When Brighouse window and door fabricator Quickslide decided to create an apprentice scheme as a further means of encouraging young people to join the business , the firm turned to glazing industry skills and career advisory organisation Building Our Skills ( BOS ) for guidance on achieving the best outcome for its project .

BOS was created to bridge the growing skills gap faced by the industry , by working closely with employers and other organisations to attract young and new entrants and by advising on areas of upskilling the existing workforce to ensure it can meet future challenges and continue to prosper . As part of its quest to ‘ inform , encourage , support and inspire ’, BOS also works with a number of organisations to enable companies to implement recruitment and training

schemes , such as that developed for Quickslide .

After contacting BOS for guidance on employing young people to join the company as apprentices , Quickslide was connected with GFTS Ltd , an organisation that specialises in providing training within the fenestration and construction industries . Working with the head of Quickslide ’ s Human Resources team , Rachael Doran , GFTS is providing guidance on

apprenticeship schemes and strategies for recruitment and training . The organisation will also work with Quickslide to find suitable candidates , carry out initial vetting and assistance with interviews .

Rachael Doran commented : “ Amongst a number of other initiatives that Quickslide is implementing to bring new people to the company and provide training for new and our existing staff , we are determined to bring

young people into our business and the glazing industry ,” she explained . “ As Building Our Skills sets out to demonstrate to young and new people , the fenestration industry continues to be incredibly successful , even throughout the difficult times of the past year and there are tremendous opportunities for careers with various skill sets that will set people up for life ,” she added .

Quickslide Chairman Adrian Barraclough is passionate about the development of young people in the business : “ Through an introduction by Stephanie Tague at BOS , we are now working with

GFTS to find two apprentices initially , to come and join us at Quickslide , specifically in our frame production facilities ,” he said . “ We have many people with us at Quickslide who took a job with us and now have a career ,” he said , “ and there are tremendous opportunities at Quickslide for development and progression within a business that is growing very quickly . BOS is an excellent initiative to show people what a great industry this is .”

www . quickslide . co . uk buildingourskills . co . uk www . gftsltd . co . uk

Building Our Skills – Making Fenestration A Career of Choice ( BOS ) has embarked on a recruitment drive with a difference - ‘ highlighting the need for the industry to come together and eliminate its ever-growing skills gap ’.

Continuing to build on its key objective , heighten awareness of the Fenestration industry to new and young people , the organisation is encouraging individuals from the industry ’ s community to make a pledge by signing up and committing to its ‘ Inspiring The Future ’ campaign .

The campaign , which focuses on recruiting volunteers from within the Fenestration sector is supported by FENSA , and will highlight the work of many of its existing campaign supporters over several social media

channels , whilst looking for new recruits .

Stephanie Tague , Head of BOS commented : “ In order , to attract new talent , we need to promote our industry positively

and encourage more youngsters to contemplate the Fenestration industry when considering their career options .

“ Each one of us has a story to tell , whether you are an Apprentice

or a Chief Executive , no one is exempt and the campaign helps set out how by committing to become a volunteer , a champion , an ambassador or an advocate of Building Our Skills you will be making a real difference , raising the industry ’ s profile amongst the younger generation .”

Committing to being involved with the ‘ Inspiring The Future ’ initiative , means you will be asked to pledge your support - either as an individual or a business . There are many different activities in which supporters can get involved , including signing up as a volunteer and chatting to young people , sharing with them information about the industry , job roles and career choices .

“ Building Our Skills has created a variety of useful resources

for those looking to help take those first steps on spreading the Fenestration word ,” Stephanie continues . “ We have produced a series of videos and guidance documents all free to use when visiting schools or engaging with young people .”

For those passionate about making a difference in attracting new and young people to address the industry ’ s skills gap , or just needing a little extra encouragement for how they could get involved and commit , contact Stephanie directly on 07789 344479 email Stephanie @ buildingourskills . co . uk and don ’ t forget to like , comment and share our posts on LinkedIn @ buildingourskills , Facebook @ buildingouskills , Twitter @ BOSFenestration