Ventrolla welcomes MP Tom Gordon to its HQ

Ventrolla welcomed Tom Gordon, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough, to its headquarters for a visit focused on heritage craftsmanship, business growth and key challenges impacting the industry and region.

The visit began with a guided tour of Ventrolla’s workshop facility, offering Tom a behind-the-scenes look at the full process of heritage window restoration and manufacture.

This included the draught-proofing technology, the Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS), and the Sash Removal System (SRS), which is said to make ongoing maintenance safer, easier and less disruptive.

The tour involved conversations with key members of the team, including Will Garnett who has been through the apprenticeship programme and is now a fully trained bench joiner and craftsman, and supports other apprentices.

A short presentation and discussion followed the tour, outlining Ventrolla’s growth and brand journey to date, and vitally opening an opportunity to discuss several key issues currently facing the sector.

The key discussion was the current apprenticeship reforms, which risk weakening and endangering the sector. The proposed reduction in assessment, from demonstrating 100% of the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours to just 30-40% is a dilution of the process, not an improvement.

It is also said to be a concern that excluding behaviours from the formal assessment process and removing meaningful employer input from End Point Assessment development, creates a system misaligned with the realities of the workplace and the needs of the apprentice.

Mark Flanagan, Managing Director of Ventrolla, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Tom Gordon to our Harrogate headquarters and showcase the craftsmanship that goes into our work. The main reason for the visit was to address the looming apprenticeship reforms, something that is deeply concerning. The proposed changes risk weakening a system that underpins confidence, quality and safety across our sector, which runs counter to the Government’s ambition for growth.

“We have several apprentices with us at the moment, and providing the training is something we are passionate about continuing. Ensuring the correct assessments and competency levels is vital for companies like ours, working with life safety critical machinery.”

Tom Gordon MP added: “It was a pleasure to visit Ventrolla and see first-hand the levels of care and craftsmanship that goes into every single piece of restoration work. It was also great to learn more about the apprenticeship reforms, and how drastically this could impact the industry.

“It’s vitally important we ensure urgent action is taken to ensure the industry has a say in the mandatory standards for compliance.”

The visit comes just weeks before Ventrolla hosts its third heritage focused roundtable, bringing together leading voices from the industry to discuss key issues and drive change through practical solutions.

For more information about Ventrolla, visit:Timber Sash & Heritage Window Restoration | Ventrolla