Operating in all the right places

This last fortnight has seen significant political engagement from BWF with all sides of the house.  It started with the outgoing chair of our Woodworking Industry Training Forum, Sharon Gorf being called before the Apprenticeship Commission.  

The commission, which included Labour peer Lord Glasman and Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, is key to developing the apprenticeship framework in the UK and it is right that they sought our input.  Our sector has a proud heritage of being apprentice led, we still boast the highest ratio of apprentices in the specialist construction sector and in recent months there has been significant work undertaken to both evolve the architectural joinery qualification and to reintroduce a woodworking apprenticeship.

We do, however, harbour some concerns that changes derived from the Richards review will have a negative impact on SMEs working in our sector – this is in addition to recent announcements from Vince Cable which we feel may be counterproductive by limiting the opportunities for firms to take on  apprentices.  Sharon was able to put these concerns directly to the commission and was then inundated with questions! Anyone who knows Sharon will be aware what a fantastic ambassador she is for our sector.  

I met with Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams MP last Tuesday to discuss the recent Housing Standards Review and the upcoming consultation on Allowable solutions.  As the Minister responsible for Building Regulations and standards, Stephen Williams has led the coalition on these two very important consultations.

The impact on timber is potentially significant, with the Code for Sustainable Homes a casualty of the Review.  In this, our concern is that low embodied carbon, a fundamental strength of timber and a crucial asset when addressing the amount of energy spent making new buildings, is being overlooked.  We were able to advise the Minister of the need to embrace this vital element within the government’s zero carbon agenda and targets.  He assured us that the door remains open via the Allowable Solutions framework to recognise this contribution.  We are now working with RICS and others to find a workable mechanism.

We went from that meeting to the Construction Products Association Parliamentary Reception which was attended by a number of MP's including the current Housing Minister Brandon Lewis, Shadow Construction Minister Iain Wright and Business Secretary Vince Cable.  In the various speeches, the significant role our industry and products have in shaping the economy was recognised by all parties.

The next day it was back to Westminster to talk timber and the Lyons Review with Shadow Housing Minister, Emma Reynolds.  In the meeting, a delegation of the timber industry was able to give insight into the timber sector and the role we have to play in growing the low carbon economy.  Miss Reynolds expressed concern at the direction of the current Housing Standards review and introduced us to – literally hot off the press – the Lyons Housing Review.  The review set down the blueprint for Labour’s housing plans and we were thanked for our contribution to assembling the report.  

It is clear from all meetings that building homes is a critical part of all election strategies, with increases of a third mentioned and the prospect of doubling the current build rate beginning to be touted – these levels are a tall order without some fundamental change.  What is critical is that we don't just build houses, but high quality, sustainable homes. With impeccably sustainable credentials and significant opportunities for driving efficiencies – both on and off site – your products have a huge role to play here.

BWF will continue to be out there making these points in all the right places and our input to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement completed a politically charged week – you can view that here. We urge you to send a copy of our manifesto to your local MP and encourage them to visit your factory in the weeks running up to the election, this insight into your business and our industry is invaluable.

Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the British Woodworking Federation