The Timber Decking Association (TDA) is in the throes of creating an accredited training scheme for those selling decking products to the public.

Due to be launched in March, the scheme follows on from a pilot initiative trialled with Howarth Timber last year.

TDA general manager Steve Young said: “We now have something like 500 distributors of DeckMark quality approved wood and they have started to want to talk about the attributes of the product they are selling.

“We want to develop a training course geared towards those selling quality decking components as there is a gap in the market.”

&#8220We want to develop a training course geared towards those selling quality decking components as there is a gap in the market.”

TDA general manager Steve Young.

Mr Young said that companies which have their employees trained will become accredited TDA retailers of decking.

He said: “The pilot with Howarth led us to conclude there is a strong need for training. We hope to launch the programme in March and it will consist of one day courses covering every aspect of decks from materials to guidance on what the diffrent components are for.”