With the launch of the initial batch of sector specific NVQ qualifications in sawmilling, tooling technology and timber merchanting, the woodworking industry has a great opportunity to develop its workforce using fit-for-purpose qualifications developed by the woodworking industry for the woodworking industry.
Under the umbrella of Proskills, the sector skills council for the wood sector, this is a magnificent achievement from a standing start two years ago. The unsung heroes of this complex task are the members of the Qualification Reform Group which, under the chairmanship of Jon Gibson of Didac and qualifications specialist Paul Preston of Proskills, supported by a group of employer representatives to ensure industry relevance, have collectively expended hundreds of hours devising the qualifications.
Throughout the qualification development phase it has been the industry’s expectation that the new qualifications would attract government funding for delivery. There are, however, two major concerns.
Firstly, despite the value of the new qualifications to employers, uptake may be too slow to sustain future funding for the wood sector. The issue here is that training providers with funding contracts have to maintain learner numbers to ensure they keep the levels of funding contracted to them, or they risk losing access to that funding in future years. Like most businesses, training providers are customer led, so if they have insufficient demand from the wood sector, then they will begin to look for customers from other industries.
Secondly, once training providers have migrated away from the wood sector it is unlikely they will return, except for the delivery of generic qualifications, which is of little direct benefit to employers in the wood industry.
Some employers are already highly focused on the staff development because they have observed the improvements in capability, productivity and safety of their staff. Those employers will continue to take advantage of the thousands of pounds available for investment in their staff because, quite simply, it’s good for business.
For the many other employers, time is of the essence to re-engage in the qualifications process, focusing on qualifications that deliver tangible benefits to their businesses as well as their employees.
In the next 12 months, if every employer in the wood sector supports just one employee to achieve one NVQ programme, then the wood sector will see a step change in the availability of qualification provision and increases in funding to support their delivery. This will ensure the continuing development of sector specific qualifications, which in turn will enable training providers to bid for further SFA funds for their delivery.
The future of training and qualifications in the wood sector is in the hands of the employers, which is where it should be. Employers should talk either to a training provider that focuses on the wood sector or to Proskills. They will help you identify appropriate qualifications for your business to deliver real benefits at an operational level. But do remember – time is of the essence.
