Made For Trade Windows Invests in Modern Apprenticeships

Employees at Made For Trade Windows, one of Scotland’s leading manufacturers of double and triple glazed glazing products including windows, doors, inline patio and bifold doors, recently celebrated the successful completion of their Modern Apprenticeships in Fabrication of Glass Supporting Systems, during a special certificate presentation at the company’s manufacturing facility.

The achievement marks another important milestone in Made For Trade Windows ongoing commitment to investing in its workforce and developing the next generation of skilled manufacturing professionals.

Delivered by RT Resources in partnership with GQA Qualifications and supported by Skills Development Scotland, the programme enables employees to gain nationally recognised qualifications while continuing to develop their knowledge, skills and experience in the workplace.

As the only training provider currently delivering Modern Apprenticeships In Glass Industry Occupations in Scotland, RT Resources works closely with employers across the glass and glazing sector to ensure training reflects the realities of modern manufacturing environments.

Investing in People

For Made For Trade Windows, the decision to engage with the Modern Apprenticeship programme formed part of a wider commitment to developing talent from within the organisation.

The company wanted to provide employees with the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications alongside their practical experience, while supporting career progression, increasing confidence and strengthening skills across the business.

According to employer feedback, the programme has helped employees develop greater ownership and responsibility within their roles while improving communication, problem-solving and understanding of industry standards. The business has also seen employees applying their learning more confidently and demonstrating a stronger appreciation of how their role contributes to overall business success.

Martin McCrimmon, from Made For Trade Windows said:

“We wanted to invest in the development of our existing workforce and give employees the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications alongside their practical experience. The programme supports our wider aim of developing people internally, improving skills across the business and creating clear opportunities for progression.”

Building Confidence and Creating Opportunities

For the Modern Apprentices, one of the most significant benefits of the programme has been increased confidence.

Across the cohort, candidates highlighted improvements in communication, decision making, problem solving and overall confidence in carrying out their day-to-day responsibilities. Many reported feeling more capable in their roles and better equipped to contribute to their teams.

Steven Brown, a STUGA Operator, said the qualification helped increase his confidence at work and resulted in more positive feedback in his role.

Jay Beattie, who works in window manufacturing, reported greater confidence in decision making, more consistent work quality and a stronger understanding of his role within the business. He also noted that the apprenticeship helped him deal more effectively with busy and demanding periods of work.

For others, the qualification has already supported progression opportunities.

George Wallace highlighted that completing the Modern Apprenticeship gave him additional confidence and encouraged him to apply for a Team Leader role.

Meanwhile, experienced welder Thomas Kerr said the qualification made him feel more formally recognised for the skills and experience he had developed throughout his career and coincided with his promotion to Team Leader.

Strengthening the Manufacturing Workforce

Manufacturing businesses continue to recognise the importance of investing in workforce development to support productivity, succession planning and future growth.

The Modern Apprenticeship in Fabrication of Glass Supporting Systems combines structured learning with practical workplace experience, enabling employees to demonstrate competence in real working environments while gaining industry-recognised qualifications.

The programme helps formalise existing workplace knowledge while creating opportunities for employees to develop new skills, improve performance and progress within their careers.

Feedback from the cohort suggests the apprenticeship has helped employees improve confidence, workplace organisation, communication and problem-solving abilities, while providing valuable recognition of the skills they use every day.

A Partnership Supporting the Glass Industry

The success of the programme reflects the strong partnership between Made For Trade Windows, RT Resources and GQA Qualifications.

Together, the organisations are helping to develop highly skilled individuals capable of supporting the future needs of Scotland’s glass and glazing sector.

Through collaboration between employer, training provider and awarding body, learners are able to achieve respected industry qualifications that support both personal development and business growth.

Phil Douglas, EQA from GQA said:

“I was pleased to be invited along to Made for Trade Windows in Glasgow and had the pleasure of presenting the learners who had completed their modern apprenticeships their SVQ certificates. It’s really pleasing to meet the learners and see the sense of pride in their achievements. It’s good to see a positive attitude towards employee development by Made for Trade Windows and I wish them every success moving forward. It’s also pleasing to hear the learners being positive about their experiences with their GQA training provider and RT Resources, who go over and above to support the learners and deliver a quality service to all of their learners. Well done to all involved”.

Looking Ahead 

The successful completion of the latest cohort demonstrates the value that Modern Apprenticeships can bring to both individuals and employers.

By investing in workforce development and creating clear progression opportunities, Made For Trade Windows is helping to build a confident, skilled and future-ready workforce while supporting the continued growth of the glass manufacturing sector.

As these Modern Apprentices celebrate their achievements, they do so as part of a partnership committed to developing talent, recognising excellence and securing the future of the industry.

With plans to recruit new apprentices in the future, this is only the start of Made For Trade’s commitment to developing a workforce skilled for the future.

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