UK timber training urgently needs industry buy-in

These were key statements that followed a meeting of the Wood Industry Training Board (WITB), the group of timber sector representatives that has worked with skills agency Proskills to develop the sector’s new qualifications and supporting training provision.

“The meeting reviewed the progress the WITB has made to date, going back to the 2007 Norton House group initiative which reviewed opportunities for cross-industry collaboration and identified training as a key area,” said Timber Trade Federation chief executive John White. “What has evolved is a range of NVQs tailor-made to meet our needs. Provided companies take advantage, it gives us a huge opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge of our industry.”

Together with awarding body PiABC and a Qualifications Reform Group of industry representatives, Proskills has now developed 12 timber sector NVQ2s, with three so far also available as SVQs. Topics range from timber merchanting, to tooling technologies and wood preserving.

“Nine more NVQs are in process and we’re developing NVQ3s too,” said Lisa Williamson, Proskills’ wood industry apprenticeship and qualifications development manager. “In addition, we now have nationwide training delivery through DIDAC and four other providers.”

Grant support can currently cover up to 100% of the cost of the training. But Ms Williamson warned that the government could withdraw it if the sector didn’t hit the threshold of 100 candidates per NVQ per year.

“It’s a case of use it or lose it,” she said. “And with it the industry could lose the opportunity to develop its skills levels, which ultimately feed through to competitiveness and the bottom line.”

To date, she added, around 200 people have signed up to take the qualifications.

To raise more interest and awareness and encourage involvement with the WITB a new poster is being distributed and NVQ case studies are being posted on the National Skills Academy website (http://woodskillsacademy.co.uk).

WITB chair Rowena McBlain has also invited Travis Perkins, Jewson and Grafton Group to a meeting to discuss participation.

“There’s a real opportunity for timber industry training to take off and be recognised, and it would be a huge support to have the big three involved,” she said.

Keith Fryer, WITB member and co-director of merchant T Brewer & Co, said the UK timber sector had “never had anything quite like this sort of training before”.

“We’re putting eight people through the merchanting NVQ,” he said. “It’s great, so specific to our requirements and just what the industry needs.”

MakeIT! Wood tops 1,000 pupils

Proskills’ MakeIT! Wood initiative to teach children about the timber sector and encourage them to consider a career in it has now reached more than 1000 pupils nationwide.

The programme, part of the Schools into Industry scheme, provides curriculum material to teachers, and encourages local timber businesses to get involved to provide advice and additional technical information. Proskills sees it as complementary to its industry training activities.

So far MakeIT! Wood material has been distributed to 44 schools, reaching 1,119 pupils.

MakeIT! Wood is a nationwide education initiative that has been teaching students about the wood 1,119 pupils from 44 Schools since 2010.

The children are also asked to produce a timber structure or product for the annual MakeIT! Wood competition.