The Wood Industry Training Forum is dedicated to providing careers and training support (including specialist apprenticeship guidance) for the woodworking sector and our customers.
Through the Make it Wood programme, the Wood Industry Training Forum is supporting schools in encouraging our young people to understand the benefit and opportunities of careers in the wood trades
This extends to the Wow I Made That initiative that helps to lead interested people to apprenticeships in our sector
The Wood Industry Training Forum is supporting the develop the qualifications that sit at the heart of our industry. These are in the process of being modernised to fit with the new Standard requirements and support the industry as it evolves.
Through the British Woodworking Federation you can access specialist advice on employing and funding employing and funding apprenticeships in woodworking (specific to your region of the UK). There is also dedicated advice for those looking to start a woodworking apprenticeship.
For more information, to find out more or get involved Email: bwf@bwf.org.uk or call us on 0844 209 2610
Through the Wood Industry Training Forum you can access over 40 tailored training courses (often at preferential rates) and the specialist support to help you access funding to support your training. Training is available in a variety of formats:
Bespoke Training – Any of the listed courses can be tailored to the specific needs of your team and brought in-house and assessed on-site at a time that is convenient for you
Scheduled courses and qualifications – Join colleagues from the sector at an existing course at one of the many training centres across the UK
Online Training – For those limited by distance or cost the BWF has developed a series of highly interactive on-line learning resources.
We cover a range of areas from machining, to management, to timber training. Take a look through our courses section to find the right training for you.
We also operate the Woodworking Continuing Professional Development system to help you manage and record training outcomes as an individual (your industry passport) or within the teams that you operate.
Where to go next:
Member Level
To help members’ secure free e-learning from reputable lead organisations, Tony Batchelor (BWF Training Manager) has created this e-learning fact sheet.
Model training and development policy for a small business.
Model training and development policy for a one-person business.
Guidance on preparing a statement of a company’s commitment to proper training and its willingness to give its workers the opportunity and encouragement to develop their individual skills.
Dave Hopkins from Wood For Good addressing Why Should Society Use More Wood from an Environmental, Economic and Social perspective
Ross Holleron from the Zero Carbon Hub addressing the performance gap, and linking good specification with good workmanship on site.
Gold Sponsors, Vetrotech, sponsor this masterclass, delivered by sister company International Timber, that will look at the future of timber species and their availability – what changes might you have to make to the timber you use to manufacture?
Poor supervision and inadequate training are two of the main causes of accidents. As part of our latest campaign to make each BWF member a Health & Safety Hero, we look to better understanding the training requirements for people using woodworking machinery, including those responsible for supervising and managing people using woodworking machinery.
Industry leading recruitment company Miller McKenzie explore the often underestimated area of talent management within the workplace and offer tips on how a robust and forward thinking talent management strategy can give your company a competitive advantage.
New rules on consumer rights and dispute resolution are coming in this year that will increase the powers that consumers are able to exert on your business, especially when a contract runs into trouble. With the EU Consumer Rights Directive already being implemented in the UK, all businesses also need to ensure that they are aware of the new rules.
Marketing is critical for competing in the market place. We look at some best practice for joinery marketing, what you might need to back up your marketing claims for your products – including the role of BIM -and when (and indeed, if) you should use social media to promote your business.
A new suite of building regulations are set to be launched from October. If you supply external fenestration to the new build housing market you will need to start assembling your evidence. As written the draft legislation states Windows and External Doors should be made to a design that has been shown by test to meet the requirements of British Standards publication PAS 24:2012. This session looks at the new requirements and how you can meet them.
Workplace health has never been more important. Workshop content will in-clude: How to identify dust problems; use of effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV), appropriate housekeeping, PPE and RPE requirements, including Face Fitting together with the need for effective Health Surveillance plus essentials of COSHH, noise and manual handling assessments.
Members Day Sponsors B&CE, provider of The Peoples Pension, explains what BWF members must put in comply with pension auto-enrolment – you must act this year. An online hub to help with your auto-enrolment duties, giving you all the information and resources you need but without the jargon.
Improving Window Thermal Performance By Smart IGU Selection and U value versus WER. The view from Dr Gary Morgan, Technical Director, BFRC Ltd
It is fair to say that very few organisations have nailed internal communications and at peak, when you need it to get better, it often gets worse. Andy Tyas exposes the unique approach to communications adopted by BWF member West Port, focussing on efficiency to ensure that there is a clear link between strategy, communication and delivery.
Insulating Glass Units plus Narrow cavity units (NCUs) can give conservation and heritage properties the traditional look, but how can we prove that they units will perform? This workshop looks at the rise of NCUs, what joinery manufacturers should ask their glazing manufacturers, and what alternatives there may be when retrofitting conservation & heritage properties.
Research report into the skills gaps that exist in the Owners and Senior Managers of BWF member companies.
This guide provides information on the different training routes avaiable for new entrants and the funding opportunities available for employers to access. It is a useful document for anyone thinking of taking on trainees in Welsh woodworking firms
This guide provides information on the different training routes avaiable for new entrants and the funding opportunities available for employers to access. It is a useful document for anyone thinking of taking on trainees in Scottish woodworking firms.
This guide provides information on the different training routes avaiable for new entrants and the funding opportunities available for employers to access. It is a useful document for anyone thinking of taking on trainees.
