Ultraframe has hosted a training event at Colchester United Football Club for over 50 customers, focusing on industry insight and new products, plus detailed installation/transportation advice and techniques.

 

The company is renowned for its Clitheroe-based Training School, which has educated many 1000’s of fabricators and installers over the years, but recognises that a two-day trip ‘up North’ is not always viable for Southern-based customers.

 

This is the third of the Colchester-based events to take place over recent months and such is the popularity of the courses, that there is already a waiting-list in place for the next one.

 

While organised and run by Ultraframe, the courses are very much a two-way exchange, with the company keen to work as one team and gather information about the challenges faced by its customers in the field.

 

Jane Blanchard, Ultraframe Area Sales Manager for the South East has been the driving force behind the recent courses and explained more about the aims of the sessions. Jane said: “My personal view is that we should all put aside time for training. There is a large requirement for industry insight, not just product training and it’s important to ensure that our customers are well equipped. On the flip side of this, we can also learn a huge amount from our customers about the issues they face out in the market on a day-to-day basis, and we can only do this by working like this, in close partnership. The Ultraframe product offering is expanding and being enhanced all the time and so requires a high level of knowledge and skill to fully maximise the opportunities. How can a business plan to grow if their staff do not fully understand the products? If they lack confidence they either won’t sell or will struggle to be successful which is bad news for everyone. Ideally we would all like customers to visit our fantastic facility in Clitheroe but in practice customers in my area would have to take 2 days out of their business and costs incurred can be off-putting. So we decided to bring the training to them.”

 

 

Each of the events to date has been over-subscribed, showing the value placed on the training by Ultraframe customers. Lasting a maximum of 3 hours, to ensure minimum disruption to the working day of attendees, the format is very hands on, with well known Ultraframe Training Manager, Phil Wharf inviting attendees to get involved and see the products up-close.  

 

Jane continued: “It’s an amazing feeling when you see the confidence a customer gains in this short time – it’s so rewarding. By keeping the sessions informal we encourage participation, questions, comments and ideas. This workshop format has proved to be hugely popular, with all attendees feeling confident enough to get involved and come away feeling they have really learnt something that will benefit their business. We have received fantastic feedback from attendees, including companies who have recently started using Ultraframe products, with several saying that this kind of training has given them just the focus they need to really develop the conservatory side of their businesses.”

 

The support doesn’t end with the training session though, as Jane then follows up with attendees at their own premises, so they can plan together for how they can put their new knowledge to best use.

 

The next training sessions already have around 30 attendees signed up. Jane concluded: “The popularity of these training courses is fantastic to see. There is so much support available to Ultraframe customers and it’s great that so many companies are taking advantage of this. Having a waiting list for events because we can’t fit anymore in is a nice problem to have - it shows the drive for success and the appetite for knowledge of our customers and we are more than happy to help them with both of these and more.”

 

To find out more about Ultraframe’s training courses, call 01200 443311 and ask for Phil Wharf, visit the Customer Hub on www.trade.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk or email marketing@ultraframe.co.uk

 

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