Careers & Qualifications in Fenestration

SPONSORED BY GQA AND BUILDING OUR SKILLS

GQA Qualifications is the only issuer of CSCS cards for the Glass and Fenestration industries. Building Our Skills is a strategic campaign designed to help bridge the growing skills gap in the Fenestration Industry

NEW APPOINTMENTS NEW APPOINTMENTS

BEN WALLACE ANNOUNCED AS GGF HEAD OF MEMBERSHIP & CUSTOMER RELATIONS

The Glass & Glazing Federation are pleased to announce that long standing employee, Ben Wallace, has been appointed as Head of Membership & Customer Relations. Ben has been with the GGF for 10 years and has extensive industry experience to bring to the role.

Anda Gregory, Chief Development Officer of the GGF comments on Ben’s appointment: “It’s essential that our Head of Membership and Customer Relations has a deep understanding of the inner workings of the industry as well as the individual needs of our members. Ben’s experience perfectly matches this brief, so we are delighted that he is moving into this role.” Ben says: “I have been present at GGF meetings since 2012 listening to what is important to our members. With this knowledge I have worked with the team to successfully develop the GGF Technical Department to become even more of an asset to members. In my new role as the Group Head of Membership and Customer Relations I am excited to extend this even further, and with the help of the team make the GGF even stronger and more valuable to members. There is a lot of room for development, and we can bring the GGF even closer to members to help them to succeed in the industry.” After leaving the military, Ben worked for a PVC-U Manufacturer as a technical advisor to the trade. Upon joining the GGF in 2012 as a trainee Technical Officer, he carried out a two-year training programme, including shadowing some of the industry’s leading experts, to become a full Technical Officer. Since then, Ben has been involved in all elements of the glazing industry and has worked on some extremely high-profile glazing projects internationally. In 2015 Ben took over the Consultancy Department and turned it into an asset for the federation before being promoted in 2020 to Senior Technical Officer, heading up the Glazing Executive side of the Federation. Anda Gregory concludes: “The GGF is constantly evolving to suit the needs of our members and the ever-changing marketplace we are all a part of. This latest appointment is a fantastic development for the Federation, and we are confident that Ben’s wealth of experience is going to continue to benefit members in his new role.”

“There is a lot of room for development, and we can bring the GGF even closer to members to help them to succeed in the industry.”

EPWIN WINDOW SYSTEMS’ KATRINA EARL PROMOTED TO SALES DIRECTOR

Katrina Earl has been appointed Sales Director of Epwin Window Systems after seven years with the business. In her appointment, Katrina will report to Managing Director Clare Bailey [formerly O’Hara] and will be responsible for sales development across the PVC-U, Aluminium, Hardware and Commercial business divisions.

Commenting on her appointment, Katrina said: “I am proud to be part of Epwin Window Systems and delighted to lead the sales function for the business. The quality and innovation of our award-winning window and door systems is second to none and is matched by the quality and commitment of our talented staff. I’m looking forward to working with our sales teams and customers to maximise the market opportunities.” Previously holding the post of Head of Sales, Katrina has been an integral part of the Epwin Window Systems team. More recently, she has demonstrated her leadership qualities throughout the challenges bought on by the pandemic. Managing Director, Clare Bailey commented: “Katrina’s appointment reflects the strength of her leadership abilities and her commitment to the success of Epwin Window Systems. As we continue to strengthen our service and support offering, Katrina will be instrumental in helping drive business growth through existing and new business opportunities. Her commitment and strong customer focus will help us achieve our ambitions and targeted sales goals while also delivering a consistent customer experience to offer the best level of support in the industry.” As the UK’s largest manufacturer and supplier of PVC-U and aluminium window and door systems, Epwin Window Systems is able to attract and retain the best and brightest in the industry. It’s something that’s demonstrated in Katrina’s tenure at the company and her well-deserved promotion. Tel: 0845 340 3968 www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

Katrina Earl

CAREERS

BUILDING OUR SKILLS APPEALS FOR 50 VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE THE INDUSTRY TO THE EDUCATION SECTOR

Underlining its commitment to bringing more youngsters into the fenestration industry, Building Our Skills - Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice has strengthened its collaboration with the Education and Employers Charity to promote their ‘Inspiring the Future’ programme.

Inspiring The Future has been designed to connect young people with the world of work by encouraging volunteers to visit schools (in person or virtually) to help inform youngsters about the possibilities for their future careers and what they could achieve. The renewed collaboration is seen by Building Our Skills as key in helping to acquaint school age children, and their teachers with the fenestration industry, and to communicate to them the broad range of job roles and career paths it offers. The campaign connects volunteers to state primary and secondary schools via its free match-making platform. Volunteers are asked to give at just one hour a year to the programme, although they can choose to do more if they would like to to help inspire children. The first step is to register on the Education and Employers or Building Our Skills websites and complete a very simple form. Teachers who have signed their schools up to the programme can see details of the volunteer, where they are based and the industry they are in, and then invite them to talk to their school about the job they do and the industry they do it in. Invitations for in person school visits are based around volunteers being local to the school in question, whereas virtual visits can be delivered from anywhere in the UK. Volunteers are supported by the Inspiring the Future team and are given access to training videos as well as training webinars and forums should they wish. Building Our Skills will provide key facts and figures for volunteers to use about the industry itself. Building Our Skills has highlighted the Education Sector as the single most important area for the industry to focus on to raise awareness of the opportunities it offers and to inspire future generations to look to Fenestration, Glass and Glazing as a career of choice. Ambassador for Building Our Skills, John Ogilvie, says: “I urge the fenestration industry to acknowledge the need to get more involved with schools and colleges. Working with Inspiring The Future is a great approach to attracting new talent to the industry. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to show youngsters the vast range of career opportunities they could aspire to, long before they reach the age when they have to decide. Helping teachers and parents – who are key influencers in this process - to inspire young people to experience what future options are open to them is something that will benefit the fenestration industry greatly. We all recognise that the industry is facing a skills shortage, and this campaign is designed to offer a long-term solution. Katy Langham Director of Operations and Programmes for Inspiring the Future adds: “We’re delighted to have strengthened our partnership with Building Our Skills to get fenestration, glass and glazing sector volunteers out into schools and talking to young people about the exciting careers that it offers. I too would like to urge employers and employees in the sector to come forward and volunteer. It’s incredibly rewarding, and I can promise volunteers that they won’t regret it!” Building Our Skills’ immediate aim is to get 50 industry volunteers to sign up to support the campaign and to grow it from there. It is perfect for anybody in the industry, in whatever role, who wants to play a part in making a difference in raising the profile of the industry to make Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice for future generations.

Those interested in volunteering can do so by clicking here https://buildingourskills. co.uk/campaigns/inspiring-the-future/ Or for more information on this campaign and Building Our Skills - Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice - visit www.buildingourskills.co.uk

NEW APPOINTMENTS

THE TEAM MAKES VBH TICK

Hardware manufacturer VBH, the company behind the greenteQ brand, has been busy in 2022 recruiting new staff and giving existing team members new responsibilities where their proven skill-sets can be brought to the fore.

Simon Monks, MD of VBH gave us the following overview of the ‘movers and shakers’ at the company. “We believe that we have the best team of any hardware company. It is a healthy mix of experience and youth, with all the benefits of both. We’ve had a reshuffle, carried out some promotions and brought in some new faces this year to enhance what was already a successful team.

“Steve Thomas has moved from an internal position to become Area Sales Representative for South West England. His customers are already benefitting from Steve’s years of manufacturing experience. “His sales team colleagues Tyler Shutts, Earl Tate and Colin Thomas have all been promoted to Regional Manager, for Northern England, South East England, and Wales respectively, following exceptional long term performance. “In Scotland Pamela Paterson is now Operations Manager at our East Kilbride site, with responsibility for the day-today running of the depot. “Internally at the Gillingham HQ, Karen Campbell moves to the position of Internal SalesCo-ordinator, linking the activities of our sales and marketing teams, and we have bolstered our Customer Service team with the recruitment of Leah Organ and Georgia Rowlatt. Both are new to the industry but are already getting great reviews from customers. Most recently, Tom Nicholls joined our accounts team to help ensure that everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. “As well as promoting from within, we have been recruiting to ensure that we continue to exceed customer expectations now we are faced with evermore challenges outside of the industry’s control. Simon Eshelby returns to VBH in the new position of Distribution & Systems House Manager, following six years away. It’s great to have Simon, and all his technical expertise, back at VBH.

“We have just received news that we have been short listed in no less than 10 categories at the NFA awards. It’s the people that make our company tick, so this success is a tribute to the VBH Team.”

Get in contact with VBH on 01634 263263, email info@vbhgb.com or send them a Tweet @vbhgb.

NEW APPOINTMENTS MEET DEKKO’S PROMISING NEW APPRENTICE

Leading trade fabricator Dekko Window Systems has recruited a new apprentice in a bid to renew the company’s commitment to upskilling young people and tackling the industry’s skills gap.

Liam Birch joins the company as a Digital Marketing Apprentice, and has been tasked with promoting and maintaining the Dekko brand through online social channels by creating unique content that reflects the business and the premium products and services it provides. “I’m primarily managing the company’s Swindon Trade Counter Facebook page and Instagram page, and I’m also responsible for finding sales leads on the social channels and referring them on to our sales team on a regular basis,” Liam comments. Liam’s appointment is part of a wider scheme at Dekko which sees the company taking on young people and training them up. The company currently employs four apprentices across HR, manufacturing and engineering, and will soon be looking to recruit further.

Sales Director Kurt Greatrex comments: “The skills gap is a huge issue facing the industry at the moment, and I predict for a long time to come. “Apprenticeships are invaluable in tackling this ever-growing issue, and strengthening the industry as a whole, while also giving young people the opportunity to learn on the job and develop valuable skillsets. “By taking them on, we can work towards achieving our long-term goal of growing and developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce to add to our already talented team.

“Liam is a very talented, personable young man, and I’ve been impressed with his skills in internal marketing, as well as his keen ability to track leads and opportunities for regular business. “I’m delighted to welcome Liam to the Dekko team – he’s already proven his enthusiasm, talent, and willingness to learn, and I believe he has a very promising career ahead of him.”

Contact Dekko Window Systems on 0161 406 0055 or visit www.dekkowindows.com.

NEW APPOINTMENTS ALUK APPOINTS RETAIL SPECIALIST IN NEW SALES DIRECTOR ROLE

AluK has appointed retail sales specialist Wayne Heath as Sales Director for the trade and residential side of its operation. This is a new position and reflects AluK’s commitment to putting its fabrication and installation partners right at the heart of its business.

Wayne has a long and successful track record with the likes of Everest and Anglian, including board level experience, and spent three years with the automotive giant We Buy Any Car, helping the business transform the way that consumers buy and sell in the second-hand car market.

He will therefore be bringing broad knowledge of the changing retail landscape to AluK and helping customers understand how they can best respond to that through new sales and differentiation strategies and digital first offerings. Wayne said of his appointment: “It’s great to be back in the window and door market, especially with such a strong brand as AluK. AluK can already add a huge amount to our customers’ businesses through value added services such as training, technical support, and testing, but we’re taking that up a level now with the launch of a new package of direct retail support under our AluK Home banner.

“I’ll be out and about a good deal over the next few months meeting customers, introducing them to AluK Home and listening and understanding what more they want from us as their aluminium partner. “We all know the cost-of-living crisis is already starting to impact the economy, so my focus will be on making sure AluK responds quickly and intelligently to any tightening in the window and door market and that we stand side by side with our customers giving them all the support they need.”