Some of the Things we’ve being doing for BWF members in 2012

Some of the Things we’ve being doing for BWF members in 2012

A brief overview of our activity in 2012 on behalf of our members.

Representation

As your trade association, its our job to make your voice heard—ensuring that the joinery industry is effectively represented to government, the construction industry and other stakeholders to ensure we get the best deal for you and your business. We have:

• Positioned ourselves and increased our standing as the leading authority for the joinery industry
• Contributed to over 20 consultations that affect joinery manufacturers, ensuring your voice is heard
• Signed the timber industry accord and act as one of the major driving organisations to timber industry collaboration
• Supported the Wood for Good Campaign and the championing of the ‘wood first’ rule in public procurement
• Continued to hold strong influence over skills with a seat as vice-chair of the wood industry board at ProSkills, and also with a stronger voice within ConstructionSkills
• Launched a ‘state of trade’ survey to build joinery industry data allowing members to track the health of the industry and adapt business

Engagement

We’ve made a conscious effort to improve the way we connect with you and well as your target audiences. We want to make sure you receive the information you need when you need it, and we have stepped our promotion of you as a member to a number of key audiences.

• Re-introduced regional meetings to brief members at local level of the key issues facing their businesses
• Ran a successful annual conference which provided a range of workshops and guidance on the big issues facing joinery firms.
• Ran two CPD seminars for architects and specifiers on fire doors and stairs, promoting our members in the process
• Began regular engagement mailers with a specifer audience to raise awareness of BWF members, certification and other specification issues and increasing dialogue with this key audience
• Launched the Apprentice of the Year Award for 2012
• Began engagement with members, the wider industry and specifiers through social media, including through our LinkedIn groups ‘Just Joinery’ & ‘UK Fire Doors’ and our twitter feeds @BritWoodFed and @BWF_certifire

Technical

A key aspect of our support for you is our technical work. Working with a range of bodies, including BSI, EU and government departments, we help shape the future of building regulations and standards, while providing invaluable support to help with your technical compliance.

• Provided guidance to members  to prepare them for the introduction of CE marking in July 2013
• Launched a guide to  making the most from the Green Deal
• Launched a guide to better understanding the EU timber regulation
• Launched a free FPC system manual and a package of support
• Provided guidance to members on energy performance of their products in relation to Building Regulations Part L
• Responded to over 2,000 technical enquiries from companies via our helpline in 2012

Training

We’ve really upped our activity to ensure you have access to a range of flexible training resources, funding and advice, for wherever you are in the UK. We’ve also put in a number of initiatives to promote woodworking as a career and to help you and your staff develop your skills.

• Launched the industry’s first CPD programme specifically for woodworking and joinery companies, providing a framework for businesses and individuals to develop
• Provided funding for companies to train and qualify their existing workforce in a range of disciplines through our NVQ OSAT scheme
• Realised a change in the Bench Joinery qualification that should see a raising of standards of new entrants over this coming academic year
• Secured the continuation of the wood machining Level 3 NVQ with a new Awarding Body after it was dropped by the main awarding body
• Launched guidance for employers in England, Scotland and Wales to assist with taking on apprentices in joinery businesses
• Launched the BWF’s first e-learning resource helping joinery firms reduce wood waste and related costs  in procurement, manufacture and disposal
• Preparing to launch a social media campaign to encourage more young people to enter the industry

Other Successes

Here are some other successes we’ve been working on for you in 2012:

• Brought in over 70 new members to date, with more  expected before the end of the year, making us a stronger industry voice
• Helped launch Europe’s first Fire Door  Inspection Scheme, qualifying fire door  professionals which will eventually lead to certified inspectors
• Representing approximately 70% of the timber stairs market through the BWF Stair Scheme
• Continued to support the work in increasing market share for wood windows through the WWA 

And more – contact us to find out more about the wealth of resources available to help you and your business on our website, including:

• Technical & business advice
• Publications & template documents
• Funding search facility
• Industry & BWF news & comment
• Online training resources
• Member listing on BWF website's  fully searchable database facility
• Members' only U-Vaule calculation servce
• Free credt check service
•  Dedicated telephone Helpline service covering technical, employment , legal, health & safety, training, environmental questions