NWTTA calls for timber jobs promotion

The North West Timber Trade Association (NWTTA) has called on the timber industry to do more to promote itself to careers advisers and teachers in order to recruit "the right calibre of people".

BSW recently held a careers advisers event at its Carlisle sawmill, which attracted teachers and advisers with influence over 6,000 potential employees in the area.

The pan-industry event saw BSW employees detailing its role as a local employer, with specialists from across the timber trade, including Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis from Napier University, Michael Donaldson of Donaldson Timber Engineering, Peter Fox from the Forestry Commission and David Elliot of the Institute of Carpenters, also addressing attendees.

As well as being the latest event staged on behalf of The Timber Trade Federation's Education, Training and Careers committee, it served as a trial for future events staged by NWTTA members.

"It's difficult for everyone in the trade to recruit the right calibre of people largely because, as the careers advisers reaffirmed to us, our sector is still invisible to information, advice and guidance professionals," said Andrew Masterman of BSW, which organised the event.

"But we need to take the first step, and the trade needs more companies to come forward and hold similar events in their local area."

The TTF ETC said it hoped future NWTTA-member events would take place in Liverpool or Manchester areas.