.uk
Follow us @Keylite
Launched in 2015, the award winning monthly Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report is the only reliable measure of repair, maintenance & improvement (RMI) activity in the UK. Filling an important gap, it can be widely used in construction, and by economists, Government, national media, commentators and influencers outside the industry.
Keylite Comment: Q1 2025
In a mixed market, Keylite came strongly out of the blocks with excellent sales growth over the prior year. January & February were good, but March was over 30% up on 2024 putting Q1 into double digit growth.
Most lenders have priced in expectations of bank base rate cuts, making mortgages relatively affordable compared to the past few years. It’s expected this will stimulate growth during 2025, only constrained by consumer confidence and the chaos from the US, with the near-daily introduction, reversal and dilution of customs tariffs. However, we’re seeing increased activity in the new build sector at or above industry forecasts.
There’s an acknowledged national skills shortage in construction, so we continue to invest heavily in our sales team, and we’re delighted to exceed our market share growth expectations.
In every area, we’ve increased the number of Area Sales Managers responsible for looking after valued merchant stockists and working with local builders and specifiers to share and follow up leads, generate quotes, demonstrate award winning products and together win orders. This team was further strengthened last year by the addition of Sales Graduates. Their training and induction completed, they’ve been appointed as Area Sales Executives, tasked with doing more of the above, getting in front of more people, more quickly, which means more orders.
A tougher market puts pressure on customers, which raises the bar for their suppliers, which is why merchants value suppliers that are responsive and easy to deal with. Last year’s investments followed a review that included internal sales support. Whether quoting, order processing, despatch, supply chain, technical advice or after sales support, our team is stronger than ever, deploying simplified processes and motivated to support field-based colleagues to respond quickly and accurately to customer queries. An OTIF measure of 99.5% for the quarter is an indicator of the care we put into fulfilling every customer order. And next quarter, we will have an exciting announcement about additional investment.
As a challenger brand, we focus on providing quality, innovative products, strive for service excellence and offer the market a choice in flat and pitched roof windows, loft ladders and accessories. We welcome customer feedback on what can still be better.