As we approach mid-year, it’s an opportunity to take stock of what’s been accomplished so far, and address aims for the rest of 2022 and beyond. There are a number of urgent priorities on our agenda, including boosting joinery sector skills and training, and promoting the role of third-party certification in fire safety as we face the biggest legislative changes to fire and building safety in a generation. Imminent changes in relation to Building Regulations also indicate progress towards zero carbon housing.
We began this year by promoting one of the key priorities for the BWF and the industry. The Our industry’s next generation: Apprentices tell their stories campaign, firmly establishes the BWF’s commitment to supporting skills, training and recruitment within the sector.
The aim was to educate audiences on the value of apprenticeships in the woodworking and joinery manufacturing sector, both individuals undertaking them and their employers, and on the variety of career paths and opportunities available via apprenticeships. It’s important we recognise the positive business contribution of apprenticeships to encourage employers and new industry entrants to build career pathways.
The ongoing skills challenge in the sector and the wider construction industry require long-term investments training. Following the successful launch of our campaign, the BWF will continue to promote apprenticeships as one of the solutions to the skills gap throughout the year.
Meanwhile the Building Safety Act 2022, puts increased pressure on those responsible for fire safety for all building types and includes tougher penalties for failure to meet the new requirements.
Following the success of the BWF’s Fire Door Alliance Be Certain, Be Certified campaign, introduced last year to highlight the importance of third-party certification of fire doors in improving fire safety standards, we’re extending it into this year. The evolution of the campaign will reveal current attitudes towards fire door third-party certification, and identify core areas in which building owners, and those responsible for fire doors, lack knowledge and understanding about certification’s benefits.
Staircase safety also remains a BWF priority and, given that the call for stairs to be designed in accordance with BS5395- 1 did not make it into the Building Safety Bill, we’re encouraged that the Building Regulatory Advisory Committee (BRAC) will be looking to incorporate the proposed changes into Approved Document K.
The BWF met with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and they confirmed they will be looking at the amendment to Approved Document K. The BWF will attend the working group tasked with reviewing the amendment, which will impact on staircase manufacturers, and keep members updated.
Our sector is at its best when we collaborate, share great ideas, and celebrate success. There will be two major opportunities this year for us all to do just that.
The BWF Members’ Day takes place on Tuesday June 21 at Crewe Hall in Cheshire. It is an integral part of the UK joinery industry calendar and gives woodworking and joinery companies the chance to meet and provides an important networking opportunity. It’s a day for the industry to come together to address latest challenges and get advice from key industry speakers, as well as an opportunity to try first hand some of the latest training technologies available to help promote and train future employees based on gaming technology.
We’re also planning for the highly anticipated BWF Awards. These celebrate outstanding talent and skills in the woodworking and joinery sector and are an invaluable opportunity for the industry to recognise and celebrate the success and exciting achievements of the past year.
As ever our sector faces its challenges, but through collaboration, promoting what’s great about our industry, and continuing to raise awareness of what we do among audiences and stakeholders, we will ensure a bright future for the sector.
