The training game

At a recent gathering of some of the movers and shakers in the timber industry, the thorny issue of training the next generation of timber professionals once again raised its head.

Today, construction accounts for 10% of private sector employment in the UK – it’s bigger than retail. As an industry, we should be pulling together and speaking to the government about training.

If we don’t, we simply won’t be providing the next generation of workers with the right skill sets to enter the biggest employing industry.

My feelings are simple: we could (or should) suggest to government that we close courses in subject areas where there are too many of the same and re-open courses in practical areas like timber joinery – where courses are severely depleted due to recent policy and funding strategies for this sector.

It seems as if the further education sector is pursuing education in a quasi-business way: the more popular a subject, the more courses they seem to run as they can virtually guarantee ‘bums on seats’.

For certain courses the sums don’t look very good – practical courses like carpentry/ joinery etc. Type any of these into Google and you won’t find many in your local area. So how are we going to train the wood workers of tomorrow? It’s catch 22.

There are a certain percentage of children who learn with their hands.

These tactile learners learn through touch and are an incredible resource for the woodworking industry. In this ever-increasing move to a digital age, there’s a feeling that we only need people with digital minds. But actually we want people who can use their hands first and design in that way, before moving on to the computer-aided design systems.

I’d like to see a wood workshop in every secondary school and FE college in the country. I want to see the provision of this type of training not because it makes financial sense but because it’s what the economy needs and because a certain percentage of children growing up learn in this way.

Just think how this could increase the number of people coming out of school with this type of hands on learning.

TRADA is running a session at Timber Expo on exactly this topic. The theme is titled: ‘Are we really planning on recruiting the current generation of school leavers?’ My feelings would be - if we’re not, then why not? There has to be a choice that is appropriate for the business sectors that want to recruit people and for all the skill and learning types of children.

This should be the starting point for further education rather than a quasi-business solution couched around choice.

Every year, TRADA runs competitions with students around the country through its University Engagement Programme.

These are living proof that once students get their hands on timber their learning and engagement is massively increased.

You don’t have to agree but why not join the debate? Come to Timber Expo and the seminar events and find out about the topic and give your opinion - help find the timber workers of tomorrow.