FEATURE TRAINING & SKILLS
Learning for Sustainable Change Two key organisations central to the UK timber sector are providing new learning options to create the next generation of industry professionals.
that is well-equipped to reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment.” Elaine Ellis, Skills Planning Manager – Construction at Skills Development Scotland, added: “The construction sector will play a critical role as we transition to become a net-zero economy. This programme will provide
C
onstruction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) is expanding
practical tools and knowledge to help the construction sector to upskill and
its successful Low Carbon Learning programme with the
adapt their practices to meet the needs of net-zero. We look forward to
launch of a second free-to-attend programme focused on
working with CSIC as this programme is developed and delivered.”
the fabric and structure of sustainable buildings. Roofing designers
Fully funded training for up to 500 Scottish construction professionals
The Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) has launched a new training scheme
will be provided by CSIC. Supported by Skills Development Scotland, through more than £175,000 from the National Transition Training Fund,
to enable trussed rafter designers to prove their knowledge and experience
CSIC is offering valuable training for people in the construction sector
and put theory into practice. The Designer Development Programme (DDP)
looking to upskill and reskill, supporting a Scotland-wide transition towards
has seven levels and is based on the completion of evidence books in which
a zero-carbon built environment.
trainee designers must show their experience in five roof design scenarios.
Up to 500 places are available for Low Carbon Learning: Fabric and
Each set of five books is expected to take around six months to a year to
Structure, which launched with an online webinar on 29 March and will
complete, giving the trainees chance to encounter real-life design briefs in real-
run until July. The course covers four core areas critical to the future of the
time. They must show their awareness of commercial and technical aspects of
sector. A fabric-first module will focus on design decisions that can help to
the projects and include knowledge of safety, efficiency, and best practice.
reduce energy consumption, while a carbon accounting module will highlight
TRA chief executive Nick Boulton said: “The DDP is a great step forward
the need for environmental data to be calculated for each project. The role
for the TRA and its members. It offers the next generation of trussed rafter
of sustainable insulation materials, including homegrown alternatives, and
and metal web floor designers a structured programme for their development
mass timber solutions will also form a core part of the course.
and will provide them with a series of certificates and evidence books to show their progress and experience gained.”
Training includes both online learning and live demonstrations at CSIC’s Innovation Factory in Hamilton – home to the UK’s only commercial-scale
Candidates must have completed introductory systems training and the
vacuum press for manufacturing cross laminated and glue laminated timber
TRA online Essentials Training, developed with Edinburgh Napier University, to
components, and a Pilot Insulation Line for trialling new insulation materials.
undertake the DDP. Levels one and two are now available with seven trainees
The launch of the programme follows the success of the first tranche of
having already started the first level.
Low Carbon Learning which was Scotland’s first publicly funded training
Leah Walters works at Donaldson Timber in Derbyshire and started off
programme in Passivhaus and EnerPHit, the globally recognised approaches
working in the reception there before deciding to re-train as a designer. She
for the design, construction and retrofit of highly energy-efficient buildings.
took part in the beta testing for the scheme and will soon be submitting her evidence books to her in-house assessor. She said: “It’s great to have been
Caitriona Jordan, head of retrofit programmes at CSIC, said: “Reskilling and upskilling will be a core element of the construction sector’s transition
involved in testing the DDP. My assessor, David Murphy, has helped me make
to zero carbon, and we want to help provide the knowledge and experience
sure that I’ve experienced all the necessary types of roof design in my day-to-
workers need to help deliver the wide range of new projects and energy-
day work so that I can include them in my evidence books, and has supported
efficient retrofits required. This new course focuses on the fabric and
me throughout. It was hard at first because I was new to design, but the books
structure of buildings, including important training on carbon accounting
are interactive and link you to helpful notes at the back which play a really big
that, although complex, is only going to become more relevant, as well as
part in your understanding.”
highlighting alternative homegrown construction materials. Increased green More at www.cs-ic.org www.tra.org.uk
skills across the sector will help to ensure we have a future-proofed workforce Timber Trader UK Magazine
Spring 2022
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