BWF chief executive Iain McIlwee said despite housebuilding being trumpeted as an answer to the economic woes, there was little for the joinery sector to cheer even in chancellor George Osborne’s announcement of £3bn for the affordable housing sector to deliver 165,000 new homes.
"A promise of £3.3bn of capital investment in social housing over three years looked initially like good news – it’s similar to the investment put into the 2011 affordable homes programme," said Mr McIlwee. "But the difference this time is that the other changes to housing association rent revenues will impact hugely on viability, so it’s certain we will not see anything like the same number of new homes being built."
Mr McIlwee also said strong new NHBC registrations figures were not the same as actual housing starts. "We need building activity now – every week’s delay impacts heavily on the key suppliers to the home building industry.
However, Dave Campbell, manager of the BWF’s Woodworking Industry Training Forum, welcomed the chancellor’s restated commitment to support apprenticeships, with more being done to support those aged over 19.
He called for further financial support for learners over the age of 24 that doesn’t place the burden on them through adult learning loans.
"We don’t believe that the loan system will work for the vocational sector and will only serve as a barrier to bringing in the best and brightest to industry," said Mr Campbell.
