the fenestration sector can be. “Before joining the industry, my only knowledge of the fenestration industry came from White Gold!” he added. “In reality, there’s a great mix of creativity, engineering, digital tools and collaboration across international teams. It’s not a static or boring industry at all.” During the graduate scheme, Dan was supported through structured training, including opportunities to visit facilities overseas. He spent time in Germany, as well as visits to sites in Poland and Mexico with his graduate cohort, helping him build technical understanding while forming strong relationships across the wider REHAU business. “Seeing how products are made, meeting people across the organisation and understanding different markets makes a huge difference,” said Dan. “It gives you a much broader perspective and helps you develop confidence quickly.” REHAU believes the industry must be more proactive in promoting itself to students and career-changers. The company offers process and engineering roles to apprentices at its plant in Blaenau Ffestiniog and recycling facility in Runcorn. Since 2024, it has partnered with Building our Skills which is doing vital work to try and address
the skills gap in the industry. Initiatives like these, as well as greater engagement at job fairs, stronger links with educational institutions, and clearer messaging around what a career in the fenestration industry looks like could all help shift perceptions. “There’s a tendency to undersell ourselves - fenestration is innovative, resilient and full of opportunity for people who want to build meaningful, technical careers”, Martin concluded. “We need to be more vocal about that if we want to secure the skills our industry depends on.” For more information, please visit Careers at REHAU
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