12 Stories of Christmas – A Year in Review

1. Delivering extraordinary projects

This year, ACS worked on great projects up and down the country – collaborating closely with architects, brickwork contractors, main contractors and more. We published some great case studies too, delving further into places like Benjamin Street, the Anthology Deptford Foundry, and Gascoigne Neighbourhood in London – installing our award-winning Certus™ modular brick façade system at the latter! 

2. Sharing insights and best practice 

We launched ACS Insights, an editorial series engaging thousands of readers with thought leadership and sector expertise. Guest contributions from some of our sector’s most renowned leaders – people like Building Alliance CEO Mike Leonard, Ibstock’s Emily Landsborough, and Hawkins/Brown’s David Brook – highlighted innovation, collaboration, and practical solutions for the industry. 

3. Hands-on learning through the ACS Academy 

Our ACS Academy continued to give both our colleagues and customers interactive, practical training. This year we expanded our offering with factory tours, hands-on sessions, and toolbox talks, covering key products such as Masonry Support, Cavity Trays, Intex™ 4-in-1 Masonry Support, Certus™ and Azure II™ brick-slip systems. 

4. Championing skills for the next generation 

Our apprenticeship programme continued apace as we strived to prepare the next generation of construction and manufacturing leaders. We partnered with Leeds College of Building, Leeds City College, Caxton Academy and TTE Training to deliver hands-on experience and expert mentorship, equipping apprentices with the skills and knowledge to succeed in construction and manufacturing. 

5. Engaging the wider industry 

We took our products, people and purpose on tour! From Clerkenwell Design Week in London, to Birmingham University, to ZAK World of Facades, and technical forums with the Brick Development Association in London and Manchester, ACS explored innovation and connected with contractors, designers, and manufacturers, remaining at the forefront of industry trends.

6. Free CPD training to keep the sector informed 

We expanded our accredited CPD programme with new sessions including ‘Navigating Modern Masonry Facades’, and delivered sessions to more than 30 architect practices. A further 350+ professionals joined us online, gaining practical insight into façade safety, performance and compliance. 

7. Leading on industry standards 

Ethics and environmental responsibility remain core to ACS.  Highlights included the news that our ACS Masonry Support product was successfully CCPI Assessed. Crucially, we were one of the first construction manufacturers in the UK to be successfully re-assessed, not just for the Masonry Support set, but also for our Leadership and Culture!

8. Investing in innovation 

To meet evolving technical and environmental demands, ACS invested a six-figure sum R&D, ensuring our solutions remain at the forefront of safety, performance, and sustainability for smarter, future-ready façades.

9. Investing in our people

Our team is our greatest asset, and we invested in our people this year offering support and learning via our dedicated online training platform. We also welcomed new colleagues including our Non-Executive Director Stephen Ginger, and celebrated promotions like that of our Technical Manager JJ Wragg. 

10. Giving back through Steel Soldier

We maintained our commitment to great causes, notably running our fourth annual Steel Soldiers campaign which this year raised over £8,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund, supporting veterans and their families and reflecting our commitment to social impact and community responsibility. It means we’ve now raised more than £20,000 since this initiative began! 

11. Navigating projects through a difficult era 

Changing regulation and the new Gateway 2 process has slowed the progress of high-rise schemes this year. This rigorous regime demands early, detailed design, and we’ve spent much of the year working closely with clients from the outset to help navigate requirements with confidence; bringing stronger technical guidance and assurance earlier in the process has helped keep projects moving in a challenging regulatory landscape. 

12. Growing beyond manufacturing 

2025 was ultimately a time for us to lean into what our industry needs – and that meant focusing on our evolution from manufacturer to a trusted façade solutions partner. Our work this year shows just how far we’ve gone in this endeavour, supporting architects, contractors, and clients from design to delivery, helping create safer, smarter, and more sustainable buildings across the UK.