The UK Wood Chain Group, the alliance of wood and forest products association, the Institute of Wood Science and the GMB union, has taken the next step in developing a national timber sector training scheme.
As part of the initiative, the non-profit making consultancy TreeLine UK is “mapping” training currently available and is sending questionnaires to twenty companies in each of the Group’s member associations; the Timber Trade Federation, the British Woodworking Federation, UK Forest Products Association, Wood Protection Association, Wood Panel Industries Federation and the Timber Decking Association.
Businesses are asked to identify training priorities for different members of staff and the subjects and work areas they see as most important in training terms.
TreeLine has also identified 440 training units or modules spread across various NVQs and SVQs with potential relevance to the wood sector. Cross referencing these with the results of the questionnaires, the aim will be to draw up a nationally applicable sector training programme that qualifies for government funding.
