Qualified success

There’s no doubt that the era of self-certification and technical competencies has done more than anything else to promote the standard of workmanship in the industry. But when the whole universe of training and qualification is so diverse and often disjointed, it is inevitable that controversy will arise over the validity of each and we see that this week when two of the forerunners in the field put the relevance of NVQs under the spotlight. Read more

In the interest of transparency, as well as accuracy in such a complex subject, we offer both letters in full but we also gladly invite any further opinion or information from anyone who may have anything to add on the subject, and we suspect there will be a few.

And, if one controversy were not enough for anyone, we also hear this week that the long-running debate over glazed v unglazed R9 frames has reached a milestone with the news that HWL, leader of the unglazed lobby, now says its frames have now completed their final independent testing, delivered in partnership with R9 itself. Read more

So, without taking sides on either topic – or any other for that matter – we hope there is something in this issue that will contribute to everyone’s informed judgement.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

NVQs in self-certification
– what’s going on?

Controversy has arisen this week over the use and validity of NVQs as part of Competent Persons certification.
It began when Mick Clayton, CEO of GQA Qualifications said in a letter to The Glazine that he had been told that at least one of the Competent Persons Scheme operators is no longer recognising NVQs as route to compliance.

This was rebutted by Certass, whose Chairman Jon Vanstone replied “we do accept an NVQ, in the same manner as we accept the work experience of an experienced worker” but went on to say: “The existing NVQ is not fit for purpose with a large number of optional units and it is possible to hold an NVQ without meeting all the government approved requirements for self-certification.”

Read more

Home sales up a fifth
in September

Retrofitters have received a boost from figures published this week showing the number of homeowners putting their properties on the market rose by almost a fifth across the UK in September – and by almost half in London.

Read more

FMB applauds
PM’s council house borrowing move

The Federation of Master Builders has praised the Prime Minister’s plan to lift the borrowing cap on councils to build many more homes as ‘a victory for bold thinking and common sense.’

Read more

Unglazed R9 completes test programme

HWL Trade Frames says its non-glass bonded Residence 9 Window using Timberweld sash has now completed final independent testing, delivered in partnership with R9.

Tests on side-hung casement options were completed earlier in the year, returning a series of top-rated passes under BS EN 6375 - 1 weather testing and PAS24/Part Q. These have now been followed with a series of approvals on top-hung options.

Read more

We Have Email

From: Mick Clayton,
CEO, GQA Qualifications

It is being rumoured that, despite being established for nearly 30 years, Regulated Qualifications such as NVQs and SVQs are now (October 2018) considered by one of the CPS Operators not to be acceptable to meet minimum competency requirements, despite the English Government approved document naming Qualifications as the number one route to compliance.

Read More

From: Jon Vanstone,
Chairman, Certass Certification

Certass is keen to ensure the competence of all installers that work under the banner of our Competent Persons Scheme as we have a responsibility to all industry stakeholders.

Read More