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INSTALLER VIEW
Time to look at what others do…
Jon Vanstone, chair of Certass, argues that when it comes to attracting new talent to the
“We ended 2018 with the launch of yet
another commercial drive thinly disguised
www.ggpmag.com January 2019
We ended 2018 with the
launch of yet another
commercial drive thinly
disguised as a skills
initiative. There is much talk about
worthy aims with reminders of the
problems of ageing workforce, lack
of career paths and limited diversity.
However, there are no fresh ideas as
the fundamental basis is to try and
build upon a qualification structure
and related financial arrangements
that has already failed our industry.
No matter what the feelings
that are promoted by those who
advocate and mentor this initiative,
the facts do not support the views.
Qualifications in glazing have
failed. They have failed to capture
the imagination. They have failed
to encourage new entrants. They
even failed at the fundamental
idea, which is to deliver competent
tradespeople.
So why are we going over the
same ground over and over again?
industry, we need fresh ideas and fresh thinking.
We know from industry reports
and statistics that in-spite of the
low failure rate demonstrated by the
local tradespeople of Certass, the
sector as a whole is failing to deliver
a quality of output that creates trust
within the residential or commercial
arenas.
Our industry failure rate,
which seems to increase with the
larger contractor businesses, is at
a level that areas of government
deem ‘worrying’. Yet supposed
experts, who define themselves
as representing our sector, sit in
forums to define new structures of
competence whilst driving the same
tired agenda in a slightly amended
format.
We are told that NVQs are the
way forward, yet I have seen clear
evidence to demonstrate that NVQs
do not ensure proficiency on-site.
The structure within the supply
chain and accreditation of NVQs
is seemingly so disparate that you
cannot trust that this attainment
can be accepted as a demonstration
of competence. I have met some
quality training centres within the
market but often corners are cut
in the pursuit of profit which has
considerably lowered the average
standard.
This poor output from
qualifications is not only affecting
the quality of installation work, it is
affecting the feelings of those who
look to employ fitters and those who
would otherwise consider it a career.
Other construction sectors have
made significant advancements in
areas of perception, competence and
careers; whilst glazing seems to have
trodden water.
It has been my privilege to work
with NFRC in Roofing as they
developed a RoofCERT programme
as a skills initiative”
to address the very issues
synonymous with our own sector.
The standards are being addressed
both for qualified and experienced
workers; supply chain is being raised
to a national universal level; lifetime
career paths are being created for the
youth; and the industry is looking
closely at its overall attractiveness
and perception.
Roofing understands what glazing
has failed to grasp – our industry
is not attractive to those beyond
existing family and friend structures.
If you wish to change this, you need
to allow those from other industries
and walks of life to collaborate and
drive your agenda. Simply creating a
new campaign with the same people
in new elaborately titled positions
promoting a new flavour of the same
dull rhetoric will produce the same
hapless result.
The electrical industry ‘Jobs
for the girls’ introduced by Emma
Clancy at NICEIC produced
ambassadors within the sector who
are female – The ‘Young Merchants
Forum’ created by John Newcomb at
BMF is constructed of managers all
of whom are under 40 and represent
the industry of the future. Yet in
glazing we try to inspire the next
generation to engage with us with
a team of people who fail to mirror
those we wish to attract.
Certass commits to do what it
can, but we are in need of revolution
as evolution is simply not enough.
The path we are taking could require
generational change – 40 years ago
the Marlboro Man was all powerful
in advertising yet would be rejected
instantly today. We need to stop
believing that time spent is wisdom
acquired and collaborate with those
in other sectors both in construction
and beyond to help us solve that
which we have failed to do.
Change or be changed as patience
is running out within our industry
with the very people we need to
keep onside. We need to look at
what others have done elsewhere,
be honest about our failings and
adopt structures that help rather
than hinder good glazing businesses
to the detriment of those who fail
us and are affecting our perception
within the market around us.
Jon Vanstone
/www.ggpmag.com
