QUICKSLIDE ACADEMY MEANS CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT
18th September 2012

Quickslide has created the Quickslide Academy to train and up-skill existing employees and new staff in the company with the objective of further improving product quality, production efficiency and staff satisfaction.

Operated in partnership with the Fenestration College Quickslide is embarking upon a long-held desire to ensure that every employee involved in the manufacture of the company’s windows, residential and bi-folding doors has formal qualifications and the desire to continuously improve their skills. The scheme will include the recruitment of five apprentices - one for each of the company’s production areas - in addition to existing operators and fabricators being trained to a minimum of the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Level 2. Other qualifications include GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Glass Processing (QCF); and GQA Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Fabrication of Glass Supporting Structures (QCF). Apprenticeships will be Intermediate Level 2 Apprentice Window Fabricators.

The scheme is the brainchild of Mick Madigan, Quickslide’s Production Director, together with the company’s Chairman Adrian Barraclough. Mick explained their philosophy: “We have the best production equipment and processes in the company, following years of investment and last year we won the G11 Fabricator of the Year Award, confirmation that we were getting things right. But ultimately it is all about our people; if we want to continue to make further incremental improvements this will come through our employees and how well they perform and also of course, how much they enjoy their roles. That is a key issue. Training is an investment just as surely as buying a new machine.”

Andy Clegg, whose Fenestration College implemented and manages the Quickslide Academy for the company, says that Quickslide will enjoy direct benefits as a result of their commitment: “We have worked with Quickslide for some time to train their staff. The Quickslide Academy now makes training an inherent part of Quickslide. It is established within the factory, a department of the company just as are HR, sales and dispatch.”

Within a week of the agreement to proceed a presentation was made to all employees to explain the vision of the Quickslide Academy and its aims. The staff has universally embraced the scheme says Mick: “We are delighted with the response we have received from them and especially those who have commenced their training. Knowing that they are valued in itself motivates them. Having the formal skills to do their jobs improves their confidence and efficiency; it’s very rewarding to see the difference it makes.“

Picture caption: Quickslide has created the Quickslide Academy to train and up-skill existing employees and new staff in the company. Here Andy Clegg of Fenestration College coaches some of Quickslide’s star students.