How frustration led to a game-changing solution for installers

For decades, window installers have faced the same dilemma when working at height, pay the price for scaffolding or take unnecessary risks to compete for business and to get the job done. For Daniel Cheddie, designer and founder of Stronghold®, that was never good enough. 

From repairing windows in his teens to 24 years and counting as a firefighter, and via a tense stand-off with the Dragon’s on BBC2’s Dragon’s Den, Daniel Cheddie’s road to this point has been an interesting one. 

What hasn’t changed in all that time for the founder and CEO of Glazesafe and designer of the award-winning Sashmate® system, however, is his mission to change how the industry approaches safety. And, in doing so, he’s created one of the most significant innovations fenestration has seen in years. 

Stronghold® is a portable internal frame and anchor system that can be assembled inside a building in under ten minutes. It can span up to 5 metres and support three operatives simultaneously and once in place, it creates secure anchor points for harnesses and barrier protection, fully conforming to BS EN795 B:2012 and CEN TS 16415:2013. 

Unlike scaffolding, it requires no drilling or fixing, which means no damage or unsightly scaffold, and it means no reliance on access from outside. It also folds down to fit in a van and is light and easy to transport, while it’s completely reusable which means no wasted days waiting around for scaffolding and no unnecessary costs. 

It can’t be climbed by intruders, reducing on-site security risks, and by anchoring tools and components as well as people, it also helps prevent dropped-object incidents. 

Frustration 

“I started in the glazing industry at 19,” Daniel recalls. “I was doing window repairs and replacements, and it gave me a real understanding of the everyday challenges installers face, especially when it comes to access and safety. Back then, scaffolding was often too expensive, and the alternatives were usually unsafe.” 

That early frustration stuck with him, and with a natural aptitude for problem-solving and a fascination with how things work, Daniel began applying his engineering mindset to the problems he saw on site.  

“At the same time, I’d also spent more than 10 years as a firefighter,” he adds. “So, working at height safely is something I’ve lived daily. That dual experience, as a tradesman and as someone trained in risk management and rescue, naturally led me toward innovation in the safety space.” 

From problem to prototype 

The idea for Stronghold® was born not in a lab, but on a live construction site. Daniel was visiting a hospital project where the team was using his earlier invention, the Sashmate® system, when a director from the façade company shared a challenge that would spark a breakthrough. 

“They told me their biggest issue wasn’t repairs, but installing windows safely at height when there’s no scaffolding or anchor points,” Daniel says. “I’d heard similar stories before, fitters anchoring themselves to radiators or even bed frames just to get a window in. I knew there had to be a better way.” 

Drawing on his experience as both a window repair specialist and full-time firefighter, he got to work.  

“It had to be lightweight, adjustable, quick to set up but incredibly strong,” explains Daniel. “It took a lot of design work to get it just right. I even spoke to a physics professor at the University of Hertfordshire to make sure I got the formula right.”  

The result is a system that’s already transforming how the fenestration industry approaches access and safety. And it clearly impressed on Dragon’s Den, with Dragon’s Touker Suleyman and Jenny Campbell making an offer. 

Designed for every installer 

While the system is already proving its worth on major contracts, Daniel is quick to point out that Stronghold® is just as valuable for smaller businesses. “It’s the perfect tool for big contractors working on high-rises or multiple projects, but it’s equally suited to smaller installers who need to work efficiently and safely without the overheads,” he says. “It levels the playing field, giving every installer access to a professional, compliant, and cost-effective safety solution.” 

And for Daniel, Stronghold® isn’t about replacing scaffolding but offering a smarter alternative. “It’s about having the right tool for the job,” he adds. “Stronghold shines in situations where scaffolding is overkill, impractical, or not permitted, such as properties with tight access, emergency callouts, or cost-sensitive projects.”