women-in-fenestration

WFN heads to the Glazing Summit with launch of WFN Allies

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:27:04 GMT

WFN heads to the Glazing Summit with launch of WFN Allies

The Women in Fenestration Network will be at this year’s Glazing Summit , where we’ll also officially launch the next development for the network, WFN Allies .

From the beginning, WFN has been about creating opportunities for women across the fenestration industry to connect, develop and progress. But creating meaningful change isn’t something women can, or should, do alone.

That’s why we’re launching WFN Allies , an initiative designed to encourage men across the industry to actively support the development, progression and visibility of women within their businesses and the wider sector.

Being an ally isn’t about speaking on behalf of women. It’s about listening, advocating, opening doors, challenging barriers and recognising the role we can all play in creating a more inclusive industry where talent has the opportunity to thrive.

The Glazing Summit provides the perfect platform to start that conversation, bringing together leaders and professionals from across the fenestration and glazing sector.

Sioned Yates, WFN Co-founder, said:

“WFN was created to give women greater opportunities to connect, learn and develop, but if we genuinely want to make a difference across the industry, men need to be part of that conversation too.

“There are already some fantastic men in our industry who mentor, advocate for and create opportunities for women. WFN Allies is about recognising that and encouraging more people to think about the part they can play.”

The launch of WFN Allies marks another step in the development of the network, alongside WFN’s mentoring programme, professional development events, Lunch & Learn sessions, Industry Inside programme and WFN Conversations podcast.

If you’re attending the Glazing Summit, come and meet us, find out more about WFN and be among the first to learn how you can become a WFN Ally.

More Than Just Fitting a Window

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:45:06 GMT

More Than Just Fitting a Window

Women from across the fenestration industry got hands-on with window installation as part of the latest WFN training day with Building Our Skills.

The Women in Fenestration Network recently brought together a group of women from across the industry for a practical training day with Building Our Skills, led by Mark Handley.

Designed to give attendees a better understanding of what happens on site, the session took the group through the complete process of removing and replacing a window, from safely de-glazing and removing the existing frame to measuring, preparing and fitting the new installation.

For some, it was the first time they had experienced the installation process first-hand.

Jemma Brooks, Head of Product Management at MACO Door and Window Hardware, joined the session and later shared her experience with Glass News.

She said one of the biggest things she noticed throughout the day was how quickly confidence developed as everyone got involved.

“There was no judgement, no pressure and no expectation that anyone should know all the answers. Instead, there was collaboration, encouragement and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.”

But the day was about much more than learning how to fit a window.

Working together in small groups gave attendees the opportunity to ask questions, share their own experiences and build relationships with women working in different areas of the fenestration industry.

For Jemma, the benefits went far beyond technical knowledge.

“While technical skills are essential, days like this highlight the benefits that can't be measured so easily: confidence, connection and belonging.”

That is exactly what WFN's training and development programme is designed to achieve.

By giving women access to different parts of the industry and opportunities to learn in a supportive environment, WFN aims to help members broaden their knowledge, build confidence and develop stronger connections across the sector.

Jemma added:

“Fenestration has always been a people-driven industry. The products and innovations are important, but it is the people behind them who drive progress. By investing in learning, collaboration and confidence, we are investing in the future of our industry.”

And perhaps the best summary of the day came from Jemma herself:

“We arrived to learn how to fit a window. We left with new skills, new connections and a renewed confidence in what we can achieve.”

A huge thank you to Mark Handley and Building Our Skills for supporting WFN and creating such a welcoming environment for the day, and to Jemma for sharing her experience.

WFN hosts first Lunch & Learn at the GGF

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:25:38 GMT

WFN hosts first Lunch & Learn at the GGF

The Women in Fenestration Network has held its first Lunch & Learn , bringing women from across the fenestration industry together for an afternoon of learning, networking and conversation.

Hosted at the GGF Head Office in London on 22 September , the first session focused on Confidence & Imposter Syndrome and was delivered by Charlotte Haslam of Charlotte Haslam Coaching.

The interactive workshop explored why imposter syndrome happens, the impact it can have on confidence and decision-making and practical ways to recognise and manage it.

Alongside the workshop, the event provided plenty of time for attendees to meet, share experiences and build new connections with women working across different areas of the industry.

Sioned Yates, WFN Co-founder, said:

“It was fantastic to see our first Lunch & Learn come to life and to have a room full of women openly sharing experiences, learning from each other and making new connections.

“We wanted the Lunch & Learn programme to provide practical development alongside the opportunity to build relationships across the industry and this first session did exactly that.

“A huge thank you to Charlotte for delivering such an engaging session, to the GGF for hosting us and to everyone who came along and supported our first event.”

The Lunch & Learn programme forms part of WFN's wider programme of professional development opportunities for members, alongside the WFN Mentoring Programme, Industry Inside series and WFN Conversations podcast .

Further Lunch & Learn sessions will follow, covering topics designed to support women at different stages of their careers and provide practical skills, knowledge and opportunities to connect.

Keep an eye on the WFN Events page for details of upcoming sessions and events.