A new unified voice to represent the UK’s carpenters, joiners, and shopfitters – the Wood Occupations and Materials Alliance (WOMA) – has been launched in London.
A signing ceremony of a declaration of intent to form WOMA took place at the joint Members’ Day of the Institute of Carpenters (IOC) and National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) at Carpenters Hall in the City of London on April 22.
The new body was heralded as a step into the future for the IOC and NAS. Both organisations will continue to retain their independence, but WOMA is intended to be a publicly facing voice for the benefit of individuals and businesses across the wood sector.
“WOMA is the unified voice that represents the interests of the wood occupations,” added James Filus, IOC director.
“Through the IOC and NAS, WOMA has a unique vertical through the wood occupations, from education to employment, and beyond. Our ambition is to ensure the wood occupations are seen as professional, aspirational careers, respected by all.”
The carpentry and joinery trades are important parts of the construction and related sectors, but there are fears that not enough young people are choosing a career in the trades, with valuable experience also being lost with seasoned craftspeople retiring. The IOC and NAS are working hard to spotlight careers, training and professionalism in the sector.
“This is a significant step within our sector where there is so much fragmentation and where cooperative stronger voices of many will carry more weight,” said outgoing IOC president Geoff Rhodes at the Members Day.
“WOMA has the scope to grow and expand in the years ahead – watch this space!
Mr Rhodes said WOMA would be an umbrella organisation sitting above IOC and NAS. “In the future it may expand to include other like-minded organisations.”
He said the existing Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) was already an umbrella group for parts of the timber industries, with WOMA complementing this in the related carpentry, joinery sectors and shopfitting sectors.
Trustees will be appointed and a logo has been created.
WOMA will streamline and manage IOC and NAS joint strategic activities and interests, strengthening the shared core values of Promote, Support, and Develop.
More details on the IOC & NAS Members’ Day, including thought-provoking presentations on AI and the award of the first HRH Duchess of Gloucester Award for Advancement of Skills within the Timber Industry, will be published by TTJ shortly. TTJ Group Editor Stephen Powney was one of the judges on the Duchess of Gloucester Award.
