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The schedule included a member site visit and a regional discussion held in Wigan, bringing together a diverse group of members from across the region and wider industry. The event offered valuable updates, professional insights, and an excellent opportunity to connect face-to-face.

Thermoseal Facility Tour in Wigan

The day commenced with a guided tour of Thermoseal’s manufacturing facility. Thermoseal, a long-standing GGF member known for its warm edge spacer bar production, provided attendees with an in-depth look at its manufacturing processes. The visit was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback—many attendees expressed surprise at the complexity involved in production and praised the organisation of the tour.

Regional Meeting at The Brick Community Stadium

At 10:45am, members reconvened at The Brick Community Stadium—home to both Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan Warriors. With refreshments and breakfast pastries on offer, the venue proved to be both practical and conveniently located near Wigan’s retail park.

The meeting began promptly at 11:00am. As expected, training and technical updates were key areas of interest and discussion—continuing to be high priorities for the GGF and its members.

The formal portion of the day concluded by 1:30pm, after which attendees had the rare opportunity to visit pitch-side at the stadium—offering a memorable close to the day and a chance for group photos.

Regional Chair and Member Recognition

Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees praised the Thermoseal tour, the quality of meeting content, and the excellent venue.

Regional Chair Martin Clarke of Bootle Glass once again added a touch of fun with his trademark quiz. Winners were awarded bottles of Bootle Glass Glass Cleaner, generously supplied by Bohle Ltd. Martin’s ongoing enthusiasm and commitment to regional meetings continue to be appreciated by both members and GGF staff.

The meeting also included recognition of Gill Riley, Managing Director and Co-Founder of GGR Group, who has been awarded a CBE in the King’s 2025 Honours List for her outstanding services to the lifting industry. Already an MBE recipient, Riley’s CBE highlights her dedication to innovation, safety, and training. GGR Group, headquartered in Oldham with depots in Haddenham and Glasgow, is a key player in specialist lifting solutions.

The GGF extends its sincere thanks to all members who participated, to Thermoseal for hosting the morning visit, and to The Brick Community Stadium for accommodating the group. The North West and North Wales region continues to be one of the Federation’s most engaged and active—ensuring meetings like this deliver real value across the community.