News & Events

GQA FOCUSES ON ACCREDITED TRAINING AT FIT SHOW

Stand R7

GQA, the fenestration industry’s leading awarding and qualifications-writing organisation will be using the FIT show to showcase its accredited training programme. With close to 200 qualifications covering a broad variety of sectors, GQA celebrates 20 years of trading this year, and is the only issuer of CSCS cards for the industry. The organisation will be sharing a stand with the campaign Building Our Skills – Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice.

Speaking about the FIT Show GQA Technical Officer, Mark Simpson, said:

“We are delighted to be returning to the show once again, having been to every previous show as well.  Like everybody else we see this as the perfect opportunity to re-engage with the industry.

‘It will give us the platform we need to speak to more employers about our accredited training programmes, about qualifications, CSCS Cards and the practical training we have accredited for Building Our Skills who will be there alongside us.”

GQA’s Accredited Training Service

GQA’s Accredited Training service is aimed at employers in the industry who want to have their in-house training supported and endorsed by a regulated awarding organisation. It gives them the opportunity to deliver training that focuses on candidates’ particular needs specific to their role with the employer.

A great example of the way that GQA’s Accredited Training service operates is work done recently with AluK, specialists in the design and testing of aluminium products for the fenestration industry. When the company wished to achieve third party accreditation for its training courses the company turned to this specialist service from GQA.

MANDATORY BYLINE – (C) HUW JOHN, Cardiff 25/11/2021
ALUK, Chepstow
mail@huwjohn.com
www.huwjohn.com
Instagram: huwjohn_uk

Darren Burford, Training Manager of the ‘AluK Academy’ explains:

“The AluK Academy presents workshops in fabrication, installation, product awareness and the use of the company’s design system called ‘Logikal’.  GQA has provided third party accreditation for the workshops and our training days. The organisation offers a professional service, providing invaluable guidance and support, especially in the development of our training programmes. I would say GQA is a real advocate for the aluminium industry. Its auditing process ensures that all of our courses are consistent, and GQA has helped us get to where we are today as a centre for recognised training.

“The fact that the organisation offers recognised qualifications and is one of the few bodies specialising in the fenestration industry made this a good fit for us. The whole process of working with GQA, right from the outset, was a true partnership.”

CSCS Cards

Visitors to GQA’s stand at the show will be able to find out more about obtaining a CSCS card from the organisation. CSCS cards provide proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training and qualifications for the job they do. By ensuring the workforce is appropriately qualified, the card plays a key part in improving standards and safety on UK construction sites. Most principal contractors and major house builders require construction workers on their sites to hold a valid card in line with the requirements of the Construction leadership Council.

As the only issuer of CSCS cards for the Glass and Glazing industry, GQA has recently welcomed a new app, which is set to revolutionise the construction industry’s card-checking procedures to enable faster site access and site safety. The new CSCS Smart Check app, developed for the 38 card schemes displaying the CSCS logo represents a major step forward as, for the first time, all 2.1 million cards displaying the logo can be electronically verified using a single app. The new app will provide site managers with a quick, easy and secure way of ensuring everyone on site has the right qualifications and training for the job they do.

Practical Training Network

GQA-accredited practical training is proving a big hit with the industry. Working in close partnership with Building Our Skills  – Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice, GQA can now point enquiries to a number of practical training centres, including new ones in the London and South West areas. Practical training includes 2-day and 5-day course options for window and door installers, a 1-day introduction to surveying, and there are other courses in the pipeline.

The fenestration industry, just like any other, needs training solutions tailored to its specific needs. GQA’s services are helping to facilitate this, and are contributing to raising standards and assisting in shaping careers.

Our latest news

19th Mar

Qualifications and Training - choosing a trusted...

Employers in any industry who wish to hone the skills of their workforce in order to improve their businesses competitiveness face two challenges: carefully managing training budgets whilst also addressing staff time constraints. How to choose a partner organisation that can help them achieve their goal at the same time as ensuring these challenges are met need not be difficult. Dan Brown, Strategic Relationships Manager of GQA Qualifications explains.

... Read more
28th Feb

Postal Issues

We know that a number of our centres and other stakeholders are experiencing difficulties with the delivery of GQA post. We are now receiving calls...

Read more