All aboard appeal for training revolution

Summary
• The Proskills Sector Skills Council is working with the timber sector to create a new industry training framework in 18 months.
• It wants input from timber businesses on qualifications and training needs.
• The new training structure will open access to government funding.

Forty-eight is a significant number for backers of the new training initiative for the UK timber industry. It’s the average age of its employees.

The statistic came up during the first meeting of the Wood Industry Board (WIB), the steering group comprising trade organisations and individual companies, which is working with the Proskills Sector Skills Council (SSC) to develop a national training framework for the industry.

Timber businesses may be attracting some new young talent, the WIB heard, but the fact that their average employee is drifting into middle age shows it’s not enough.

“If something is not done about this, and more people retire, the industry will see its skills and knowledge base erode,” Proskills’ Jackie Bazeley told the meeting at Howarth Timber’s Wakefield branch.

Training structure

A key part of this problem, it was agreed, is the lack of an overall training structure, which gives prospective employees the impression the timber industry does not offer structured careers or recognised qualifications.

“We need a training system and qualifications that are seen to have a wider currency,” said WIB member Keith Fryer of T Brewer & Co. “That would not only appeal to employees, but help employers make value judgements between job candidates based on their qualifications.”

Without a coherent training framework covering the industry from sawmill to merchant shop counter, it was also felt timber would increasingly struggle to compete in an ever more highly specified market place.

“We’re probably 20 years behind steel and concrete here,” said another WIB member.

The Proskills co-ordinated project aims to give the industry the information and tools to tackle these problems head on – and, recognising the urgency of the situation, the plan is to have a training structure in place next year.

The roots of this initiative go back to the 2007 formation of the Norton House Group (NHG), the timber trade body discussion forum. Improving training, it agreed, was the key issue facing timber businesses and an area ripe for cross-sector collaboration. The result was the approach to Proskills to become the timber SSC, a role it officially took up in January.

“We were impressed with their track record with other industries, including furniture,” said John White, chief executive of NHG member The Timber Trade Federation. “And the only investment we’ve had to make was a ‘dowry’ of £20,000. Proskills matched this and the rest of their work for us will be covered by government money.”

Existing training provision

Proskills’ initial task has been to undertake a survey of existing training provision. Based on interviews with 139 companies, this found that 16% of firms in the manufacturing and processing sectors had skills gaps. This was less of a problem for smaller companies, with only 14% of those employing under 25 reporting it as an issue, but the figure rose to 44% of firms with more than 25 staff. And while more than half of the bigger companies had a training plan, that dropped to just 20% for smaller businesses.

The picture was equally patchy on qualifications. About 70% of companies offering off the job training said “at least some of it” led to nationally recognised qualifications. For on the job training, that fell to 51%. The survey found that more wood wholesalers – 62% – have a training plan, but 13% of the total and 33% of larger firms reported skills gaps.

Leading on from this, Proskills and an industry qualification reform group will now develop a timber qualification strategy.

“This involves creating an occupational map, identifying key job roles and qualifications available,” said Ms Bazeley. “We will assess whether qualifications are fit for purpose and how many are already accredited to National Occupational Standards (NOS). Where necessary we will then work with employers to revise them, or draft new ones.”

The ultimate aim, she added, is NOS accreditation of all qualifications. That will not only provide an assurance of their quality and add to their value for employees, but also unlock government funding for training providers.

The other aspect will be to map current training availability.

Website

Ultimately all this information will be available on a new wood industry area on Proskills’ website (www.proskills.co.uk). And this will also include background information on the sector, plus news and careers information.

“Employers and employees will be able to use the site to identify the qualifications they need and where they can get training and it will also show people interested in joining the industry the career paths and qualifications they can achieve,” said Mr White.

Once this initial programme is complete, Proskills will liaise on the industry’s behalf with schools, colleges and careers officers. It will also help individual companies improve their training and skills development programmes via its National Skills Academy for Materials, Production and Supply.

“The Academy’s role is to diagnose SMEs’ training needs and help realise the business benefits of upskilling,” said Ms Bazeley.

Besides working with the WIB on the new training structure, Proskills is also appealing for as much input as possible from employers across the industry.

“We want their views on existing training and qualifications, what their training needs are and where they’re not being met,” said Ms Bazeley.

Peter Kelly, Arbor Forest Products’ training manager and chair of the WIB, backed her call, stressing that Proskills’ role is to act as a catalyst and that broad industry participation in the project is critical.

“This is a huge opportunity for us, but a two-way exchange of information is vital to make the most of it,” he said. “We need feedback.”