The Building Our Skills campaign has completed its commitment to train 60 new-to-the-fenestration-industry installers, using funding provided by the Midlands Energy Hub and the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Among businesses that benefitted from the training was North Yorkshire-based home improvement company NYG, which sent young and trainee installers onto the course.
Lisa Pullan, NYG’s office manager said: “Our fitters found the course useful and enjoyable. The course has been great for enhancing basic knowledge, and has given the staff a good level of training on windows installation, which I know has really boosted their confidence.
“In addition, they really liked the course leaders, finding them down to earth and great to work with. I found it all easy to organise, since the course leaders kept us well informed. This initiative is going to benefit our company, and I’d have no hesitation in recommending it to other fenestration industry employers.”
Building Our Skills’ practical training course is three days of tuition about window and door installation, building regulations and industry knowledge, incorporating one day of online training and two days of practical, hands-on activity. The training is pitched at young installers with limited experience, fitters’ mates getting ready to take the next step up, and others with no experience who have a desire for skills training. It is also perfect for employees who work in an in-house technical role and who might benefit from first-hand exposure to product installation.
John Ogilvie, Building Our Skills’ director, said: “We were delighted to have been appointed as a training provider under this scheme at the outset, and to have delivered so much value to employers in the industry. It is also important to note that whilst the course is delivered by Building Our Skills, it is fully accredited by GQA. Rather than simply certifying attendance, it is an accredited training course that leads to a GQA Q Card, and can count towards the knowledge element for those who might want to go further and take an NVQ in the future.”
Training was provided at the Building Our Skills Centre in Sheffield, which is fully Covid-compliant, including lateral flow testing on arrival. Building Our Skills’ practical training is now being made available to a wider demographic, including the unemployed, career changers, ex military service personnel and former prisoners, as a way of trying to attract new people to the industry to bridge the skills gap.
To access the Building Our Skills training programme, email sayhello@buildingourskills.co.uk. Information is also available online at buildingourskills.co.uk.
