Proskills makes training progress

Proskills, the sector skills council for process and manufacturing, has made significant progress as it looks to develop and implement a set of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the wood industry.

Since wood joined the Proskills footprint, Proskills has worked with employers from the industry to review and update the NOS, ensuring they are fit for purpose and reflect the sector’s most recent technological changes.

And since initiating the development for new NOS, Proskills has been working towards helping timber firms improve their productivity and competitiveness through training.

Through research and comprehensive employer consultation we identified the need to upskill workforces to enable businesses to address the challenges they face.

In a survey of over 100 timber companies, more than 50% had carried out training in the past 12 months, and 77% of those were planning to maintain training budgets at the same level over the next 12 months. More impressively, 18% said they planned to increase spend on training, and only 5% said they would cut back.

The results were encouraging, given the staff reductions that many employers have had to make during the recession and the difficult trading conditions still faced by the industry.

Wood industry businesses need to realise that they must raise their game if they want to achieve the sustainability they desire and improve their competitiveness in a strong global market. The task of the Proskills Wood Industry Board is to ensure the infrastructure is in place.

This year, the industry’s profile has been raised significantly through the development of new careers material and work on NOS.

Proskills has launched surveys designed to give detailed feedback to assist in the development of the NOS, marketing material has been developed, such as DVDs aimed at boosting the industry’s profile, as well as ongoing efforts to raise the online awareness and accessibility of the industry.

A Schools into Industry Programme, specific to the wood industry, is also being developed to raise the sector’s profile with younger students.

The progress in developing the new NOS has shown that companies are thinking about the future and that we as an industry are realising that continued investment in the workforce’s skills is the first step to improving productivity and ensuring a successful future.

It is vital for the development of the industry that we get as much input as possible. To have your say, complete the online survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/3QRJ6B8.

For more information, or to join one of our industry boards, contact me on 07811 196326 or at jackie.bazeley@proskills.co.uk.