Seven employees from IronmongeryDirect have achieved a Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) qualification in architectural hardware, the ironmongery supplier based in Basildon has said.
The achievement will enable the staff to provide customers with a more effective service, their employer says.
The staff, drawn from IronmongeryDirect’s customer service, marketing and purchasing departments, obtained their certificate from the GAI after completing a course that included modules on areas such as law, finance and industry regulations.
The seven employees passed their final exam, held in London, on 18 June.
The course equips participants with professional industry knowledge and skills, including everything they need to know about the vast range of ironmongery products on the market, from how they are made to how they are used.
Customers to the company’s stores can be assured that they are receiving advice from a qualified ironmonger as a result of the achievement, it says.
Since the course was launched in 2007, 27 employees from IronmongeryDirect have gained the certificate, bringing the total number of qualified staff to 34.
Wayne Lysaght-Mason, managing director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “We are extremely proud of all our employees who have taken part in the course and have gained the certificate in architectural hardware.
“They have all worked very hard to complete their studies in their own personal time and we have seen an impressive amount of dedication to improving their skill set since starting the course. It is an exceptional achievement and they should all be very proud of themselves too.
“All of our employees who have undertaken the course have demonstrated better engagement, improved communication and understanding of the product range.
“They are now highly skilled to market and sell our ironmongery products and help us to provide the very best service for our customers, further supporting our position as ‘masters of our trade’,” he added.
