NLTG AND PARTNERS SHOW IT'S NOT JUST A MAN'S WORLD
Date: 08/05/2008
The Glass and Glazing industry has always been renowned as a male orientated industry, but some companies disagree with this statement. Companies such as The Welch Glazing Company, WM & M Glaziers and Sliders UK all employ females on the shop floor, where others only employ males, and have reaped the benefits.
Wayne Byrne, Factory Manager at Float Glass in Wythenshawe, says, "We advertise for people from all groups to work on the shop floor when recruiting, but we only get male applicants; maybe it's because they don't understand what is involved in the work here, or maybe they just are not interested, we can't put our finger on it." This story is repeated up and down the country in glass and window companies, however, some do break the mould.
The Welch Glazing Company, based in Elland near Halifax, West Yorkshire, employs at least 3 female fabricators out of a total of 9 staff on the shop floor. One of these fabricators is Sarah Graydon, who is currently undertaking a GQA NVQ Level 2 in Production of Glass Supporting Fabrications with NLTG. Sarah says, "I enjoy fabricating because I like to be practical and we do have really good working relationships with the lads and girls here. I am a Team Leader and I know that the staff here respect me for what I know, as well as what I can do. I enjoy cutting and welding the most, but I can fabricate frames from start to finish. I wanted to recognise these skills, so I enrolled to get a relevant qualification, just in case I need it for the future. As far as I can recall, Welch Glazing have always employed a mixed workforce, in fact, I believe that females make better fabricators than males, but maybe I am just biased. I find it hard to believe that other companies don't follow suit." Sarah's Manager, Andrew Singleton, said, "The company have always aimed at employing a diverse workforce and we believe it works for us. The girls mix in well with the lads and can be even better at some tasks than the lads; it works for us anyway."
Another good example of this is Samantha Dawson, a level 2 Apprentice Fabricator at WM & M Glaziers in Clayton-le-Moors. Samantha says, "I went to college but found that I would rather work with my hands, so I left college and was offered the opportunity here at WM & M. I enjoy fabricating; it's good to work with your hands. Her boss, Carry Fisher, says, "She is a good fabricator, she is committed and does fit in well. We are over the moon with her."
Sarah is currently three quarters of the way through her NVQ Level 2 and is on course to finish ahead of schedule; her company are considering offering her progression onto the level 3 on completion of her level 2. Samantha is at the same point in her apprenticeship. NLTG Assessor, Paul Fairhurst, says, "A couple of girls at Welch Glazing have completed GQA NVQs with us, as have other females and I have to say that they are really good fabricators. I, as a manager, always had a policy of employing a diverse workforce and it worked well. Sarah and Samantha are starts in their own right, top class fabricators with the backing of good employers."
