Thursday saw the UK’s 6th Form and College students find out how they had done in their A-Level studies. Although the number of top grades fell slightly, the pass rate was still over 98%. Meaning 409,000 students had a confirmed place at university.
But as with every year, there will be those who did not get the grades and will not be going to university this year. Students are put under so much pressure to succeed, and are devastated when they don’t get the grades they wanted. It frustrates me. It frustrates me how much pressure is put on students, almost brainwashing them to believe that university is the best and only option to a bright future. Well it really isn’t.
One particularly good option for those wondering what to do would be an apprenticeship. The whole of the construction sector, including our own industry, is crying out for fresh talent and a massive influx of young people to replace an ageing demographic.
Consider a career in glazing
In the recent budget, Chancellor George Osbourne announced that the Government wanted to create 1m new apprenticeships during the course of this parliament. This for me was great news.
I was thinking from the point of view of the window and door industry. Our sector is chronically lacking in skilled young workers. I have written before that in a few short years our industry is going to come under intense pressure as the existing crop of employees retires and leaves the sector.
For me, this situation provides an ideal opportunity for young people wondering what to do with their future to consider a career in the glazing industry. It should, but as an industry we’re not doing anything about it.
Should the GGF be promoting the industry to school leavers?
Locally small glazing companies could find new recruits from around their area. Which is fine. But it’s nowhere near the scale of recruiting that the whole of the sector needs to satisfy it’s shortcomings. So is it time that industry bodies like the GGF step in and start promoting?
Due to the lack of youth coming through, the industry needs a swift and large injection of young people. It is bodies like the GGF that have the power, the people and the resources in which to carry out that sort of task.
They, along with other bodies like FENSA, could visit colleges and sixth form centres to promote the advantages of a career in the glazing industry. After all, there is more to just the window industry than selling and fitting!
The reality is, there is a huge array of varying and differing career opportunities for young school leavers to get stuck into. All rewarding. All giving the chance to progress further up the chain. All providing a chance to earn a great living as well. And the best thing is, you don’t need a degree to get started!
So come on GGF, back our youth and encourage them to consider a place in the glazing industry!
In the career path path stakes , there is not much to offer, I see the salaries that are available to youngsters in business and glazing is not exactly a pot of gold waiting to be discovered , the money is in the entrepreneurship, and as soon as someone has sussed that , they are off to start their own business.
Hi Kevin I’m afraid I cannot agree with you on this one. There are huge amounts of opportunities in this industry right now, at all levels. And plenty with the chance to progress up through the company. I can also vouch for myself. I started in our own business when I was young, working weekends, learning product and learning how to deal with customers. I am now earning a good wage, which has risen very well over the last few years. I have been able to but my own house, drive a pretty good car, afford fantastic holidays etc. All… Read more »
You might not be off to start your own company , but I guess it might come your way one day ;)
Well how wrong Kevin is. Not everyone can run a business, but can be a good worker and earn money they require for a very nice living in this industry. The best person I ever employed had failed at his own business, came to us and had more technical knowledge than anyone else I have known, could communicate with fitters, management and customers, he earned his money and more. Life is very unfair and he died a few years ago after a very short illness. He is greatly missed. I also have a lady that works for me that I… Read more »
The GGF did raise something along the lines raised at its last Conservatory and Window/Door Group meeting. The governments Dept of Business Innovation and Skills ( BIS) has a ‘TRAILBLAZERS’ apprentice scheme for fenestration . These are employer led and the GGF was testing the water with members about the possibilities. It would have to be a group of employers who got together to un the scheme to cover fabrication and installation. I seem to recall the deadline was 25th Aug for the industry to respond to BIS and register an interest. PS Jason, can you deepend the font colour… Read more »
Thanks for the comment Mark. I’ll look into the font situation and give you a shout when its changed!
Jason
Not until the GGF starts to insist their members act ethically – I have just received through my door another bogus and misleading offer leaflet from Everest.
Their example does not reflect the standards which the majority of people who work in the glazing industry aspire to.
OK a hot topic , I have no doubt that there are jobs, but the word ‘career’ seems to imply that a graduate can get a glazing industry job and develop or aspire to become an achiever through a structure that provides proportionate benefits , I would argue that the nature of this ‘industry’ does not promote a career path. Yes , there maybe some large companies that can offer this , but I reckon not many in comparison to other industries. the general careers of accountants, managers and the like are fairly generic and good companies can pay for… Read more »
As Mark Hanson (Chairman of GGF Conservatory Association) alludes to, we are working with BIS and the assistance of some volunteer GGF Member companies on the Trailblazers Government initiative run by BIS (Dept of Business, Innovation and Skills). We are working with those Member companies to source funding from BIS for their apprenticeships. The GGF’s resources and number of staff are limited by the amount of funds we receive via subscriptions from Member companies, so obviously the more companies that join us the more funds we have and the more we can do for Members, which has a positive knock-on… Read more »
Thanks for your response GGF Membership, and while I am sure Anthony will answer questions put to him , I will put a couple specifically to you. Everest claim that their windows provide more heat than they lose over the winter heating season and even the BFRC made the same claim of A-rated windows until the very recent website revamp. These are lies and untruths yet you allow them to be broadcast under your trade umbrella and it is shameful , and as a trade association I quite understand your allegiance to your members , but with your promotion of… Read more »
Just for clarity Everest website page …. http://www.everest.co.uk/double-glazing-windows/all-benefits/#tab4 Quote … “Some windows described as A-rated achieve the minimum standard – not letting out any more energy than they keep in. This is known as an A0 rating – the 0 is the energy index and refers to the amount of energy passing through a window each year. However we have gone above and beyond an A-rating to achieve an amazing A+ rating for Everest uPVC casement windows – a brand new category for the most energy efficient windows. This means that with the help of something known as solar gain,… Read more »
Why turn on NFG to list members, this blog is about getting people into the industry not show in fighting. We need employed trades people and sales presentation, IT etc. not self employed commission based hard sell for a few months. A job in glazing can be for life.
Thank you Kevin for providing the weblink and details. We will consult with our technical colleagues.
Hi GGF
Is this one a bit complicated or are your technical colleagues away this week ?
Regards
Simple question guys , you asked for examples of where companies might not comply with the ASA code of practice , I gave you an example , are you going to comment on it or shall I ask the ASA to comment on it ? I really don’t think it needs a week and a half to tell me if you think Everest are liars or not ? Your members code of practice/ ethical standards/ trading standards and any other GGF schemes are pathetic and worth nothing if you can’t even work out whether your members are lying to the… Read more »
Interesting , I see the Everest page has been edited to remove the comments that I queeried. On the one hand that is good , ie that after only 8 years or so of Everest making the false claims , something has been done about it. On the other hand , might it show what a pack of lies the WER scheme is , I mean , if the window formula is an energy balance formula as stated by the BFRC then surely Everest are correct in there claims. I suppose its a bit rhetorical really as I don’t expect… Read more »
Hi Kevin
Just to be clear, were you saying comments on this site had been removed, or another?
Sorry DGB , I challenged GGF over claims being made by Everest and provided the evidence above in a previous post. The claims made by Everest no longer appear on the Everest page that I challenged GGF with. I am supposing that this is a result of GGF involvement , as the claims have been on the Everest website for many years. This vindicates both myself and Anthony Jones position in this discussion with GGF. I also believe it identifies the spurious nature of the WER scheme. I hope that clears it up , I wasn’t intimating any editing of… Read more »
No worries, just wanted to be clear and be sure that there wasn’t any problems on my pages :-) keep your comments coming!
What do you think about this DGB?
You think that the industry is ripe for graduates, yet the GGF can’t even answer whether their members are allowed to mislead the consumer or not , it doesn’t exactly inspire does it ?
DGB
A bit odd this one , but the web address posted in the thread doesnt actually link to the page it addresses , so actually it has confused me a touch , further inspection shows the claims are still in fact being published .
I will have to read these links better , it does make the last post sound suitably drivelous though :)
Just to continue this very one sided debate , It would appear that GGF aren’t fussed by the Everest lies so the ASA route needs to be assessed .
Firstly though , I believe I have to challenge Everest , does anyone have contact details of someone in an appropriately senior position who I can challenge on this issue.
Many thanks