I started work many years ago, although I will leave you to guess exactly how many! What I will say is that I became the very first Commercial Apprentice at Josiah Parkes, better known to many as Union Locks, based in Willenhall in the West Midlands. At that time, Willenhall was regarded as the heart of the locks and hardware world, employing more than 6,000 people across the town and surrounding area. Looking back now, it feels like I entered the industry during a completely different era, yet even then there was a sense of pride, craftsmanship, and community that stayed with me throughout my career.
Fast forward to 2008 and I found myself preparing for retirement for the very first time. Strangely enough, I was still working in Willenhall, in the very same building where I had started all those years before. Of course, a huge amount had happened in between. Parkes had been taken over by Chubb. Chubb later became part of Racal Electronics, famous for launching Vodafone, before becoming a separate PLC listed on the stock exchange. Then Williams Holdings, who already owned Yale, acquired the Chubb lock division, and eventually in 2000, the business became part of the ASSA ABLOY Group. It was quite a journey and certainly never dull.
After so many happy years in the lock industry, I genuinely thought retirement had finally arrived. As it turned out, retirement lasted only a few weeks. I quickly realised I still wanted a new challenge, and that challenge came in the form of becoming Executive Chairman of the Door & Hardware Federation.
Looking back on my time at DHF, there are several achievements that have given me enormous satisfaction, but training has to come first. In 2013, DHF introduced its very first training course covering automated gates and traffic barriers. At the time, we had no real idea what demand would look like, but it very quickly became clear that there was a significant need across the industry. The response was so strong that DHF appointed its first full-time Training and Compliance Officer. Encouraged by this success, further training programmes were introduced covering industrial doors and garage doors. Working alongside BRE, DHF also launched training courses focused on fire door installation and maintenance.
Today, DHF offers nine training courses and has welcomed nearly 7,000 learners. That growth is something I am particularly proud of because training and competency are absolutely essential for the future of our industry. Importantly, we have never stood still. DHF continues to develop new programmes to meet the changing needs of members and the wider sector. In the coming weeks, we will launch the new Building Hardware Training Programme, which is the biggest project DHF has ever undertaken in terms of both time and investment.
What makes the programme especially valuable is its flexibility. Companies can select training modules specifically suited to their employees and business activities. For example, if a company specialises in padlocks, there is a dedicated module focused solely on padlocks. Altogether there are twelve individual product modules, creating a truly tailored learning experience.
Another source of great pride has been the growth of DHF’s membership. Today, DHF represents six product groups and has more than 600 members. All areas have grown steadily, but the expansion within the automated gate and industrial door sectors has been especially significant, with 380 and 356 members participating in those groups respectively. Without doubt, part of this growth reflects companies recognising the value of access to high quality training and guidance at reduced member rates.
DHF has also continued to play a major role in supporting industry standards and developing its own Technical Specifications. This commitment stretches back many decades. In fact, DHF was instrumental in creating the well-known BS 3621 thief resistant standard for single point locks during the early 1960s, a standard still widely recognised today. More recently, DHF introduced TS 007, which addresses anti-snap protection for lock cylinders. Work is also nearing completion on a new Technical Specification for key safes.
As I prepare to step away, naturally my thoughts also turn to the future. One thing on my wish list is a return to more face-to-face meetings. Teams and Zoom meetings undoubtedly have their place, but I do believe we have become too dependent on them and, in so doing, have lost some of the benefits that come from personal engagement and networking. Another ambition is the creation of a proper apprentice scheme for gate and door installers. DHF has explored this possibility for several years, often encountering dead ends along the way, but there now appears to be a genuine opportunity to make it happen. I sincerely hope the industry can bring it to life.
I would also like to see a greater understanding and use of the Competency Frameworks developed by trade bodies across the sector. These frameworks provide clear pathways for becoming a properly trained and competent professional. The work has been done. Now the challenge is ensuring those pathways are recognised and adopted across the industry. Hopefully this will encourage greater uptake of NVQs, particularly those offered by Entrance Systems Alliance, a company jointly owned by DHF and the Automatic Door Suppliers Association.
As for me, after decades in the industry and many rewarding years at DHF, it is finally time for a new chapter and perhaps the biggest challenge of all deciding what to do with all my free time. It has been such a privilege to work alongside so many talented and dedicated people throughout my career, and I would like to thank everyone who has been part of that journey.
Finally, I must congratulate Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens who is taking over from me as CEO. Patricia has been with DHF for ten years and has played a major role in developing our commercial function involving marketing, membership and training. She works tirelessly for DHF and her promotion is well deserved. I am sure that you will join me in wishing her all the best in her new position.
Best wishes,
Bob Perry
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