I wonder how many products are as complex and diverse as wood?

As a natural product, timber is employed in lots of different ways and because of this it can be sold in many forms: hardwoods and softwoods; green or dry; sawn or prepared; waney or square edge; quarter sawn or flat sawn: the list goes on.

And that is before you even consider grading, or whether it is being used for joinery construction, furniture or any one of dozens of other different timber-related industries. And then what about sheet materials and components? The list of applications for wood and wood-based products is vast.

As a specialist, natural product which invariably has its own way of behaving, it is vital that wood – as a product – is understood: from the forester who fells the tree right down the line to the end user. And that is why training in the timber industry is crucial. We all need to strive to learn about the product with which we are involved.

I have just finished the IWSc certificate course and am currently working towards the associateship, and I have found studying the product which I sell every day absolutely fascinating. It has been a real eye-opener for me – not just all the information that I have learned but also the realisation about how much I don’t know. In my side of the industry a better product knowledge leads to increased confidence and that results in increased sales, which means a happy boss – and that is always good.

As a sales rep, some people I come into contact with know very little about the product they are using. Despite this being frustrating for me, it is of course down to a lack of training and education, and this is where the industry has to increase product know-ledge through proper, recognised training.

Employees who are keen to learn should be encouraged to better themselves and be rewarded for doing so.

The SCA Timber Supply Ltd-sponsored TTJ Trainee of the Year Award is beneficial because it recognises successful people who have taken the initiative to learn and expand their expertise. After all, young people starting off in the timber trade have to be encouraged and stimulated to learn about the product they are involved with, so that they stay in the trade.

Our trade is one in which we need competent, knowledgeable, professionals because wood is too complex a material to deserve anything less.