New generation of ironmongers celebrate GAI qualification

28 Sep 2018

The latest generation of architectural ironmongers has been celebrating its achievements this week as it received its Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) education results.

The Guild has been offering its education, qualification and CPD programme since 1961, and it continues to grow overseas with 49% of learners based outside the UK. So far this year, 102 students have attained the Certificate in Architectural Hardware and 32 students have now completed the GAI Diploma.

Rachel Tipton, manager of the GAI education programme, commets: “It’s the only recognised programme in the world that leads to a qualification in architectural ironmongery to British and European standards, and with over 60 of these standards to get to grips with, gaining this qualification is something that all our students should be incredibly proud of.”

The core of the education portfolio is separated into two qualifications. The Certificate in Architectural Hardware (CiAH) consists of two stages with 24 education modules covering everything an architectural ironmonger is required to know, supported with eight block assessments to test the students’ understanding. Once learners have gained their CiAH, they can continue their studies to achieve the GAI Diploma.

The diploma focuses on the skills and learning needed for scheduling the architectural ironmongery, electric hardware and key control for a project, and is of particular importance to those architectural ironmongers working on projects being built to UK and European standards across the globe. Once they have completed the diploma, they become a DipGAI, an industry recognised symbol of professionalism.

The 2018/19 education programme prospectus has been published on the GAI website, outlining the qualifications, course content and training support available – you can view it here. Enrolments are now open until 31st December 2018.

Visit the GAI website