Future’s Clear For Essex’s First Automotive Glazing Apprentice

Feb. 22, 2010 - PRLog -- In a bid to recruit high calibre trainees into the automotive glazing sector, to learn about the rapid advances in ‘smart glass’, seventeen year old Bradley Rosewell, from South Woodham Ferrers, is the first recruit onto the new programme, which is being managed by the Independent Windscreen Academy (IWA), also based in the town, in association with Essex Apprentices.

Bradley is employed by IWA’s sister company, Essex Glass and Windscreens, owned by husband and wife team, Leon and Maria Charlton from Chelmsford, who’ve been in the business for over 15 years. He is the first to fill one of 30 new Apprenticeship vacancies being offered to employers in the area with a starting salary of £95 per week during the training, which takes one year.

Speaking about his new role, Bradley Rosewell said:

“I’m really enjoying the experience so far. I’d looked at other skilled trades but they weren’t for me. Automotive glazing is so important in modern cars that I wanted to learn more about it, so it will be an exciting challenge.”

Formerly a lecturer in health and fitness, 37 year-old mother of two, Maria Charlton, used her education and training background to establish the Independent Windscreen Academy in 2008. It’s the only organisation of its kind in the UK, offering skills development and industry accreditation to the nation’s estimated 700 independent auto glazing firms.

In such a male dominated sector, Mrs Charlton’s work has also earned her national recognition as a finalist in the 2010 ‘Women on their Way’ Awards, organised by entrepreneur and former contestant on TV’s ‘The Apprentice’, Jo Cameron. The event is being held in Birmingham on 19 March.

Commented Maria Charlton, Director, IWA:

“Automotive glazing requires an extremely complex set of skills and an increasingly broad knowledge of how new windscreens work and interact with the rest of the vehicle. There’s a real need for new blood in the industry and this Apprenticeship is a great step forward in providing an exciting career. Of course, we’d welcome dynamic female recruits with open arms.”

Ends


Notes to Editors:

* ‘Smart glass’ is an evolution of the traditional windscreen, now incorporating solar reflective coatings, rain and light sensors, heated filaments and enabling Head-Up Display of driver information.


For further information about the Independent Windscreen Academy, visit www.iwa.gb.com

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Offering a tailored proposition to the estimated 700 independent businesses in the UK involved in the repair and replacement of vehicle glass, including cars, vans and trucks, IWA’s experienced team of trainers and assessors provide technical training courses, national qualifications and specialist industry accreditation, as well as information related to new processes, materials and legislation.

Based in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, the Independent Windscreen Academy is owned and managed by Maria Charlton who has worked in the windscreen market for over fifteen years. Maria’s husband, Leon Charlton, runs Essex Glass and Windscreens, which was founded in 2000. Between them, the two companies employ 10 staff.