SCA Timber (UK) Ltd has joined forces with the Builders’ Merchants Federation (BMF) to become a ‘training partner’.

Starting this autumn, SCA Timber will be providing one-day courses for yard and counter staff dealing with timber and wood products.

The courses will be held at various locations around the UK, starting at the BMF’s training centre in Harlow, Essex.

SCA Timber (UK) managing director Rob Simpson said: “SCA is strongly committed to establishing structured career paths for all those involved in timber, to enable the timber sector to compete on a level playing field with other industries seeking the best of tomorrow’s talented young people.”

&#8220SCA is strongly committed to establishing structured career paths for all those involved in timber.”

SCA Timber (UK) managing director Rob Simpson

The association between SCA and the BMF began six months ago at SCA’s ‘Training in the Timber Trade’ seminar, attended by organisations including The Timber Trade Federation and the British Woodworking Federation.

The culmination of talks was the development of the courses, entitled Good Wood Challenge, which will cost £65+VAT for BMF members and £95+VAT for non-BMF members. They will cover: an introduction to timber, its growth, defects and strengths; manufacturing; correct handling and storage; end uses; sales; customer access and safety; the future of timber and timber products.

SCA has developed a specialist product knowledge course which has been accredited by the Institute of Wood Science while the BMF offers open learning modules through its regular training programme.