A NEW CAREER? DIG MINES NOW!

from Glass News February 2023

EXPERIENCED GENERAL MANAGER TO HELP COTSWOLD PURSUE EXCELLENCE

Here we are, well into the New Year and while our industry continues to, hopefully, thrive, the rest of the world appears to be in much the same state as 2022. Striking workers, empty offices with employees on the school run and walking the dog and confusion reigning in government circles. Nothing new there. What has caught my eye, and I suspect many of yours too, is the ongoing issue of electric cars. It would be hard to ignore the scene of expensive Teslas queuing at motorway services over the Christmas period – sorry, should be something like Seasonal Greetings or Happy Holidays or at least nothing depicting any religion. It made me wonder just how practical it is to expect the motor industry to stop making petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. I read that vehicle manufacturers work about five years ahead such that this year may be the last opportunity to knock the idea of banning petrol and diesel vehicles on the head. Incidentally, does that mean that anything that is fossil fuel powered goes out the window? Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, hedgecutters and even generators that we may have as back-up against power cuts that may be just around the corner?

‘Range anxiety’ is having an effect. Stories of EV range being dramatically exaggerated are rife and driving around with no heater, radio, or any other electrical ancillary to conserve battery life is no fun. The big supporters of EVs, in fact 86% of those who really like them, have normal journeys of less than 100 miles. I just wonder how efficient it all is for a Business Development Manager traveling the country to visit customers and prospects?

We all want to aim for a green economy but when the manufacture of a pure electric car generates up to 74% more CO2 than the equivalent diesel or petrol vehicle; when we need about ½ million more charging points (currently at 40,000) and a huge increase in the generating capabilities of the national grid to ‘fuel’ these vehicles, surely it raises concerns as to whether we are approaching this correctly? If you add to this the loss of jobs in automotive, the issues with Britvolt, Britains’s biggest gigawatt battery firm which has already been rescued from administration, the need for around 300 new mines for raw materials such as graphite, lithium, nickel and cobalt and even Toyota declaring that they don’t believe EVs can ever replace petrol or diesel as a single energy option, then surely the thinking is flawed? Fed up with fenestration? Start digging mines, now!

It's funny how the Government and our vast range of overpaid civil servants seem to always be late to the party. We, and indeed many other industries, have recognised the skills shortage and the need to do something about it. Now, as if it is new thinking, our Skills Minister Robert Halfon is saying we should be encouraging children to think of vocational careers as opposed to pursuing meaningless degrees on the traditional academic route. The Government wants children to consider a trade and that we should inspire them towards this end from an early age. Yep, pretty much what we’ve all been saying for some time. While still on the subject of the skills shortage a couple of GGF press releases we’ve received gives hope for the future. Firstly, Natalie Little’s arrival as President of the Glass & Glazing Federation has been roundly welcomed and her understanding of the industry through working at her family’s home improvement company will be valuable. What I would describe as the ‘new era’ for the GGF with John Agnew and Anda Gregory bringing an energy to the organisation can only be further enhanced with Natalie’s joining the team. The second release was most apposite considering my rant about skills! The GGF will be flying the flag for the fenestration industry in front of thousands of students at the National Apprenticeship & Education Event which will take place at Millennium Point, Birmingham in March 2023. They will be partnering with Building Our Skills – the industry organisation that’s committed to attracting new entrants to the sector and upskilling the existing workforce – for the event and this will attract students from over 2,000 secondary schools, including independent and grammar schools up to sixth form level, giving them a unique opportunity to discover and learn more about a wide range of future career paths, which will now include all that the fenestration industry has to offer.

The GGF’s Group Chief Development Officer, Anda Gregory, commented: “Attracting and retaining new talent remains one of the biggest challenges for all businesses operating in fenestration and key to addressing that is getting face to face with students so that we can open their eyes to all the incredible opportunities within our industry."

And so say all of us… Chris

GOT

SOMETHING TO SAY?

Email Chris at: chris@glassnews.co.uk

January 2023 crossword solution:

Contact Details

‘TIME OUT’ WINNERS – JANUARY!

Sudoku: Mrs B Clarke, Beverley, East Yorkshire

Eye Spy: Christine Tyler, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

Spot the Difference: Tim Pankovas, London E14

Crossword: Mark Venn, Hellingly, East Sussex

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