Epwin takes training and development seriously, a commitment that is reflected in the company being awarded the Training & Development Initiative of the Year at the G 17 Awards. Katie Leese, Programme Manager for Excellence as Standard at Epwin, said: “We are proud to have won this award, not least because it’s an endorsement of our people development ethos.”
Another reflection of Epwin’s commitment is the central role training and development plays in the company’s membership programme, Excellence as Standard, which aims to drive and promote excellence at every level of member businesses. Katie said: “We know that fabricators and installers are concerned about the skills gap and finding skilled workers. It’s something that Excellence as Standard addresses via their EAS Academy.”
The EAS Academy offers two routes to creating a skilled workforce: discounted NVQ training and apprenticeships. Both routes are managed by the award-winning The Vocational College (TVC), the largest provider of glass related qualifications in the UK.
Katie added: “Staff training and development is the bedrock of a successful business. Ensuring individuals are suitably qualified to perform, and given the opportunity to improve and progress is a must in today’s competitive business environment. When you invest in upskilling your workforce you get greater staff satisfaction levels and better retention rates, adding value to your business in the short, medium and long term. Excellence as Standard allows companies to harness these benefits.”
Excellence as Standard has been praised for blazing a trail in the industry, particularly when it comes to training and development. And in winning the G 17 Award for Training & Development Initiative of the Year Epwin is showing that it is leading by example.
