Success in exams has been announced this week for two sets of students studying Wood Science and Timber Technology with training provider TFT Woodexperts Ltd. Seven young students from a number of James Latham branches passed the IOM3 (Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining) Wood Technology Society Examination in Timber & Panel Products, Level 2, gaining an unprecedented six Distinctions and one Merit, under Woodexperts’ tutor Simon Brock.
“Well done to our students, we are very proud of you all,” said director Piers Latham, while Chris Sutton, managing director, also said that he was delighted.
A spokesperson at Latham’s Hemel Hempstead head office added that all the students complimented the tutor. “Our client’s confidence in Woodexperts has been reflected in these excellent results,” added commercial manager Jan Antonovics.
The second announcement came from TFT Woodexperts as the latest results for the Level 4 Certificate in Wood Science and Timber Technology were also revealed.
Six candidates from across the UK timber sector, representing Arbor Forest Products, Jewson, SGBD Supply Chain and GE Robinson & Co, achieved this qualification after more than 15 months of study and two intensive examination papers, gaining four Merits and one Distinction altogether.
Newly-qualified wood scientist Peter Davis, operations manager at SGBD Supply Chain Purfleet said: “I really enjoyed it. It was good to meet other people on the course who were so interested in wood science.”
This result brings to over 50, in more than a dozen different companies, the number of timber trade managers, sales executives and branch staff who have achieved this qualification since it was launched in December 2015.
“Our aim is to bring the highest-possible level of science, technology and understanding of timber and the use of wood as a material to our industry,” said Woodexperts’ director, Jim Coulson. “This will be continuing, as we have a further 25 students from seven client businesses beginning to study the certificate course with us or preparing for exams at the moment, with a further three new sets also planned for the coming year.”
BMF Building Blocks
The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has launched Building Blocks, a new online training programme designed to introduce apprentices and other new starters to work in a builders’ merchant.
The first two Building Blocks in the series – Timber as a Building Material and Heating and Hot Water Comfort – are now live on the BMF Campus website and can also be delivered via merchants’ own Learning Management Systems. Key product groups will be covered in further blocks and the programme builds into a comprehensive guide to the industry and products sold by every type of merchant.
The programme is being developed in conjunction with the BMF’s e-learning partner, Cortexa, an approved centre for Occupational Awards. Successful completion of each block will earn credits for the learner towards an online Merchant Award. This award, which is planned for publication later in the year, will require the learner to complete at least four blocks and pass a final exam. With 15 e-learning Blocks planned for introduction over the next two years, BMF Building Blocks is set to be a fully accredited online programme that will define the standard of product training in the merchant industry.
