One-day training sessions designed to improve merchants’ timber knowledge have been held by SCA Timber UK.
The Good Wood Challenge, staged by SCA for the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF), aims to give entry-level knowledge of timber production, dimensions, handling and end usage to yard and counter staff.
Builders merchants JT Dove of Newcastle hosted one of the first three training days held during October and November.
Ian Stevenson, training manager at JT Dove, said: “Our business sector needs more timber training. We need to increase awareness that timber is not just a piece of wood – there’s a lot more to it.”
SCA, an official training partner of the BMF, is already planning adaptions to the Challenge in light of the widely-varying needs of delegates encountered so far and will hold a further three sessions early next year. It is intended as a precursor to the BMF’s Open Learning Module on timber.
