Chris Beedel, Director of Government Advocacy for the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) addressed a kick-off event organised by the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) for the launch of National Apprentice Week, which was attended by Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Minister Lee Rowley MP.
The NHIC is the umbrella organisation for the UK, repair, maintenance and home improvement sector, for which the GGF is a member organisation representing the interests of the replacement window, door and related products industry. Chris Beedel, who represents the glass and glazing industry to Government departments and other stakeholders, was one of several speakers invited to address the event.
Chris used the opportunity to highlight the newly launched GGF Apprenticeship Scheme, with the first cohort of apprentices due to start in April 2022. The GGF Apprenticeship 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 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.
Sanitaryware manufacturer Ideal Standard hosted the launch of National Apprentice Week, which runs from 7th – 13th February and for which the aim is to promote and celebrate the value, benefit, and opportunity that apprenticeships bring. The theme for NAW22 is “Build the Future” and Minister for Industry Lee Rowley MP chose to open the week by meeting apprentices from the home improvement sector, seen as being key to the government’s “build back better” and “levelling up” campaigns.
The Minister met apprentices from all parts of the repair, maintenance and home improvements sectors and said: “It’s encouraging to hear the positive stories from these apprentices, but 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.”
Afterwards 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. This is especially important with the government’s commitment towards Net Zero and the increased role that our industry can play in that.
“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,” added Chris.