A Day in the Life: Dave Tiller, Technical Manager 

Welcome to the next edition of Ventrolla’s ‘A Day in the Life’ series, where we speak to different members of the team, reflecting on their career so far, where they see Ventrolla going over the next 12 months and some insight into what they enjoy outside of work. 

How did you get started in the heritage window industry? 

Originally, I left school and started a mechanical and design engineering apprenticeship aged 16 and then fell into the fenestration industry after completing the course. The area I lived in was quite close to Heathrow airport, and secondary glazing was a big thing, so I joined a company specialising in the manufacture and installation of secondary glazing and aluminium replacement windows and began my journey. I’ve been in the industry for around 44 years, and it’s taken me all over Europe and even further afield to the likes of Hong Kong & China. It’s been a very varied career, mainly on the design and technical side, and I now feel that I want to give back to the industry that has given me so much, which is why I place a lot of focus on training, skills development and CPD’s. 

What does a typical day look like for you right now? 

A typical day for me at Ventrolla really depends on the work that’s scheduled. It could involve travelling to various places up and down the country, conducting commercial or residential surveys to assess work opportunities, some days could even include pre-start and site meetings for contracts we’ve won, or meeting and discussing work details with clients and customers. On the days I’m in the office, I focus more on training programmes with colleagues and CPD’s, making sure our skill matrix is up to date and the right training is in place, even on occasions working with colleges to visit and talk to the young apprentices. My job varies quite a lot really, which is why I like it so much. It keeps things interesting and I visit some truly remarkable places. 

How do you run the various continuous professional development (CPD) training courses? 

The company rolls out a lot of CPD’s to architect’s practices across the country that are approved by the Royal British Institute of Architects, which usually take place over lunchtimes and lasts for approximately 1 hour. Aside from architects, Ventrolla are doing a lot more of these types of talks with colleges. They want us to go in and give an overview of our approach to restoration and renovation, and the different facets available in the fenestration industry. It’s nice to know that we can give back, especially as there is a shortfall of skills in the general building industries. What we are seeing as a company is the struggle to find and employ the people with the skill sets needed for restoration and renovation of windows and doors in older buildings. This seems to be a big general problem across the industry, as there is a real lack in the skill sets required to build the houses needed in the timescales set by government. We are working to add extra value to the courses and training at colleges to help attract new talent. 

What have you learnt since being at Ventrolla? 

Since joining Ventrolla 17 years ago, I’ve learnt a great deal about both historic residential and commercial properties, as well as the technical side of the industry. Over the years I’ve seen a lot of changes, particularly with the growing focus on restoring historic windows and properties. At Ventrolla, we place a lot of value into trying to restore windows where we can or at least retrofit them to improve efficiencies within the property. With the Government pushing for net zero 2050 there’s a big focus on improving EPC ratings, and I’ve learnt how challenging it can be to balance conservation efforts with sustainability goals. In England we have a huge number of properties built prior to 1944 (around 4-in-10 homes according to the Resolution Foundation), and a lot of those will still have the original wooden windows installed. With 400,000 listed properties and 2.9million homes in conservation areas in England alone So, we have a high number of properties that are having to achieve the targets being set but also being told that they cannot make the changes needed because of planning issues. I really feel everyone needs to get together and agree on some solutions for the sake of these heritage buildings before the situation becomes unachievable. 

What do you enjoy most about working at Ventrolla, and what excites you about the business’s future? 

I really enjoy the opportunities Ventrolla creates in supporting training for the next generation. It’s incredibly rewarding to see younger colleagues engage and develop their skills, especially when they really take ownership of their learning and career progression. It can be very daunting when you’re first starting out, so being able to support them is something I take great pride in. 

I also love the variety of my job – whether that’s working on historic buildings or tackling technical challenges. Seeing the craftsmanship involved in restoring heritage properties and knowing that we are helping preserve history is something I find really exciting and rewarding. Even at this stage in my career I still find myself waking up and looking forward to the day ahead because I genuinely love what I do! 

When looking towards the future, I’m excited about the innovations in our industry, especially as we work towards achieving net zero 2050. There’s a real opportunity to make a difference in preserving historic buildings while improving energy efficiency. Seeing new products and solutions being developed, and working with local councils to find practical, sympathetic ways to meet sustainability goals is something I find incredibly motivating. 

What kind of changes do you see happening within the industry, over the next 12 to 18 months?  

I think, over the next 12 to 18 months, I see the industry continuing to move towards greater energy efficiency, particularly in response to the government’s push for net zero 2050. Some councils are starting to take a more proactive approach in looking at how we can future-proof historic buildings while still maintaining character.  

There also seems to be discussions around the standardisation of regulations in some areas, with councils, conservation officers, building inspectors and the like coming together to create a common-sense approach. There will always be some difficulty with some people sticking to the traditional ways, but an aligned approach is needed to allow for sympathetic improvements to properties that respect the history whilst making way for energy-efficiency. 

I can also see a growing recognition for the skills gap in the industry. There’s been a real lack of investment in traditional trades like fenestration for years, but I think more and more companies, Ventrolla included, are starting to focus more on training and apprenticeships. If we can encourage more young people into the industry and pass on the right skills, that will definitely be a positive change for the future. 

What is your biggest career achievement, or standout moment, to date? 

That’s a difficult one! I don’t think I have one huge standout achievement, but it’s more so how I’ve been able to engage the younger generations through training and CPDs. We have some great matrixes set up to drive forward training and give ownership to different people, it really allows them to take different elements of projects forward. There’s a real sense of collaboration throughout the business at the moment and it’s wonderful to see. I’ve never been one for accolades, I’d much rather see some benefit of what I’ve done or set in place, and the positive ripples that has. 

There’s a lot of positive memories around the people I’ve met, places I’ve been and important buildings I’ve worked on, all thanks to this industry. I strongly believe that our heritage is something we need to keep hold of, because once we have lost it, we’re never going to get it back. It’s reassuring to see owners becoming custodians of the properties they own, understanding the responsibility they have to respect the building itself. 

Aside from Ventrolla and the overall industry, what else interests you?  

I really like to play golf when I get a chance – although I do it quite badly. I’m definitely more of a social golfer, I get a lot of enjoyment from it and the people I meet, it’s lovely to be walking around outside but I’m never going to make it onto TV! I also have a Springer Spaniel that keeps me active, we have plenty of  fields surrounding us, so my wife and I do a lot of walking. He’s a white and liver Springer, so he gets absolutely filthy but to see him wagging his tail and enjoying life is just lovely. There’s nothing better than breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the views. I also spend a lot of time outside of work with my family too which is something I really treasure and respect.