Clearview National November 2017 - Issue 192 | Page 20
SEVENTHINGS...
Seven things you
didn’t know about…
You may already know that GQA Qualifications is
the Glass and Glazing industry’s specialist Awarding
Body, but you may also be interested to find out
7 other facts about the company’s activities….
1.
WRITING QUALIFICATIONS
FOR 20 YEARS
GQA has been developing and implementing qualifications
for various industries over the last 20 years and albeit, the
glass and glazing industry plays a dominant part of GQA’s
portfolio of qualifications, it also produces qualifications
for the construction and printing industries.
A strong reason for the business having the ability
to enhance its portfolio comes about because of its
Approved Centre network. With over 70 centres
throughout the UK, GQA has access to a
significant network of skills and knowledge
providing valuable feedback to allow new
industry qualifications to be developed.
3.
2.
APPROVED GQA TRAINING CENTRES
GQA work with over 70 training centres throughout
the UK. The centres offer employers and individuals the
opportunity to work towards a choice of over 50 variations of
glass and glazing qualifications, written by GQA.
GQA promote a close working relationship within their
Approved Centre network, encouraged further through their
Conference held in November, and other strategic events/meetings
important to the development of glass and glazing qualifications
and training. GQA approved centres, which range from local
colleges to employers/fabricators, all work towards improving the
development of employees and individuals in the workplace.
4.
TRAINING PODS FOR THE INDUSTRY
GQA has often spoken about the lack of practical training
facilities in the industry and has been able to facilitate the
distribution of a number of practical ‘pods’ into the GQA network.
The training pods were fitted because of negotiations with the FIT Show.
GQA manage the Master Fitter Challenge for the event - the industry’s
window and door installer competition which seeks out the best-of-the-
best in their field. GQA were able to gain use of the pods used at the
last two finals and install them at some of their Approved Centres. The
pods offer individuals the opportunity to gain valuable practical training
installation skills whilst undertaking a GQA qualification.
20 » N OV 2017 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
CSCS / Q CARDS
With the growing number of
specialised glass and glazing
occupations in the construction industry and the
withdrawal of the CRO card by the Construction
Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), GQA now has
responsibility for issuing the CSCS Q-card through its approved centres
and direct from GQA head office.
GQA has been instrumental in developing additional pathways to
glass related occupational qualifications, which offers a solution to the
removal of the CRO card by CSCS. For many years, GQA has offered
a wide range of mainstream glass and glass related qualifications and
construction qualifications that gave access to competence cards from
CSCS and now individuals will be able to apply directly to GQA to
obtain a GQA CSCS Q-Card.