Sustaining Stained Glass

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Absolute Training Solutions has contributed to the successful restoration of historic stained glass panels at the Grade I listed Manchester Town Hall by supporting employees through NVQ attainment.

The employees work for Recclesia Stained Glass which specialises in restoration. Absolute Training Solutions has a training centre that runs courses that will arrive at GQA qualifications. GQA is recognised as the awarding body of choice for qualifications related to the glass and windows business.

Grade 1 listed buildings, which are incredibly rare in the UK, are those deemed to be of exceptional national, architectural or historical significance. The achievement of the NVQs was funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, working in partnership with the European Social Fund.

 

Recclesia

Recclesia Stained Glass specialises in the conservation and repair of historic and listed buildings, churches, ancient sites and ruins – including the design and creation of new stained glass and leaded lights, and the conservation and creation of associated metalwork, protection and environmentally sympathetic glazing.

 

Manchester Town Hall

This project involved the removal, restoration and installation of the glass in the Great Hall at the Town Hall building, which is undergoing a major four-year refurbishment programme. The employees of Recclesia required a recognised NVQ qualification to fulfil contractual obligations.

 

Pandemic training

Constant changes in the national Covid-19 response guidance meant virtual communications played a huge role in the learners’ development including progression reviews and teaching and learning activities.

 

 “We are one of the few conservation companies in the UK that continues to maintain a full in-house staff of conservators and traditionally skilled craftsmen and women. This is one of the main reasons we are chosen to work on some of the UK's most iconic buildings.”

– Katherine Walton 

Senior stained glass conservator, Recclesia

 

More to come

“Our staff have benefited immensely from using resources both online and in hard copy form when needed, including our glazier who took great confidence from the onsite assessments, developing his skills and knowledge,” continues Recclesia’s Walton. “These qualifications will give the company the opportunity to access more projects in the future as more of our staff are now multi-skilled with a recognised qualification. The company has benefited greatly from our staff gaining new skill levels."

 

 

The Absolute truth

Roy Pusey the Absolute Training Solutions’ scheme tutor says: “I was very impressed with the quality of the work produced by all the employees at Recclesia. The work currently being carried out on the Manchester Town Hall contract is of an extremely high standard and all staff have shown that they have the skills and the knowledge to meet their contractual obligations.

"I am also delighted to say that Recclesia have now employed two new members of staff who are now working to the same ESF SSW qualification in Glass Processing.”

 

GQA Qualifications

Speaking for GQA the awarding body who write the qualifications taken by the team at Recclesia, CEO Mick Clayton said: “It is great to hear that what you might call traditional skills are still alive and well and that there are people who want to learn them and carry on the traditions.

“It is always great news when those people understand the value of qualifications as a way of further developing their knowledge, their skills and their careers, The project they are currently working on is a real landmark and something they will always be able to look back on with pride.”

Picture: The Manchester Town Hall restoration project.

www.gqaqualifications.com

 

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
27th May 2022

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