The BWF’s Woodworking Industry Training Forum (WITForum) has been working on industry's behalf to create quality qualifications for the joinery and woodworking firms.
As part of this work we are about to embark on development of a new qualification that will serve businesses in helping to training both new and existing staff that are involved with the production side of woodworking & joinery. The qualification will be an NVQ (and SVQ) that can be delivered by training providers across the UK and we will also be building a technical certificate/diploma that will allow us to access a new apprenticeship. In doing this firms will be able to access government funding available for apprenticeship programmes and other pots of money where you are eligible and are available.
The qualification will be structured to be flexible and relevant. We are developing a number of units so that each company can choose a selection of units that provides their staff with the skills to meet their business needs, whether you are micro business or a large-scale volume manufacturer. For example, many companies are opting to introduce computerised and high-tech joinery manufacturing methods, and they would be able to choose a selection of modules to cover CNC machinery as well as traditional woodworking machines and hand-skills. Large companies may opt for modules that are more directly volume manufacturing based, or at the other end of the scale and solely traditional production skills. There will also be detail on specific joinery items such as, doors, stairs, windows and fire doors.
We are building a business case with the manufacturing sector skills body, ProSkills UK, so that they can demonstrate demand from employers and secure funding for this development. At this point, I am seeking to put a list of companies that would be interested in using this new qualification into the business case. If you are interested using this new qualification when available, please follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DJ9K9MD and add your company name to the list – it will only take you a minute!
This is an opportunity that we as an industry cannot afford to miss: building a new qualification, fit for our modern yet diverse industry, with content and skills included that employers have said they need. This development presents the ability to significantly raise the skills of your workforce and in turn help grow business and provides an alternative route for training/qualifications than currently exists. We are working with some employers to help shape the content of the qualification and welcome others that wish to be become involved in the process, but this is by no means compulsory.
Please take just a minute to help us help you get the skills you need in your business: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DJ9K9MD
