Four members of GQA Qualifications’ technical team have signed up to support the ‘Inspiring the Future’ campaign, which promotes the glazing industry to the education sector. The campaign is run by ‘Building Our Skills – Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice’, the organisation that works towards improving the skills of people within the glazing industry as well as attracting new people to the sector. ‘Inspiring the Future’ was designed by the Education and Employers organisation.
As part of its commitment to the campaign, the GQA team aims to visit schools and inform young people about the career possibilities of joining the fenestration, glass and glazing industry. The campaign connects volunteers to relevant local primary and secondary schools. Volunteers are asked to give just one hour a year to the programme, although they can choose to do more if they wish.
The first step is to register on Building Our Skills’ website and complete a simple application form. Participating teachers can then invite volunteers to talk at their school about their job and the industry.
Invitations for in-person school visits are based around volunteers’ localities. Virtual visits can also be delivered. ’Inspiring the Future’ volunteers are supported by the Building Our Skills team and are given access to training videos as well as webinars and forums.
Mark Handley, Building Our Skills’ partnerships manager, said: “I’m delighted that GQA’s technical team has agreed to support the Inspiring the Future campaign by volunteering. We’re now well on the way to achieving our primary objective of securing 50 industry volunteers.
“I’ve been very pleased with the response, but 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 and teaching youngsters about the sheer breadth of roles it has on offer. I think anyone volunteering would find it all very rewarding.”
Mark was appointed partnerships manager earlier this year. Read here to find out more.
