FEATURE BRITISH WOODWORKING FEDERATION
What next in 2021? This is a year to embrace collaboration, new regulation and huge opportunities, says Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF).
A
s a trade organisation we’ve always been by the side of
webinars, we will ensure that members have the knowledge and
our members, helping them to navigate challenges and
understanding to conform to the new regulations.
seize opportunities, but in 2020 this took on a whole new meaning. We’ve seen the impact the COVID-19
Regulation and policy have a large influence on our members, and so lobbying Government to protect their interests and influence policy
pandemic has had on our members and we’ve worked hard to ensure
will remain at the heart of the BWF’s work in 2021. We will continue
we are reactive and support them, and the wider construction
to lobby the Government over fire safety standards, the use of timber
industry, in the best way we can.
as a preferred construction material and for truly sustainably-minded incentives to stimulate the home renovation market.
Facing challenges together
Our hope is for incentives to be based on whole-life carbon
For all of the challenges of the pandemic in 2020, it has brought
assessment and material choice rather than being solely based upon
our sector and the wider supply chain closer together for the first time
operational carbon. Although the recent Green Homes Grant is a
in a long time. To help the construction industry co-ordinate when it
positive economic stimulus, it provides no guidance on the types
reopened after the March lockdown, everyone came together under
of materials that homeowners should use and is therefore a lost
the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and Build UK.
opportunity for our sector.
Through the BWF’s membership of Build UK and the Construction Products Association, we were able to represent the woodworking and
Personal growth and development
joinery manufacture sector and ensure its voice was included in the
Although the pandemic and Brexit continues to influence our sector,
creation of the CLC Roadmap to Recovery as well as discussions over
we can’t allow this to detract our attention from skills and development
product availability and site operating procedures.
as they remain integral to growth. By providing access to quality training
This cross-industry collaboration has been hugely beneficial
provision, the BWF continues to support efforts to reduce our sector’s skills
to immediate post-COVID lockdown recovery and was a clear
gap by encouraging new talent into the profession and developing the
demonstration that together we can tackle and overcome challenges of
skills of individuals already working in the sector. Retaining and developing
unprecedented size. This collaborative approach was vital to the overall
existing talent through continuous learning is crucial to skills retention. The
effectiveness of the construction supply chain, and it must continue
impact that Brexit will have on the labour market is not yet clear, but we’re
into 2021 to help us move forward and tackle challenges together.
working hard on behalf of members to ensure that they have access to the relevant courses and qualifications to help plug any skills gaps.
Navigating regulation
There are also significant changes on the horizon, brought about by the
A considerable challenge for 2021 will be the introduction of new
Fire Safety and Building Safety Bills, which will impact our sector. Both bills
regulation. For the manufacturing industry, this puts extra pressure on
have competency and standards as a key focus, so we’ll be representing our
our members, who often don’t have the time to unpick complex new
members and helping guide them through the changes that will come into
guidelines and regulation. One of the biggest challenges of Brexit will
force – with an emphasis on skills, training and certification.
be the introduction of UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking, which will cover most goods that previously required CE marking.
2020 was a challenging year but I’ve been so encouraged by the resolve and determination of our membership to get through it, and I’ve no
The Government expectations in terms of conformity for UKCA
doubt that our resilience will see us grow stronger in 2021 and beyond. We
marking is not easy for everyone to understand, but all manufacturers
must continue our essential focus on collaboration, skills and development,
are obliged to comply. Helping BWF members understand and navigate
and ensuring timber is at the heart of sustainable construction.
this change will be a core part of our focus next year. Providing access More at www.bwf.org.uk
to simple-to-follow guidelines as well informative sessions such as
Timber Trader UK Magazine
Winter 2020-2021
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