Background

In recent years the woodworking industry has found it difficult to find, develop and retain skilled labour. This is due to factors such as school leavers being steered towards university rather than careers in traditional building crafts, the patchy provision of college courses, inconsistent teaching quality and qualifications which do not always reflect employers' needs.

In 2006 CITB-ConstructionSkills published "Blueprint for UK Construction Skills 2006 - 2010", highlighting the Wood Trades as needing the highest level of recruitment of any construction trade to meet the forecast demand. It predicts the industry will need over 11,000 new recruits each year for the next four years.

To begin to address these issues, the BWF has launched the Woodworking Industry Training Forum (WITForum). The WITForum gives the industry the opportunity to resolve its training problems, secure its future skills, promote woodworking as a career, and establish constructive dialogue with training providers.