NVQ support helps boost skills

One of the biggest concerns in the industry at the moment is the impending skills gap, which Epwin Window Systems is tackling, the company said.

“We know that fabricators and installers are concerned about finding skilled workers and it’s something that Excellence as Standard, our groundbreaking new membership programme, addresses,” Sharn Samra, the company’s marketing director, said. “The programme aims to drive quality at every stage of the business and a core part of that is in having a skilled workforce.”

The programme includes the Excellence Academy, which offers two routes to creating a skilled workforce: a heavily discounted NVQ training, and apprenticeships.

Managed by The Vocational College (TVC), there are qualifications for window, door and conservatory installers, installers of roof line products, glaziers, curtain walling installers, window, door and conservatory fabricators, glass processors, stores and warehouse persons, photovoltaic panel installers, and trade counter staff. Also available are qualifications in ILM management, customer service, business administration, team leading, IOSH Working Safely, and IOSH Managing Safely (managers and supervisors).

Paul Gray, business development manager at TVC, said: “Training in the form of NVQs and apprenticeships offers three key benefits: it demonstrates your commitment to a qualified workforce, improving retention; it leads to more efficient practices and greater competence, meaning less waste and a better bottom line; and it improves health and safety, so there are fewer accidents and days off work.”