Installer Insight
The Industry Hub for Competency and Training
Training has historically formed one of the key pillars for GGF members . Over the last 18 months , the organisation has been investing significantly in overhauling its training strategy to address past industry issues , present industry competencies , and future industry needs . An example of this is the IOSH Managing Safely in the Glass & Glazing Industry training course that is a market first for the GGF and its members , created by our Head of Operations , Lauren Mawford .
The GGF training platform and its AI generated training avatar GRACE ( Glazing Resource and Career Education ) is just one area of change and innovation .
“ Keeping our workforce informed , educated and fully competent across a range of skills in a regulated and demonstrable fashion is critical in an industry where the long term health and safety of everyone is paramount . With the erosion of grandfather rights , and increasing scrutiny due to changing regulations after disasters such as Grenfell , the need to prove this has been the focus of much discussion ,” commented the GGF ’ s technical officer and training manager John Mannell .
“ Companies are additionally being impacted by the ever increasing skills shortage , and a lack of new blood entering the industry at a young age ,” he continued .
The GGF ’ s Skilled Pathways Scheme was set up over 18 months ago to encourage the next generation of window and
glazing experts . It is run in partnership with Total Support Training and GQA Qualifications , and the first cohort of ‘ graduates ’ are now reaching the end of their SPS training .
The GGF will be introducing you to some of those graduates soon , but we recently caught up with Ben Hill who has completed his training with Leicester Glass Company . He had this to say about the scheme : “ I would definitely recommend this scheme to others as it is a great opportunity for young people like myself to get ahead in the industry as early as possible . It provides you with skills and experiences that will set you up for success in the future .
“ As it has great variety in the topics , it helps you explore different paths and find your passion . The skilled pathway gave me great connections in the trade which I was not expecting . When I have issues or questions and I am unsure who to ask , I have now got a vast support network of people that can help me .”
The GGF is also investing considerably in attending apprentice fairs in schools and colleges across the UK .
“ With university fees increasing , our industry needs to reframe the narrative around training and qualifying in an industry that is always looking for committed , ambitious people . We look forward to sharing our experiences of apprentice fairs in the coming weeks and months , and following through on the impact they are having for our members , and for the industry as a whole ,” said John Mannell .
www . ggf . org . uk
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