Corgi Fenestration Scheme Ltd Launched

Mick Clayton CEO of the fenestration industry’s only qualification writing and awarding body GQA tells us why they are fully supportive of CORGI’s entry into the fenestration sector.

“We have been campaigning for a number of years now to try to encourage employers across our industry to build on the GQA principle of delivering ‘Quality through Qualification’. It is a simple set of guiding principles which we believe helps those selling products to get the message across, that qualified people carrying out work in the homes of consumers or at the premises of commercial customers will deliver a better service, and quality, than people who are not”.

“I also believe, and have made the point many times, that if employers in the industry embrace qualifications more widely it will help to create a better attraction strategy to tempt young people to come into the industry and allow us to compete with those industries which do offer apprenticeships and qualifications as a part of a documented career path”.

“I was in discussions with Chris Mayne who is well known within the industry from his time at FENSA to see how together we might push the GQA ‘Quality through Qualification’ campaign forward. During our conversation, he made me aware that he, along with Jacqueline Crawford who had also spent time working for him as a consultant during his time at FENSA on the certification side of their business and is a previous Chair of the Competent Person Forum, were in discussion with a well-known consumer brand with an ethos which is based around the principle of using qualification to help deliver a trusted and totally reliable service”.

“As I became aware that this brand was CORGI it became obvious to me that GQA must support the venture as we would with any initiative which promotes people development and recognition. I am delighted that GQA have the opportunity to support this venture from the outset”.

“Of course, there is no getting away from the fact that most people associate CORGI with Gas Safety, and that is understandable. It is where CORGI came from and it is this heritage which helped it to develop what remains even today one of the most recognised and truly trusted brands in the eyes of consumer when it comes to safety, reliability, expertise and quality”.

“But CORGI has come a long way since it was founded in 1970 and its name is not only associated with the Gas sector. The CORGI brand already delivers products and services that range across the heating, plumbing and renewables industry, and it continues to be recognised for trust, reliability and expertise through its insistence that all CORGI registered companies and individuals adhere to a strict code of conduct”.

“CORGI coming into fenestration is a great opportunity for the industry to put itself on an equal footing with many other home improvement industries which win consumer business based on the fact that those delivering its goods and services are recognised as being formally qualified to do so”.

“I think that our industry has a great many very experienced people in it who deliver great products and service on a daily basis, but there are gaps”.

“There is no automatic update mechanism for our industry’s people to learn about new products, new regulations or new legislation – and away from existing people there is little or no process to attract new young recruits to our industry. This especially is a massive problem, and it is why in my opinion this new and exciting association with such a recognised and trusted brand is so important for the fenestration industry”.

“The new CORGI Fenestration business is based on qualification of tradespeople and will bring a new approach to the industry. It is something we are fully supportive of and will work alongside to deliver a sustainable approach to development and learning in the industry”.