A one-stop shop which will provide the wood chain with a tailor-made framework of nationally recognised, government approved qualifications covering all aspects of the industry is on the cards.
The Open College Network (OCN) Wales has offered to develop the wood chain’s framework of “units” which earn “credits” which go towards a total for a particular qualification.
Working with the UK Wood Chain’s (UKW) Welsh representation in Montgomeryshire, OCN Wales will identify what already exists, and then build on what is missing by gathering information from employers.
UKW said that in the wood chain very few qualifications exist that have been designed specifically for the industry. Some employers have been forced to work towards inappropriate awards, and some key trade bodies have created their own award which are not part of the government’s approved qualifications framework.
The OCN Wales proposal would last until 2007 and provide the industry with a complete framework of qualifications that would include awards already created by trade bodies. It would align directly with Institute of Wood Science professional awards.
Mike Marchant of Treeline, the non-profit development body and UKW co-ordinator, said the outline proposal requires no funding from the industry, is not dependent on EU or UK government support and can be underway by mid-February if approved by the UKW group.
But, he added, access to the blocked government grant of £41,000 needs to be opened as soon as possible to accelerate the development process.
