Raising The Skills Bar

According to FENSA, the glazing industry is changing and the bar for what a professional installer looks like and what they can demonstrate, has never been higher.

“It is against this backdrop that Mandatory Technical Competence should be understood”, said Sam Davies. “Not as a burden imposed from above but as a framework that gives installers the tools to meet a market that is already moving in this direction.”

Davies is the well-known technical manager at FENSA.

He added: “Across the UK, homeowners are starting conversations with installers better informed than ever before. They have researched products, compared specifications, read reviews and, increasingly, consulted AI tools that make regulatory guidance more accessible than at any point in history. They want the reassurance they will employ competent installers.”

http://www.forms.fensa.org.uk/about-fensa-skills-cardMinimum to mandatory

The shift from Minimum to Mandatory Technical Competence (MTC), which was introduced under the Building Safety Regulator, represents one of the most significant regulatory developments in the glazing sector for more than a decade.

At its core, the updated framework requires every surveyor and installer responsible for building regulation compliance to hold current, verifiable evidence of their technical knowledge and professional competence.

Winning more work

Davies said: “Early on, a lot of installers heard ‘mandatory’ and assumed it meant more pressure, more paperwork, more cost. But what we’re seeing is the installers who have got ahead of it are the ones winning more work, building stronger reputations and standing out in a market where homeowners are more discerning than ever.”

Getting your MTC

MTC is evidenced based. That evidence is assessed against four key factors, known collectively as SKEB: Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours.

Skills refers to the practical ability to carry out installations correctly and to the required standard.

Knowledge covers a current understanding of building regulations, product standards, and technical requirements.

Experience reflects the real-world application of that knowledge across a range of situations and challenges.

Behaviours speaks to the professionalism and mindset an installer brings to the role; showing a consistent commitment to quality, safety and doing the right thing.

A way to prove skills

Davies said: These are not abstract categories. They are practical, assessable criteria designed to reflect what a genuinely capable installer looks like in the real world.

“MTC isn’t just about ticking a box. The four factors are designed to reflect what genuine competence looks like in practice. And, when you break it down like that, most experienced installers realise they’re already doing the right things. MTC gives them a way to prove it.

“Homeowners are doing their research before they even pick up the phone. An installer who can demonstrate current, verifiable competence isn’t just ticking a regulatory box, they’re ahead of the game.”

There are two established routes to achieving MTC compliance:

The FENSA Skills Card offers a straightforward path for experienced installers, verified through on-site assessment by an independent assessor, typically within a two-week period.

For those seeking a more formal academic pathway, an NVQ qualification in Fenestration Installation or Surveying often completed over 12 to 18 months.

Under the updated rules, qualifications must have been achieved or renewed within the last five years – historical credentials, however credible at the time, no longer satisfy the current requirements.

“Compliance has always been good practice,” Davies concluded. “What’s changed is that it’s now clearly good business too.”

Picture: Window installers need to be certified for Mandatory Technical Competence because it’s the law and because consumers are looking for reassurance that their job will be of the highest quality.

www.forms.fensa.org.uk/about-fensa-skills-card