An air of celebrity status is developing around the TTJ Trainee of the Year Award, which has grown in prestige since its inception in 2003. Entries for the 2004 award almost doubled – rising from 13 the previous year to 23 – and again the quality of the candidates shone through.

However, the organiser, TTJ, and the sponsor, SCA Timber Supply Ltd, realised there was one drawback: many potential candidates were put off entering by the word “trainee”, believing this excluded people who had been working in the industry for some time.

So the award has been rebranded and this year becomes the Career Development Award to give it a much wider remit for entry.

It will be broken into two categories – one for those new to the timber trade and a continuous professional development category for candidates who are either older or have been in the industry for longer.

A shortlist of three will be drawn up from the entries for each category and they will go forward to the final of the Career Development Award. The winner will be the person judged to have achieved most or contributed most to their business throughout the year.

Previous contenders are clear about the value of being TTJ Trainee of the Year and of training generally – both to themselves and the wider timber industry.

The past two winners – James White of James Latham plc and latterly Jamie Snape of Jewson Ltd – were both surprised by the recognition they received after taking the title and say their career opportunities have been boosted.

“Winning the award has certainly given me a lot of recognition – both from clients and people I don’t even know,” said Jamie. “It makes you feel better about yourself that all that hard work has not gone in vain. The award is also a great entry to have on my CV.”

He added: “In my experience, companies see the TTJ Trainee of the Year Award as prestigious and we have just persuaded our head office to take on another trainee because of me.

“Winning the award has definitely had an impact – and it was an experience getting to go to the Savoy!”

As part of his prize, Jamie will be going to Sweden with award sponsor SCA Timber where he will follow trees being harvested in the forest to being processed in the sawmill.

Jamie’s branch manager John Heathfield said that since he won the award Jamie has become more confident and is taking more responsibility.

Recognition and congratulations

“It has given him belief that he will have a good career in the industry. Since he won he has been recognised and congratulated by the company which will be looking to submit more entrants in the future. Without a doubt, Jamie’s success has been beneficial to Jewson,” said Mr Heathfield.

Debi Miller, customer services manager at JELD-WEN, nominated runner-up Chris Dales because she said he embraced training openly and pushed himself forward for every training opportunity. “He was so keen to do as much as he could to learn everything about everything. It has paid off for him too as he was recently promoted to field sales representative.

“We shall be looking to enter more people for the TTJ Trainee of the Year Award this year – the award is very well recognised within the industry and it is good for the trainees to see their name in print in TTJ.”

&#8220We learn throughout our lives in business, from the moment we enter a company right through to director level. SCA wants this award to focus the trade’s attention on the practical benefits of knowledge development, for new and established staff”

Rob Simpson, managing director, SCA Timber Supply

Chris said his long-term goal is progression to a management position and being able to use the knowledge he has gained – and will continue to gain – to take the business forward.

Paul Davey of Hawkesford Buildbase was nominated for the TTJ Trainee of the Year Award after successfully completing the IWSc course.

“I am the branch manager of Buildbase in Market Drayton and therefore perhaps not a typical timber trainee, but I felt it was an area of knowledge in need of expanding,” he said.

“The IWSc course was very well run and most informative and I was able to pass selective information to various members of staff helping them with their day to day work.

“Being nominated as Trainee of the Year was a genuine shock and honour for me. The awards day itself was superb – the setting, the atmosphere and the feeling of anticipation was something that everyone should try to experience once in their career.”

Understanding business practices

Greg Pickett of Finnforest UK Ltd maintains that timber and related training over the past 18 months has given him a good understanding of both business practices and the requirements of the timber industry.

“Without the training offered I would not possess the confidence or ability to fulfil my current role to the high standards I like to set myself, or have the clarity of aspirations towards my future career development. I see myself staying within the timber industry and look forward to a managerial role in the future of both product and personnel.”

He said nomination for the award raised his profile, both within the company and the wider timber trade.

Kurt Coupland of Arbordeck, Howarth (Timber Importers) Ltd completed the IWSc certificate course in 2004 and has been able to pass his knowledge on to a new trainee who joined the department last summer. “I would like to become involved in helping to oversee or mentor new commercial trainees within the department,” he said.

He added that completion of the certificate course has enabled him to identify key business issues and offer practical solutions and ideas. It has also given him the ability to identify and suggest realistic training needs for his own ongoing development.

Mark Allum of MDM Timber Ltd is more used to dealing with numbers and computers than wood, working in the accounts department at the family-owned firm. “For all I knew we could have been selling baked beans,” he said.

Then he went through the IWSc foundation course, followed by the certificate course, and believes this training has given him an insight into the timber products of the industry. “My knowledge has been broadened and now when I see a product coming through I can understand what it is.”

Rob Simpson, managing director of award sponsor SCA Timber Supply, said developing people’s skills increases the professionalism of the trade.

“We learn throughout our lives in business, from the moment we enter a company right through to director level. SCA wants this award to focus the trade’s attention on the practical benefits of knowledge development, for new and established staff,” he said.