ASSOCIATIONS & TRAINING
DHF LEADS THE INDUSTRY THROUGH TRAINING
EXCELLENCE AND RAISING STANDARDS
» DOOR & HARDWARE
Federation (DHF) has long been
a fierce advocate for appropriate
levels of training and is renowned
industry-wide for its 100%
commitment to raising standards.
It continues to champion
safe, compliant products and
installations, and through its
comprehensive training courses,
is encouraging both managers and
operatives to consistently employ
legal and ethical practices.
In 2019 alone, DHF trained close
to 1000 people, with more than 450
candidates attending the two-day
safety diploma courses and the
same number of learners opting
for the Level 2 Award one-day
safety training courses. In 2019,
100 inspection and installation of
metal or timber fire door courses
were held in conjunction with BRE
Academy. To date, more than 3200
individuals completed at least one
of DHF’s safety training courses,
whether a diploma or Award
course, and in July, it announced
the launch of its first one-day public
Automated Gate Group Level 2
Award Course in Ireland. Indeed,
so successful was this, that the
federation held a second one-day
public Level 2 Award in Automated
Gate and Traffic Barrier Safety in
Ireland in February. The training
day for installers and maintenance
operatives of automated gates took
place in Clondalkin, Dublin.
“We are particularly proud of
our exceptional reputation for
offering first-class training and do
believe this is an area of expertise
for us,” explains DHF’s Head of
Commercial Operations, Patricia
Sowsbery-Stevens. “We have set
a number of industry ‘first’s’, for
example, becoming the very first
UK organisation to offer an official
theory-based qualification for
those working in the automated
gate, industrial door and domestic
garage door sectors.”
The one-day ABBE-accredited
Level 2 Award for is approved
and regulated by Ofqual, the
Government Office of Examination
Regulation. ABBE (Awarding Body
of the Built Environment) is the
UK’s leading awarding organisation
providing qualifications for the
built environment. Qualifications
are offered through its network of
assessment centres, approved against
a set of national criteria, laid down by
Ofqual, the regulator of qualifications,
tests and examinations in England.
But it has undoubtedly been the
past four months that have truly
defined DHF’s ability to adapt and
continue to serve its membership
with regards to training. Whilst
panic engulfed much of the UK at the
start of the COVID-19 crisis, DHF’s
proactive team was working hard
behind the scenes putting special
measures into place to limit the
potential disruption for its learners.
Just two weeks into ‘lockdown’, DHF
successfully launched its online
digital training facility, enabling
its audience to purchase online
training courses that combined all
elements from the complete course.
In particular, the one-day, Level 2
Award courses in Automated Gate &
Traffic Barrier Safety and Industrial
& Garage Door Safety, were filmed
and edited to enable DHF to share
knowledge with its learners.
From 1st June, DHF reinstated its
on-site face-to-face training sessions,
taking full benefit of its spacious
training academy at Tamworth. A
comprehensive risk assessment
took place ahead of welcoming its
first delegates back on site in a safe
and secure environment. Attendee
numbers have now increased to 10
per session.
In recent weeks, DHF has
developed a ‘Distance Learning
Programme’ (DLP) delivered via
Zoom, with learners attended to by
Senior Compliance and Training
Officer, Nick Perkins. Nick has
‘both faceto-face
learners
and those
on our
DLP have
been very
positive
about their
experience’
‘we are
particularly
proud
of our
exceptional
reputation
for offering
first-class
training’
been on-hand to guide and mentor
trainees throughout the duration
of their courses with examinations
completed online. This unique
undertaking has enabled those at a
distance to maintain their training
obligations.
“We have been extremely
successful in identifying a healthy
balance between safety and
continuing to provide value for our
members; we have achieved this,”
says Patricia. “Both face-to-face
learners and those on our DLP
have been very positive about their
experience. In fact, the DLP will
now become a permanent fixture on
the federation’s training calendar.
It has been imperative for DHF to
deliver a continuous provision of
training for those who must remain
compliant in spite of the disruption
to ‘normal life’. Whether face-to-face
or distance learning, and whether in
Devon or Northumberland, we have
continued to put our learners first.
Furthermore, as a trade association,
we are confident that, whatever the
future might hold, we know that we
can adapt quickly and productively,
whilst effectively considering the
wants and needs of our members.”
www.dhfonline.org.uk
20
JUL/AUG 2020
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