Chris Beedel, director of government advocacy for the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF), has highlighted the new GGF Apprenticeship Scheme at a ‘kick-off’ event organised by the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC).

The event, held at the start of National Apprentice Week (7-13 Feb), was attended by Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Minister Lee Rowley MP.

The GGF Apprenticeship Scheme has been designed to overcome the barriers seen in attracting apprentices to national schemes, such as a required A-C grade at GCSE in Maths and English. The first group of apprentices are due to start in April 2022.

The GGF Apprenticeship Pilot Scheme allows for an initial 20 apprentices to be placed with GGF members and the GGF will cover 50% of their external training provider cost of £4,000, the other 50% being covered by the GGF member.

Minister for Industry, Lee Rowley MP, said: “I am acutely aware of the need to increase capacity in the home improvement sector and am looking forward to working with the NHIC and its members to find ways of doing just that.”

Chris Beedel commented: “It is crucial that we are able to ensure that the voice of the glazing industry is communicated to government ministers and other influential partner organisations.

“We also need to encourage apprenticeships in our industry as a key means of resolving the skills shortage that is hampering so many businesses, especially as demand for glass and glazing products continues so strongly.”