The timber industry has responded in positive mood to the announcement of a large-scale skills drive by the government.
The government is to raise spending on learning and skills to £12.3bn a year by 2010/11, a 10-year increase of £5.8bn. This will see £1bn spent on apprenticeships and the number of places increasing from 250,000 in 2007 to 400,000 in 2010/11, with £90m being ploughed into creating 30,000 apprenticeships for over-25s.
John Denham, secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, described the announcement as a “kick-start of the government’s drive to put Britain in the premier league for skills”. The UKWoodchain’s (UKW’s) Mike Marchant said that “the timing is perfect” for the timber industry.
“[UKW] anticipates to be able to respond to the opportunities arising from the announcement from early next year,” said Mr Marchant.
“We saw this coming two years ago which means we have been able to prepare the infrastructure to tap into the funds and take advantage of them.”
Timber Trade Federation (TTF) chief executive John White added that it was an opportunity “to make the industry a place people want to work”.
“It presents the wood industry with a tremendous opportunity to accelerate the work already undertaken by the TTF Education Training and Careers Committee, the Institute of Wood Science, Napier University, UKW and others,” said Mr White.
“It means we can expand the options available to young people and adults wanting the knowledge and skills to work in our industry.”
