The Proskills timber industry training initiative has taken another step forward with the first meeting of a group set up to review and reform qualifications for the sector.
Proskills officially became the timber sector skills council at the start of the year and is working with a range of trade bodies and individual companies to establish a national training framework for the industry within 18 months.
A key aspect of the process is the formation of the Wood Industry Qualification Reform Group (QRG), which held its inaugural meeting on April 7. It will work with Proskills on ‘mapping’ job roles, reviewing the relevance of existing qualifications used in the sector and then deciding which should be updated and where new ones are needed.
The members are Pauline Kelly of joinery manufacturer EA Higginson; Bob Bastow of SCA; Mick Toner of Howarth Windows and Doors; Gesa Reiss of English Forest Industries Partnership; Nina Royle of the Builders Merchants Federation; John Gibson of training organisation Didac; Jim Boon of John Brash; and Colin Revitt of SCM.
The ultimate aim is for all qualifications used across the timber industry to be accredited to National Occupational Standards.
Besides working with the QRG, Proskills also wants wider input in training reform and is about to issue a questionnaire for companies to fill in on their training needs.
Proskills’ Jackie Bazeley acknowledged that the qualifications review is a major task.
“The amount of work involved means it will not be a quick process,” she said. “But it’s essential to ensure that the qualifications for the timber industry are fit for purpose.”
