Pro Installer December 2016 - Issue 45 | Page 18

18 DECEMBER 2016 PRO INSTALLER PRO NEWS www.proinstaller.co.uk EXPANSION WILL LEAD TO NEW PRODUCTS FITTERS GEAR UP TO TEST SKILLS The FIT Show’s Master Fitter Challenge is now in its fourth year and will once again be overseen by the industry’s specialist qualifications body, GQA Qualifications Limited. The Master Fitter Challenge invites individuals and teams of installers to pit their skills against each other to become the winner of this prestigious award, introduced to highlight the skills and knowledge within the industry. Firstly, the installers must be MTC compliant by either holding a fenestration installation qualification or through CPS assessment. Installers can apply to enter by completing the application form accessed from either www.fitshow.co.uk or www.GQAQualifications. com websites. Once the application is submitted, GQA assessors conduct a two-stage assessment; a telephone interview and a real-time site visit, before an inde- pendent panel confirms the finalists who will conduct a two-day live practical test assessment at the FIT Show in May. Sean Hayes, technical manager for GQA explains: “Each candidate is assessed through different svtages building up to the two-day finals before the winner is then announced. The competition is based on skill, knowledge and professionalism. It’s not about how quickly the installer can complete the job. “Each day of the show, the installer will be tasked with a different element of installing products - including a window, door, a roofing system and a bi-folding door. GQA assessors will be on-hand to observe and score each fitter on their abilities, and how they utilising the products and tools they are given.” Visit www.thefitshow. co.uk for more information or call GQA on 0114 272 0033. Water theme at architect show The trade fair ARCHITECT@WORK returns to Olympia National Hall in London for its 2017 edition on 25th and 26th January. The show, aimed at architects, designers and specifiers, features 120 European architectural suppliers who will be showing new products and offering innovations in surface solutions, lighting technology and interior and exterior fixtures and fittings. All the companies have gone through a rigorous selection process with an external judging panel overseeing the product selection. The theme for ARCHITECT@