A day in the life

For the past four years, I have been working as an assessor for the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), visiting members to assess whether they are working in compliance with the BWF Code of Conduct. The Code is a set of good business practices, including customer care and health and safety, to which all members must comply as part of the terms of their membership.

No two days are the same because of the wide range of businesses I deal with and the wide variety of business practice standards. I am not there to catch people out: my job is to honestly assess businesses and provide the advice and help they may need to implement documentation and procedures, in line with our Code of Conduct. This may sound dull but my job takes me all around the country, meeting all kinds of people working in the joinery and woodworking industry and there is an enormous satisfaction in helping them to improve their businesses and to receive their thanks and appreciation.

Depending on location and time, I can usually fit in two visits a day. Each visit takes around two-and-a-half hours but can take much longer if a lot of help and advice is needed. Assessors have to be able to “talk the language” of the industry because this inspires confidence and we have to be really flexible in our approach to make sure that the visit is as successful as possible.

Advice and assistance

I can give immediate advice and assistance on compliance with the Code on every topic, from insurance to education and training. I then complete a detailed questionnaire to record all the areas where further help is needed. This goes back to BWF HQ to be followed up and actioned with the member.

The majority of our members welcome the Code and look forward to seeing someone from the BWF because they know that they will get the help they need – they see my visit as a real opportunity to improve their business practices to the benefit of everyone involved.

However, some members can be a bit more resistant and sometimes see my visit as prying into their businesses. I understand why they may feel that way but a bit of tact and understanding goes a long way. A huge amount of satisfaction comes from seeing members who are sceptical at the start of the visit, change completely once they realise that the visit is to help them, not criticise.

It’s usually the small companies that benefit most from my visit. But I also find that the larger companies, which have no difficulty complying with the Code because of well-established corporate procedures, do not consider my visit a waste of time. They are keen to show me what they do and the standards they are achieving, and are very happy to devote the time to my visit.

In my time as a BWF assessor things have certainly changed. Over the years I have encountered some very unusual responses and met some fascinating people. This is in no way a glamorous industry. Many members work from pretty inaccessible premises – down country lanes and in farm buildings – so I always keep a pair of wellies in the back of my car.

At least two members I have visited run an undertakers business as a sideline to their joinery business and one factory I visited was full from floor to ceiling with timber offcuts and samples. This was, apparently, the “never throw anything away policy” which had been running for 30 years. One of my most memorable encounters was with a member who, in response to a question about customer complaints and unpaid bills, gave a simple and uncompromising reply: “This is a small town and we have ways of dealing with people”. Not in line with the Code at all!

Promoting quality

There is no doubt that our Code of Conduct is playing an important role in changing the face of the UK joinery and woodworking industry. Its objective is to promote quality in all things and to encourage our members to achieve the best possible standards of work and business practice.

My visit is only part of the story. Compliance is a continuous process for our members who should always be benchmarking their activities against the requirements of the Code.

I am just a part of the process, but a very important part because I am, quite literally, a face of the BWF and the person who can really help make a difference, particularly with small companies. I see myself as more of a business adviser than an inspector and that’s how I want members to see me.

I do get a real sense of satisfaction knowing that I have helped a business to operate more effectively and more profitably to the benefit of its employees, its future and, ultimately, the industry as a whole.