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
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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 Roof Windows Comment: Q4 2025
The overall market continues to be a challenge, with impossible-to-forecast peaks and troughs. It’s been like that in recent years. Something else we can blame on Covid!
Roof windows had a good Quarter 4, with a strong October and December and weaker November. No one has a creditable explanation as to why. It’s just put down to one of those things!
Brick volumes are significantly down, and housing starts have been disappointing, but as we have experienced throughout 2025, housebuilder demand for roof windows has been encouraging, although Keylite has outperformed the market. The new products we launched specifically for house builders are beginning to gain traction.
Winning orders in a tough market is never easy, and everyone in our market is working harder. But being resilient, focused and driven are key attributes, and speaking for ourselves, Keylite thrives as a challenger brand.
Our sales team are extremely active, focusing on the core activities that will deliver the numbers. Working smart, impacting orders and supporting our various trading partners.
Interest rates are expected to fall, but not to the levels of recent years. This will create more demand for room-in-a-roof products such as roof windows, and associated products that create additional, affordable, value-adding living space. Families are growing, the population is rising and people are living longer. The requirement for more, for bigger, for better is not going away. We have no choice but to find solutions to build more and meet future demand. It can’t be put on hold much longer!
Human beings have a canny knack of finding money when they need to, and I’m positive that we will see a strong H2 to make 2026 a good year for the market. That’s subject of course to the uncertainties and distractions of continuing political unrest worldwide. Let’s hope it calms down and stabilises quickly.
Weather is a huge challenge for construction and, as I write, the relentless rain continues. That’s not good for a roofing product!
Positivity is the word! It won’t solve everything, but it will get us all on the front foot again, with a strong mindset. And guess what……… we might achieve our collective ambitions.