Industry Update*

Default Retirement Age To Be Phased Out By October

The government has now confirmed that the Default Retirement Age (DRA) is to be phased out, meaning that employers will no longer be able to force staff to retire at 65. The changes will take ... Read more »

BWF News Update No. 206

In the first News Update of 2011, we look at the joinery industry's prospects for the year ahead, and bring you the unfortunate news that one of Scotland's most famous timber window producers is ... Read more »

CE Marking Moves Closer

The last major procedural obstacle to the CPR has been resolved...

NEST Publishes Research into Understanding of Pension Terms

The National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) has published the results of its initial research into the understanding of current pension terms amongst its target audiences...

Localism Bill Briefing on 9th February 2011

The Localism Bill was given its First Reading in Parliament last month. The provisions will devolve greater power and freedoms to councils and neighbourhoods, establish powerful new rights for ... Read more »

Firm Fined After Worker’s Thumb and Finger Sawn off in Joinery Workshop

A construction and building firm based in Suffolk was fined last week after a bench joiner's finger and thumb were amputated by a moulding machine...

Fire Risk Report on London’s Tall and Timber Framed Buildings has Positive Implications

It may have escaped many people's notice but shortly before Christmas, a lengthy report on fire safety in London's tall and timber framed buildings was released by the Planning and Housing ... Read more »

Join In No. 26

In this first 2011 edition of Join In, President Ian Purkis sets out the BWF's plans for this year, we give you an opportunity to set what is taught in colleges and by training providers, and ... Read more »

Blairs Call In The Receivers

Initial hopes for the New Year were dampened last week with the news that Blairs Ltd called in the receivers on 6 January 2011...

Is Registration Under An Approved Installer Scheme Required To Install Fire Doors?

Our technical team has investigated the guidance documents for the Building Regulations, the British Standard Code of practice for fire door assemblies, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order ... Read more »

BWF Asked For Views On How To Make Workplace Health & Safety Legislation More Accessible

HSE are launching a consultation on the recommendation by Lord Young that the current raft of health and safety regulations should be consolidated into a single accessible set. As part of the ... Read more »

Statutory Payment Rates For 2011 Set To Rise, Tribunal Awards Limits Also Increasing

On 9 December 2010, Steve Webb, the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, announced the proposed rates of statutory benefits which are expected to apply from 11 April 2011...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK – I Have A Problem With Condensation Forming At The Edges Of Double Glazing. Is There A Fault With The Wind

BWF members such as yourselves frequently use our Member and Technical Helplines for assistance on a wide range of Employment, Health and Safety, Pay and Technical issues. We’re putting up ... Read more »

BWF JOIN IN No. 25 – 24th December 2010

Welcome to the last edition of Join In for 2010. This week we have a recap of 2010 and outline our ambitions for 2011, we explore the 'biggest change in employment law in 2011

ProSkills Reponds to Government on Higher Apprenticeships

Earlier this month, we spoke to some of our larger members regarding higher appenticeships, as ProSkills had approached us to respond to Government to see if there was a demand for such training. ... Read more »