BWF training forum helps raise skills and standards in joinery industry

BWF WITForum

• initiative to tackle the training crisis in the woodworking and joinery industry
• launches a number of new initiatives and grows its programmes to qualify the workforce, raise skills within industry, and bring new people into woodworking and joinery

Sharon Gorf

A Director at Parker & Highland Joinery, Sharon says: ’I am passionate about our industry and the opportunities it can provide for existing employees and for young people starting their career.  

’When things get tough in the economy, you can either choose to focus on the problems, or to seek out the solutions.

I believe training can provide that solution and ensure that our industry’s workforce is as knowledgeable and competitive as it can possibly be - and the WITForum will help us fulfil that goal’.

Sharon thanked Pauline Kelly, the previous chairman, ’Pauline Kelly who has led the WITForum since the beginning, and who has put a considerable amount of time and effort to move the industry forward on training - we have come a long way since 2006’.

WITForum to launch a woodworking industry CPD programme

• a first for the industry
• simple scheme to recognise continuing development of skills,
• promote a culture of higher standards and professionalism as the industry norm
• structured to allow everyone within the industry to participate
• allow individuals to gain recognition for their continued self-development

Details of the scheme will be available early August and BWF members will be the first to be invited to participate.

Dave Campbell, who manages the WITForum said: ’We need to embed a culture of continuous learning in our businesses and our staff, which will lead to a more competitive UK joinery sector and a raising of standards within the industry.

We have made the scheme as straightforward as possible so that it is easy to clock up your CPD hours while still maintaining a standard that will ensure individuals are planning their development and achieving real results for them and the business’.

The WITForum also launched a scheme at the start of 2012

• enables BWF member firms can access quality training services through the OSAT Scheme
• designed to qualify the existing workforce and attract new talent into the industry.
• funding from CITB-ConstructionSkills

Further career promotion activities will also be launched later in the year.

For more information on the work of the WITForum, use the link above.