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Newsroom

From upcoming events to recent headlines, press enquiry information and new depot openings, this newsroom provides the latest updates and communications from Howdens. Within this hub, there is information on how to use our logo and who to contact for support when using our brand. There is also more about us, our values, and our vision - as a business that is founded on the principle that it should be worthwhile for all. Our press office is always keen to hear about new opportunities to work with media outlets and details on how to contact Howdens can be found below.

News

Howdens supports BBC Children in Need with kitchen donation

We are supporting BBC Children in Need this year, with a donation of a £10,000 kitchen, which will be available to win through a text to donate entry system on the annual appeal show.

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Howdens supports Children in Need with kitchen donation

We are proud to announce that we are supporting BBC Children in Need this year, with a donation of a £10,000 kitchen. Our kitchen will form part of a ‘winner takes all’ bundle of prizes, which will be available to win through a text to donate entry system on the annual BBC Children in Need appeal show.

The competition will be run from 10am on Friday 19 November up until 23:59 the same night, and will have its own segment on the live show, as one of the presenters will run through some of the prizes that one lucky winner will win. The competition will be promoted across BBC Children in Need’s social media channels, and their website will detail all the prizes on offer.

With such a spectacular prize on offer, the prize will help BBC Children in Need raise money to change young lives right across the UK.

Sophie Leathley, Communications Manager at Howdens, says: “BBC Children in Need has such a long-standing history of helping young people in the UK, and we are exceptionally proud that we are able to be a part of this year’s fundraising efforts.

“Now, more than ever, young people across the UK need support to address the lasting effects of the pandemic. Currently, BBC Children in Need is funding 2,500 local charities and projects across the UK, who are working to support children and young people facing a wide range of disadvantages.”
Howdens Greater Manchester depots support Fareshare

Local depots in Reddish and Cheadle have provided donations to national charity, Fareshare, to support their work in supplying excess food to charities, groups, and families that are struggling.

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Howdens Greater Manchester depots support Fareshare

Local Howdens depots, Reddish and Cheadle, have provided generous donations to national charity, FareShare, to support their work in supplying excess food to charities, groups and families that are struggling.

The team at Reddish have donated two kitchens to the charity to help with their mission to teach people to cook through their demonstrations. This is hugely important in providing knowledge and skills to people in how to cook nutritious meals for their families.

The new kitchens will also play a vital role in fundraising efforts, when Manchester United Executive Chef, James Tagg, will host a fundraising event to cook for hundreds of people using only surplus food supplies. James and his team will utilise the two Howdens kitchens to cook and provide demonstrations.

Showing true team spirit, 20 employees from the Cheadle depot took on the challenge of running the Manchester 10k on 26 September 2021 -many for the first time. Between them, they raised £3,224, with Howdens offering to match it making the grand total £6,448. All funds were donated to FareShare and will be put towards their new fridge – which will be the size of a warehouse.

Supporting their colleagues, many other Cheadle employees turned out on the day and had their very own cheering station situated in prime location at the 8k/3k point, which also included a Howdens DJ truck.

Charlotte Read, Reddish Depot Manager, says: “We became aware of FareShare following Marcus Rashford’s campaign to feed children during lockdowns and school holidays. What they do is truly astonishing and provides a much-needed lifeline for local families and organisations.

“Getting involved and donating our products was the least we could do to help this charity and we are excited about how many people it will help. We can’t wait to see James from Manchester United helping people by cooking in our kitchens.

Jo Cribbin, Cheadle Depot Manager, adds: “I visited FareShare for the first time with Charlotte and their vision and what they do was remarkable. It really is like a military operation as not only have they got to sort through food, but they are also responsible for its delivery or collection.

“Running and organising a Howdens team to run the Manchester 10k was the least I could do. We were over the moon to have 20 of us signed up and the atmosphere on the day was incredible, even the organisers commented on the spirit and encouragement the rest of the Howdens staff made to all the runners. Raising more than £3,000, which was then matched by Howdens, was remarkable and I know it will be put to such good use by FareShare.”

FareShare supply food that is rescued from going to landfill that has been donated by major supermarkets and other companies. They redistribute the food to families, breakfast clubs, community groups, refuge hostels, homeless shelters, and more. They currently operate from 21 locations, serving more than 1500 cities and towns. The charity also helps to connect other charities and supermarkets to have food directly delivered to them.

Howdens campervan winner to continue charity walk

Luke Thomas is the winner of our Howdens Campervan Competition and plans to use the vehicle to cover the last stretch of his charity walk for Melanoma Focus.

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Howdens campervan winner to continue charity walk

In 2019, Luke Thomas, an architectural designer from Carmarthenshire, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, and this summer he has been walking the coast of Wales to raise awareness and money for the charity Melanoma Focus, where he will have walked a total of 870 miles.

Whilst continuing his journey around the coast of Wales, Luke entered Howdens’ ‘Win a Campervan’ competition. In September, Luke was announced as the winner taking home the new set of wheels which will now act as a support vehicle as he enters the last stretch of his charity walk.

Luke’s prize was a 2012 Volkswagen T5.1 Campervan with a medium top box in red and black and was delivered to him last month at his home in Carmarthenshire.

“I was in complete shock and didn’t really believe that I had won until it had been offloaded from the lorry. Howdens have cleverly converted the campervan by having one of their kitchens fitted into the back of the van; separating the sleeping and cooking arrangements. I am so happy and grateful to have the campervan to use on the final leg of #MyBigCancerWalk. Thank you, Howdens!” Luke said.

The campervan was converted using materials and products available from our range. Tom Hopes, Head of Digital Acquisition at Howdens ,said: “After Luke was picked as our winner and we learnt more about his story, we really wanted to help him raise more awareness for his charity walk. We’re thrilled that our campervan is going to play a worthwhile role in helping him complete his journey around the Welsh coast.

“Howdens’ kitchens and joinery products can be used in many different ways and fitting into the back of a campervan is just one exciting example of this. We wish Luke and his campervan all the best of luck on the last leg of his walk.”
Howdens launch new Roomflex Pro Door System for flexi-plan living

The way in which we use our homes is changing. Our new RoomFlex Pro Door system caters for that as it allows rooms to be joined or separated seamlessly.

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Howdens launch new Roomflex Pro Door System for flexi-plan living

Open plan living has been at the top of most people’s wish list for the last ten years, and yet there is now demand for rooms and spaces to be sectioned off. The way in which we use our homes is changing; we want defined areas and pockets of space where different family members can use and escape to.

Harry Sample, Head of Doors and Joinery at Howdens, explains, “Whilst open-plan spaces can help rooms feel brighter and more spacious, homeowners are increasingly looking to divide spaces to increase the number of uses their room can have to create a much more versatile use of the home.”

Howdens new RoomFlex Pro system helps to provide the best of both worlds. A clever system that can be used with any of our internal doors - it can be used to create a multiple sliding door configuration without the need for a traditional track at the bottom, allowing the two rooms to come together seamlessly.

Great for large or small spaces, homeowners can choose a configuration that works best for them. From a 2 plus 1 through to a larger 3 plus 3, there are plenty of options to suit different shapes and sized rooms.

Harry Sample continues, “Over the coming months and years, we will see a combination of big, bright areas for everyday living and entertaining, but also cosy spaces that bring comfort and envelop you during winter nights.

“Using the RoomFlex Pro systems provides flexibility in how spaces are used. Kitchen diners can be opened up or separated from a snug or family room depending on what is needed at that moment in time. It neatly folds the doors to one side, so the space instantly feels more open or closed when needed.”

As homeworking looks set to stay in varying capacities, having the option to close off areas for working in – especially important if there is more than one of you working at home – means you can instantly create a working office or home-schooling environment during the day.

The RoomFlex Pro system can be used exclusively with any of our internal doors, giving plenty of choice to suit the style of every room.

See PC Henderson Room Divider Sliding Door Gear

Howdens becomes The Queen's Green Canopy platinum supporter

We have become a platinum supporter of The Queen's Green Canopy initiative, which will see trees planted to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

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Howdens becomes The Queen's Green Canopy platinum supporter

We have become a platinum supporter of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), a unique tree planting initiative created to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 by inviting people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

The QGC was launched in May 2021 and will be holding its first event at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show when it unveils The RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden on Monday 20th September. The QGC is encouraging people to plant trees from October 2021 when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. The Garden will highlight the importance of tree planting for the environment, and marks a countdown to the start of the tree planting season on 1st October.

Andrew Livingston, CEO of Howdens said: “A founding principle of Howdens is that the business must be worthwhile for all, including our customers, homeowners, staff, and the communities that we work in, which is why we are incredibly proud to be partnering with The Queen’s Green Canopy and are looking forward to working on initiatives across the UK throughout Her Majesty’s historic jubilee year.”

As well as inviting the planting of new trees, the QGC will create a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the UK and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service. The QGC has gathered a team of forestry experts from across the UK to select which woodlands and trees will become part of the QGC.

Rob Black, Director of ESG at Howdens, says: “Partnering with the QGC is an important step in contributing to our environmental, social, and governance work. The QGC’s ambitions of planting trees to create a better environment align with Howdens’ future commitment to becoming a carbon-neutral manufacturer and developing solutions to other problems, such as plastic waste and polystyrene usage.”

The Queens Green Canopy Ambassador, Dame Judi Dench, will officially open The RHS QGC Garden on the 20th of September and encourage everyone to play their part and begin planting trees from October.

By inviting everyone to plant considerable numbers of new trees throughout the country, The Queen’s Green Canopy seeks to highlight the significant value of trees and woodlands as nature’s simple but highly-effective way to clean the air we breathe, slow the impact of climate change, create important wildlife habitats, and improve our general health and wellbeing.
Supporting the trade with our Win A Van Prize Draw

Throughout September and October, trade account customers have the chance of winning a Mercedes Sprinter in our Win A Van Prize Draw.

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Supporting the trade with our Win A Van Prize Draw

To celebrate the relaunch of our Lamona appliances, we are giving trade customers the chance to win a Mercedes Sprinter van worth more than £45,000.

Between Monday 6th September and Saturday 30th October any trade account customer who spends a minimum of £250 (excluding VAT), including a Lamona appliance, will automatically be entered into the prize draw to win a van. The top prize is a 2021 Mercedes Sprinter 316 L3 H2 Progressive RWD EVI Van worth, while five runners up will take home a DeWalt power tool package and a further five will win £1,000 Howdens trade account credit.

Tony Harvey, Head of Appliances at Howdens says: “Earlier this year we relaunched Lamona appliances, paying close attention to improved aesthetics, functionality, and technology that will make homeowners lives easier. We have had great feedback from customers so far, and we’re excited to offer this incredible prize to our customers who purchase a Lamona appliance as part of their orders.

“The Lamona brand has been around since 2009, and continues to be one of the most popular integrated appliance brands in the UK, supporting the growing demand for appliances that make lives easier, particularly when it comes to saving them time. The updated range delivers improved functionality that customers expect, while remaining stylish.”

With cooking, cooling, washing, and laundry products, there is an appliance for every kitchen - no matter the style or budget. Each product has been developed and designed by a leading team of experts, and undergo rigorous in-house testing to ensure the highest quality. With a three-year guarantee as standard, Lamona provides an enhanced offering compared to the industry standard of just two years.

There is also an industry-leading aftersales service, working with local engineers to deliver quick and accessible repairs.

Entry to the prize draw is automatic with any qualifying purchase, but to find out more, visit our Win A Van Prize Draw page.

Win A Van Prize Draw

Design ideas to try during the holidays with Howdens Hacks

Many of us will be spending our holidays on home soil this year, so why not look to areas around the home to make space more valuable with Howdens Hacks.

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Design ideas to try during the holidays with Howdens Hacks

Many of us will be spending our holidays on home soil this year, so why not look to areas around the home to make space more valuable as your next summer project.

Howdens Hacks will help you do just that, offering design tips, and real-home examples to improve rooms throughout a property. There are also how-to's that make it easy for a trade professional to recreate these simple solutions in any home.
Having both enough and the right kind of storage in your home can be a tricky one to manage. Often, we find ourselves having to double up the usage of cupboards or tucking things away in random places in order to make sure our home remains uncluttered. However, our experts have thought carefully about how we can use our home smarter and have come up with some clever ways of how your kitchen fitter or joiner can help maximise space within the home.
“Clear it away” cleaning cupboard
Think about making room for all your cleaning supplies: the vacuum cleaner, the ironing board, iron, mop and bucket, and even your washing machine. Keeping these household items and appliances tucked away neatly will free up space in other areas, while creating a clutter-free cooking space.

Top tip: Think about your electrics before you get started. As well as plug sockets for appliances, you will need additional outlets placed higher up to charge items, such as a vacuum cleaner or iron.

Hallway storage made simple

Most of us know that feeling after a long day that it is all too easy to leave our bags and shoes by the front door. To help clear the way, this super-simple hallway storage looks as good as it is functional.

Using Howdens kitchen drawers, a wooden worktop, that is accessorised with hardware, and a paint colour of choice, your trade professional can provide a place to store your bags and shoes discreetly from view.

Pooch friendly pet bed

Nearly 3.2 million UK residents* have bought a new pet in the last 18 months, so let’s think about how we can make our much-valued family members feel as comfortable as possible. Our pets tend to be in the thick of family life and what better way to make them feel at home than with a lavish pet bed.

If you have a spare cupboard, this could be the perfect hideaway for your four-legged friend. Your trade professional can easily convert your cabinetry with some decor ends to create the seamless pooch palace or cat castle.

The Cocktail O’clock Cabinet

This makes the flawless addition to any kitchen – or it can be fitted separately as a bank of wall units in a dining room. Using standard Howdens cabinets, drawers, and decor ends, our designers show you how to create a “behind-closed doors” bar for all your celebrations.

Not sure about a cocktail cabinet? The same design process can be used to create a breakfast pantry. Simply store your morning essentials inside, so your morning routine is fuss-free.

To get started on these projects just have a chat with your trade professional, who will be able to purchase all the materials you need from your local Howdens depot. You can also read more at our Home Hacks page.

Home Hacks
Celebrating a 10-year partnership with Humberside Fire and Rescue

We are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of our on-call support for the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.

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Celebrating 10-year partnership with Humberside Fire and Rescue

We are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of our on-call support of the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service by presenting an award to long-standing employee and on-call firefighter, Tony Clark.

A decade ago Tony Clark, who is now Fire Safety and SHE Advisor at Howdens, presented an idea to the leadership team to create an on-call fire service based from our manufacturing site in Howden, East Yorkshire.

10 years later the company supports 14 on-call fire fighters who are able to respond to fire calls, and two medical first-responders across their sites in Howden, Raunds in Northamptonshire, and their site in Cheshire.

With a fleet of emergency vehicles, including a permanent fire engine housed in Howden, and two medical first response vehicles, the on-call team at Howdens has attended more than 1,700 emergency fire calls and upwards of 1,000 medical first-response calls since 2011.

Julian Lee, Howdens Operations Director, said: “The initiative that was presented to us by Tony, who had previously worked for the fire service, was one that the business was proud to support, and continues to do so as we mark this anniversary.

“At Howdens, one of the founding principles in the Business is ‘Worthwhile for All’, and this fantastic initiative ensures we live into this and support our local communities."

In a recent study by Howdens it was discovered that 82 per cent of British adults think that businesses have a responsibility to support their local emergency services, whether that be fire and rescue, policing, or medical.

Phil Shillito, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Humberside Fire and Rescue, adds: “The support that we have received from Tony and the team at Howdens has been appreciated across our region and beyond. It is a great example of how businesses can help to support their local emergency services.

“We would encourage any organisation that is looking to give back, to reach out to their local emergency services to find out how they can help.”

Since March 2020, a dedicated area at our site in Howden has been converted to voluntarily store personal protective equipment, such as face masks, sanitiser, aprons, and lateral flow tests provided by the government. This is so the team at Howdens, in partnership with the Local Resillience Forum and headed by Humberside Fire & Rescue service, then distribute to schools, hospitals, and other organisations in the region as and when they need replenishments. The company has so far distributed more than 4 million pieces of equipment across the region.

Our Rigid Cabinets are awarded Which? Best Buy endorsement

Howdens secured a Which? Best Buy endorsement for our Rigid cabinet collection in the Which? April 2021 report.

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Howdens Rigid Cabinets Awarded Which? Best Buy

Howdens, has secured a Which? Best Buy endorsement in the Which? April 2021 report into the best and worst kitchen brands.

The highly coveted endorsement was given to our rigid kitchen cabinets after a thorough testing process that involved both a lab assessment and consumer feedback.

To secure the Best Buy endorsement, the product had to have an overall score of more than 75 per cent, with just over a quarter of all leading kitchens tested scoring the required mark.

Adrian Heaton, Head of Design at Howdens, said: “How homeowners use their kitchens has changed dramatically over the course of the last year. They have become the heart of the home, like never before, often serving as both office and classroom space.

“This has meant that kitchens have had to work harder and stand up to a lot more use. It is critical that homeowners can be reassured that the rigid kitchen cabinets they choose can do their job and are robust enough to withstand the demands of daily life.

“We are exceptionally proud to have received the Which? Best Buy endorsement for our rigid kitchen cabinets, further strengthening our credentials, while also giving tradespeople who recommend our kitchens peace of mind that they are choosing a quality brand.”

See our guarantees and accreditations
Howdens joins the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

We have joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Network, as we strengthen our commitment to the circular economy, sustainability, and the environment.

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Howdens joins the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Howdens has become a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Network, as it looks to further strengthen its commitment to the circular economy, sustainability, and the environment.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s principles are to develop and promote a circular economy — one that addresses global challenges such as climate change, waste and pollution, and biodiversity loss, and delivers better outcomes for people and the environment. The circular economy is based on three principles, all driven by design — eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.

Rob Black, Director of ESG at Howdens, says: “Joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an important milestone in our ongoing work on sustainability. The Foundation is the leading organisation when it comes to championing a circular economy and a global thought leader on best practice in this area.

“Howdens will benefit greatly from the new membership as we look to bring circular economy principles and practices into our own work, along with potential collaborations with other members on raising issues and developing solutions to problems, such as plastic waste and the use of materials that cannot be reused or recycled.

“Our ESG 2020 vision commitments include maintaining zero waste to landfill in manufacturing and distribution and achieving carbon neutral manufacturing by the end of 2021. The philosophy of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation should help us to achieve and go beyond our current vision.”

New depot openings

- Our third depot opens in Belfast
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  Our third depot opens in Belfast
  
  Six jobs created as Howdens opens a new depot in Castlereagh, Belfast
  
  Visit Howdens' Castlereagh depot at 9-10 Prince Regent Road, Castlereagh, Belfast, BT5 6QR
  
  Howdens has opened a new depot in Castlereagh, Belfast on 24 May 2021 at 9-10 Prince Regent Road. Serving trade customers from the Northern Ireland area, this is the third depot to open in this region and is part of a growing network of Howdens depots with more than 750 depots nationwide.
  
  Open six days a week, Castlereagh depot is fully stocked with the latest kitchens, joinery, and hardware products with eager customers ready to stock up on their trade essentials. As well as local stock, this new depot has a team of expert designers who can plan kitchens in a dedicated design studio found in depot.
  
  Creating six new roles for the local community, Depot Manager, Eamonn Shannon, said: "Opening a new depot is something I will remember for the rest of my career. Having the resources to bring the store from a warehouse shell to a finished product, including a showroom with 12 kitchens was a wonderful experience. Being able to include the whole team in the process was great for morale and gave my new team members valuable insight into their new jobs ".
  
  Qualified tradespeople can apply for a Howdens account to get access to confidential pricing, exclusive deals, and more. Apply online via our Online Trade Account Application, or visit Castlereagh depot at 9-10 Prince Regent Road, Castlereagh, Belfast, BT5 6QR for more details.
  
  Howdens Castlereagh
- Howdens Brentford has relocated
  
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  Howdens Brentford has relocated
  
  • Three jobs created as Howdens Brentford relocates to a bigger and better site
  • Visit Howdens’ Brentford at Unit 11, Phoenix Trade Park, Brentford TW8 9PL
  
  Howdens Brentford is relocating to a new site in town following growing demand from its trade customers to stock more products. From kitchens to bathrooms, joinery to hardware, and those trade essentials that help complete the job, the new premises can be found at Unit 11 in Phoenix Trade Park.
  
  The team will be re-opening its doors from 17 May 2021 and will welcome trade customers six days a week. While the new site features more kitchens in its showroom and a newly branded look, the same excellent customer service, design expertise, and product knowledge will be delivered by the Brentford team.
  
  Belonging to a growing network of more than 750 depots nationwide, the new Brentford site has created three new jobs as part of its expansion, with roles created within the dedicated design studio and customer service.
  
  As part of their reopening, Shaun and the team are running some promotions for gripfill and silicone, with offers as little as a £1. Qualified tradespeople can also apply for a Howdens account to get access to confidential pricing, exclusive deals, and more. Apply online via our Online Trade Account Application, or visit Brentford depot at Unit 11, Phoenix Trade Park, Brentford TW8 9PL for more details.
  
  Howdens Brentford
New depot opening in Wednesbury

From 17 May 2021, a new depot will be open on Wednesbury Trading Estate, to serve trade customers from the Birmingham area.

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New depot in Wednesbury

• Two jobs created as Howdens opens a new depot in Wednesbury, Birmingham
• Visit Howdens’ Wednesbury at Units 14-15, Block C, Wednesbury Trading Estate, Wednesbury, WS10 7JN

With a new depot open in Wednesbury from 17 May 2021, Howdens can better serve trade customers from the Birmingham area. Located at Units 14-15 on Wednesbury Trading Estate, the new addition will expand our growing network with more than 750 depots found in the UK.

Wednesbury depot is fully stocked with a wide selection of products from kitchens to joinery, bathrooms and hardware. There is also a good supply of trade essentials, so customers can stock up on the tools they need to get the job done. Meanwhile, a dedicated design studio offers free design and planning advice in depot.

Open six days a week, the Wednesbury depot created two new roles in the local community, while the rest of the team were made up of Howdens employees from local branches. Sean Greenan, Depot Manager, is one of those, having worked at West Bromwich before being selected to lead a brand-new branch at Wednesday.

Sean said: “The three experienced members of my team all moved for a greater work/life balance and the move has meant we shave commuting time by up to 25 minutes. Howdens have always been open to new opportunities and improvements that benefit the employee, the customer, and the local community, which our new depot in Wednesbury demonstrates. It was an exciting challenge opening our new depot but with an experienced team we were able to make it a huge success.”

As part of the new depot opening, Sean and the team ran a few promotions to encourage trade customers through their doors, including a football competition for Euro 2021. With all kitchen deliveries, they also sent out a survival pack, which included tea, biscuits, and other sweet treats to make installation run smoothly.

Qualified tradespeople can apply for a Howdens account to get access to confidential pricing, exclusive deals, and more. Apply online via our Online Trade Account Application, or visit Wednesday depot at Units 14-15, Block C, Wednesbury Trading Estate, Wednesbury, WS10 7JN for more details.

Howdens Wednesbury