Excellence as Standard’s NVQ support helps boost skills training

One of the biggest concerns in the industry at the moment is the impending skills gap. It’s a concern Epwin Window Systems is acutely aware of, but Sharn Samra, the company’s Marketing Director, says it is taking steps to tackle the issue. “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. The programme aims to drive quality at every stage of the business and a core part of that is in having a skilled workforce.”

A cornerstone of EAS is the Excellence Academy, which offers two routes to creating a skilled workforce. The first is a heavily discounted NVQ training and the second is apprenticeships. Managed by The Vocational College (TVC), the largest provider of glass related qualifications in the UK, 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 & Supervisors).

Paul Gray, Business Development Manager at TVC, comments: “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 & Safety, so there are fewer accidents and days off work.”

The Excellence Academy is just one element of the Excellence as Standard programme because members also benefit from the quality products available from Profile 22, Spectus and Swish, strong marketing support, partner benefits and business support.

Excellence as Standard is widely being seen as blazing a trail in the industry and in the Excellence Academy it’s clear to see why.