The Glass & Glazing Federation has added its backing to the ‘Inspiring The Future’ initiative being promoted by the Building Our Skills group alongside the Education and Employers Charity.
‘Inspiring The Future’ has been designed to connect young people with the world of work by engaging volunteers from industry to visit schools and share details of the specific sectors they work in, including career opportunities.
The campaign connects volunteers to state primary and secondary schools via the Education and Employers match-making platform. Volunteers are asked to give just one hour a year to the programme, although they can choose to do more if they wish to help inspire children.
GGF group managing director John Agnew said: “We are not only fully aware of the skills shortages afflicting our industry, but the implications of it at a very local level for our members, as well as the wider industry. While we recognise that it is a long-term journey, the work that Building Our Skills has started in trying to raise awareness of the industry amongst school age children is something we want to be fully supportive of, and that is why we have committed the energy of the GGF to get behind it. We will be working with Building Our Skills at all levels, nationally and regionally, to give the fullest support, and we will be encouraging our membership to get involved as volunteers where they can.”
Mark Handley, Building Our Skills’ partnerships manager, said: “It is great to have an organisation of the size and standing of the GGF alongside us. We’re now well on the way to achieving our primaryobjective of securing 50industry volunteers and the support of the GGF and its membership will help accelerate that process.
He continued: “I’m very pleased with the response to the call for volunteers to date, but I would like to encourage the whole industry to fully acknowledge the need for us all to do something to help raise awareness of the industry amongst those who may become its workforce of tomorrow. Working with Building Our Skills on the Inspiring The Future campaign is the perfect opportunity, and I would urge as many people as possible to get involved.”
