GQA Qualifications, the fenestration industry’s leading awarding and qualifications-writing organisation has appointed Dan Brown as Strategic Relationships Manager. The role is a new one, created to help facilitate GQA’s strategic aims and its 5-year business plan.
One of GQA’s key goals is to create and strengthen collaborative relationships with relevant external bodies, trade associations and other stakeholders involved in vocational education and training. The new role will play an integral part in expediting this. Dan will engage with stakeholders to optimise GQA’s representation and impact. In addition, he will monitor qualification registration and certification data, identifying key trends and areas for development and support. Dan will also work with employers to help communicate the benefits of a competent and qualified workforce.
With over twenty years’ experience in the fenestration industry, spanning a variety of roles, Dan is well-placed to assist GQA in its aim of raising standards in the industry. He will also be forming partnerships with key sector bodies and employers across the other areas in which GQA operates. This will also be with the aim of encouraging and offering formal qualifications and accredited training as a means of developing people and their skills to enable them to achieve their career ambitions.
Talking about his industry experience and the new role, Dan says:
“I’ve been involved in the fenestration industry for over twenty years, starting out as Estimator and Technical Support in the PVCu conservatory market before moving into the architectural aluminium sector as a Project Draftsman. This gave me a good grounding in the design, manufacture and installation of aluminium façades.
“I then moved to a global aluminium-producing company that manufactured profile systems for the building envelope sector as an Estimator and Technical Advisor, working with designers, fabricators and installers. From here my role developed into Project Manager before progressing to UK Account Manager, responsible for maintaining and developing new relationships with key industry influencers and project stakeholders to deliver complex facade solutions, and support their ambitions to drive the industry towards low carbon and the circular economy.
“I’m extremely excited to move into this role with GQA because I firmly believe that investment in vocational training and qualifications not only demonstrates the commitment of an individual or a company to strive toward excellence and self-improvement, but the sense of personal pride in achieving a formal qualification can empower people with the confidence to build successful long-term careers and improve their social mobility through education. Working toward an industry-relevant qualification can also contribute to addressing skills shortages, and encourages the growth of a local sustainable workforce.
“The timing could not be better. The Building Safety Act has provided a turning point by emphasising the need for a skilled, competent workforce across all roles within the construction of high-rise buildings. GQA is perfectly placed to support the needs of the Building Safety Act through qualifications in the construction sector, especially as we are now effectively building ‘glass cities’. It can offer product manufacturers third party accreditation for the in-house training courses they offer their staff, providing reassurance to Principal Contractors regarding the safe application and installation of projects from a competent and qualified supply chain.
All in all, it’s a great time to be joining GQA!”
More information on GQA: www.gqaqualifications.com
