The continued growth of the window furnishing sector, estimated at 140,000 employed nationally) together with the diverse skill sets required of its practitioners including lean and custom manufacturing, individual customer service, installation across a wide range of diverse product characteristics had been overlooked by the training sector, itself hostage to low calibre industry advisory arrangements.  The industry peak body the BMAA sought the intervention of The Frontline Group to resolve a decades’ long impasse on training for this critical industry sector.

Frontline’s determination to ensure that training made a strong contribution to the viability of this window furnishing sector was amplified by approach: Evidence – Critique-Impact.  Frontline undertook a detailed analysis of the industry creating in the process unique data set, brought 130 nationally operating businesses together in a first National Training Summit and developed a 5 year Industry Training and Development Plan signed off by 350 operating businesses.  One year into the Plan, outcomes have been generated beyond expectations, training has expanded 10 times the previous 12 years,  customer training solutions targeting skills sets have been developed and engagement with Government is starting to better reflect the industry and its priorities.  That this manifesto has been achieved largely by Frontline and its own investment represents Frontline’s capacity for determined achievement on behalf of its industry partners.