MJN’s Rachael Lewis Gains Skills Through Building Our Skills

Rachael Lewis, Content Coordinator at Modern Joinery News (MJN), discusses being part of the inaugural Building Our Skills/Women in Fenestration Network window fitter course.

“On Tuesday 21 July, I was offered the opportunity to go to Barnsley and to Building Our Skills to take part in a one-day window fitter’s course, hosted by Mark Handley and Sarah Ball for members of the Women in Fenestration Network.

“There was a group of six of us that took the course, including learners from Window Ware, The Residence Collection, MACO UK and Solar Fabrications, with Mark teaching us how to remove a window frame and replace it with a new one.

“We started the day in the classroom, where Mark went through a slideshow of the different Building Regulations, and the processes we needed to know, before putting on our safety glasses and gloves on and heading into the workshop.

“We started off by setting up our work area, then removed the glass from the window, unscrewing the frame and removing any silicone from around it.

“After lunch, we measured up our window space, took three measurements in both the width and height.

“Then we fitted the frame, screwing it in, filling it with expanding foam and sealing with silicone on both sides, added the glass back into place.

“We also made sure the glazing was straight before fitting it properly, and then tidied everything away.

“It was great to learn to process of installing a window in a small group of women.

“Mark did a fantastic job of demonstrating and helping us to do it correctly, and no question seemed too silly.

“I came away feeling more confident, and felt this only increased my knowledge of the glazing industry and the practical skills involved.

“I’d recommend this day course to anyone wanting to build their confidence and get some hands-on experience in the glazing industry.”

For more information about Building Our Skills, visit: Building Our Skills – Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice – Building Our Skills