More than 60% of the truss rafter manufacturers canvassed about the need for a new industry-wide training course responded to the questionnaire.

The result has staggered both timber consultancy TimberSolve, which devised the questionnaire, and the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) which commissioned it.

Luke Whale of TimberSolve said: “To get a response from more than half of the people canvassed is quite amazing.”

And in the main, the response was positive: the industry would like to see some form of training initiated which would lead to a qualification – even if it is only a “TRA trained engineer” certificate.

Peter Grimsdale, former TRA secretary, said: “A very high proportion of membership indicated that they would like some form of formal training for their new entrants and junior engineers, with something tangible at the end of it.”

For many years the truss rafter industry had realised that the future of the business lay in the continued availability of suitably trained technical staff, said Mr Grimsdale.

In recent times, the TRA had attempted to organise training events which, he said, although extremely useful, had not captured the imagination of members.

He added: “Although the responses to these efforts were not quantified, it was clear that as far as new entrant training is concerned, a balance had to be found between time spent away from the workplace and meaningful courses leading to an industry-wide recognised qualification.”

Training research

Last year, with support from the insurance industry, TRA appointed TimberSolve to look into the need for and methods available for producing suitable training.

TimberSolve either visited or sent an extensive questionnaire to all TRA members to establish their requirements. At the same time it made contact with a wide range of training providers to see what courses are, or could be, available.

More than 80% of those that responded to the questionnaire agreed that there is a need for new industry-wide training courses for new entrants and those in the early stages of their careers.

Structural design

Mr Grimsdale said: “Although they agreed that the main thrust of such a course should be structural design, it was also clear that any work should also embrace subjects such as health and safety, erection procedures and quality control.”

TimberSolve then spoke to training providers about what courses could be available, bearing in mind the concern about time away from the workplace.

“Clearly, if suitable courses are to be set up, then an element of on-line training would be a considerable advantage,” said Mr Grimsdale.

“The consultants considered the successful experience of this in the US and also found support from Napier University, Edinburgh which is looking to expand its own on-line training techniques here in the UK.”

The upshot of all this activity is that the TRA has now set up a small group of members who, along with the association’s new secretary, will look into the options available, including meeting Napier University to see whether a series of training modules can be established leading to an industry-wide recognised TRA truss rafter design certificate.