Joinery industry action plans spells out priorities for year ahead

An action plan to boost the joinery manufacturing and woodworking industry’s preparedness to seize opportunity and influence change in a post-Brexit Britain has been launched by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF).

Published at the BWF’s annual Members’ Day conference last week, the action plan reports on the BWF’s key successes of the past 12 months but also spells out its priorities for 2016/17.

Themes for the year ahead will centre on promoting the joinery industry strongly within Westminster and the devolved Governments, while pursuing the industry’s targets of zero accidents in the workplace and ensuring a full qualified, engaged and competent workforce.

Other priorities include championing higher standards through the BWF’s recently updated Code of Conduct, and ensuring the BWF itself continues to develop its position as the UK’s number one information point on woodworking matters, driving new business to members and growing the market for wood products.

Iain McIlwee, the BWF’s chief executive, said:

“The woodworking industry is at the centre of the UK manufacturing sector. It’s estimated to be worth around £2.4 billion, employing 60,000 people. So we are a considerable force for good when we work together. Through collaboration within the BWF and uniting behind a clear plan we can significantly shape the industry’s fortunes in a time of great change.”

In a plan that lists more than 40 specific activities to support the joinery industry and to maximise future market opportunities, the BWF explains its intentions to create centres of excellence on BIM and Environmental Product Declarations, and to build a closer dialogue with tier one contractors and housebuilders to ensure BWF information supports simple, effective specification and a growing use of members’ products.

The BWF is also committing to finalising and launching the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship in architectural joinery. It will be launching a new Interiors Group to develop the market for timber products in fit-outs where health and indoor air quality are valued most, and will take a lead role in reshaping the Confederation of Timber Industries as a vehicle to raise the profile of the timber supply chain.

To read the full BWF Action Plan 2016/17, go to www.bwf.org.uk/publications/general-business-support

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