Training for the industry

Training for the industry

Richard Hearn joined the GGF in November 2017 as Head of Membership and Training.
In this article Richard highlights the progress he has made on the training side and explains why focusing on quality will give Members the edge in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

With a sense of duty to its Members and the wider industry, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and its commercial companies have for the last ten years, tried to find training solutions to help companies raise their standards of workmanship.

These solutions have been wide and varied during the last decade. From bringing in training consultants, setting up training committees, forming training academies, setting up a training company and writing training manuals. All of these initiatives had their merits but didn’t fully serve the training needs of the industry.

During this period, several GGF Members have volunteered and worked tirelessly to help develop training that would not just satisfy Members but would also make a meaningful impact on the industry.

Training the industry is a broad and deep remit and one which instead of shying away from, the GGF has embraced and continued to face up to the challenge.

In late 2017, the GGF appointed Richard Hearn as Head of Membership and Training. With Richard’s experience of developing training in membership organisations, it was a good fit for the Federation and the work soon commenced.

The timeline of the last 12 months clearly marks the progress.

2018 Timeline

APRIL/MAY:

• The GGF’s offices are granted Accredited Training Centre status by GQA Qualifcations.

• Training Provider, Fenestrology, is appointed to help lead and develop the GGF Training programme.

JUNE/JULY:

• GGF surveys its Members asking what type of training is needed. The results show that Members want training courses on surveying and installation.
• Extensive high-quality training courses for installers and surveyors are developed.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER:

• A new training section is created on the GGF website. • Training course details are revealed and published on the GGF website and publicised to the Membership and wider industry via trade media.

OCTOBER:

• The GGF delivers its first training courses in the GGF Offices.

2019 Timeline

FEBRUARY/MARCH

• Fire Resistant Glazing Installer Training is added to the GGF Training portfolio.

• March: Four new training locations are added as the GGF widens its course availability to Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and Manchester.

APRIL/MAY

• GGF starts the “Training the Industry” trade media campaign featuring editorial, advertising and a new promotional training brochure.

• FIT Show 2019 and the GGF promotes its training courses and presents seminars on the training courses the GGF delivers.

• The GGF offers a special 20% discount on the price of its training courses for installers, surveyors and fire resistant glazing installers at FIT Show.

Richard Hearn, GGF Head of Membership and Training commented on the progress: “We’ve come a long way in a relatively short period of time, but we know there is so much more to be done in the area of training. Those who have attended the courses have provided glowing testimonials on the course content and training provider. We are continuing to listen to our Members to further develop the existing courses and create new ones to ensure we satisfy, not just our Members needs but also the needs of the industry.

The GGF Training courses are open to all in the industry and aim to not only upskill employees but also to provide tangible evidence in the form of certi cates that show customers that installers and surveyors have been trained to the highest level. Our solutions are high quality and innovative but most importantly they are collaborative with our Members and together we can train the industry.”

To nd out more about the GGF’s Training Courses and to book places, please visit the Training Section of the GGF website: https://www.ggf.org.uk/training/training-installers-surveyors/

If you wish to contact the GGF Training department please email: training@ggf.org.uk