Over three events The FIT Show has
given away £30,000 in prize money and many times that value in terms of
bragging rights to the window, door and conservatory industry’s best
installers. The challenges have become tougher – this year’s finals were proclaimed
to set new parameters in terms of sheer physical hard work and required skills
– and the competition sets grander, and now the countdown to the 2017 Master
Fitter Challenge begins.
Next year’s event will take place
for the first time at the world-class National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham,
and is expected to attract thousands more visitors from all over the UK with
many more travelling from overseas. Thus The FIT Show and the Master Fitter
Challenge will greet a huge audience with a brand new competition Pavilion and
six finalists undertaking new challenges.
“The industry has moved on,” said
Mick Clayton, CEO of GQA , who organise the Master Fitter Challenge on behalf
of The FIT Show, “and we have to reflect the products and trends that will face
the market in 2017 and beyond. The skills displayed this year amongst the six
finalists were excellent and it was a master-class in just how windows, doors
and roofs should be installed. We expect even higher skills to be shown at the
NEC.”
For 2017 a number of new challenges
are being considered including aluminium frames, reflecting the continued boom
in sales of aluminium windows, bi-folding and sliding doors, whilst the Master
Fitter Challenge technical team is looking at including a lantern roof to set
the bar higher once again. These are in addition to the regular challenges
including PVC-U windows and composite doors with the full programme to be
announced later in the year.
“The Master Fitter Challenge is more
popular than ever,” said Paul Godwin, for The FIT Show, “and we want more
entrants than ever. The prize money stays at £10,000 but the kudos of adding
the MFC winner’s logo on van-sides and brochures is worth a great deal more.
The passion past winners’ have shown when they collect their trophies has been
fantastic. They are real, committed professionals.”
Entries are being welcomed early to
ensure plenty of time is allowed for the process of qualifying, which includes
in depth interviews and site visits by GQA-MFC assessors, before determining
the final six to compete at the NEC for the title of Master Fitter 2017.
Questions about entry can be
directed to GQA-MFC, at FITenquiries@gqaqualifications.com or telephone 0114 272 0033
The FIT Show takes place in Halls, 6, 7 & 8 at the
National Exhibition Centre (NEC) 23-25 May 2017. For further information go to http://www.fitshow.co.uk