A complete approach to tackling the skills shortage
Skills and talent recruitment must remain a key priority for the construction sector, says Helen Hewitt. Here, she shares different tactics for upskilling the workforce and how to engage the next generation in joinery and woodworking key skills training.
Improving the skills and competencies of professionals in our sector and encouraging the next generation to consider a career in woodworking and joinery manufacture are vital for the future of our industry.
In fact, a report by the Construction Skills Network (CSN) found that the construction industry will need an additional 266,000 workers across a range of occupational areas to meet demand by 2026 – equating to an additional 53,000 recruits each year. Added to this, the CSN highlighted that the largest increases in annual recruitment requirement will be for occupations including carpenters and joiners.
It remains clear that our industry needs to respond to meet growing demand for the services it provides. Skills and talent recruitment are a key priority for the sector and we must continue to raise awareness of the many career paths and opportunities available. We must also support continued professional development and best practice through the provision of appropriate skills and training.
Innovative training provision
As a trade organisation the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has a large part to play in this. Last year we launched a new package of timber component Interactive Learning Tools (ILT) designed to offer an alternative and innovative method for providing training to individuals. The ILT provides IT-based interactive awareness training and assessment solutions for three learning modules, including the installation of timber fire door assemblies, timber windows and timber stairs.
Launched to BWF members in 2022, the tools use gaming technology, typically used in computer games, to enhance interaction and the learning experience. This method of learning is designed to help the learner visualise what they are doing to create a more practice-based learning experience, rather than simply reading text on a screen. The ILT also incorporates assessment elements to test learning and retention, and issues certificates to successful learners upon completion.
Aiming to close the skills gap for existing installers and support continued professional development, the ILT represents an evolution in training to meet modern training needs.
It’s one example of what we think is needed, urgently, to address the skills gap in our industry.
Engaging the next generation
Upskilling our current workforce is one thing, attracting the next generation is another – but it’s equally vital for the future of our sector. >>
At the start of 2022, we launched a campaign, ‘Our industry’s next generation: Apprentices tell their stories’, championing the role of apprenticeships in the woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry. Through speaking to new and recently qualified apprentices in woodworking and joinery, engineering, and maintenance and operations we learnt about their stories and experiences in the sector. Our interviews with these new employees – which we released as videos publicly – explored why they chose an apprenticeship and career in the industry, what has surprised them most about the profession and what they see as the next step in their career.
As part of this we spoke to Cai, an apprentice at William Holmes. He told us he was pleasantly surprised by what he encountered: “I would have to say the sheer amount of career options within the trade was encouraging to see. There are so many different paths to choose from, which is a really good thing because once you’ve mastered a certain aspect of joinery you can move onto a new challenge – it keeps things interesting.”
We also spoke to Chris, apprentice at George Barnsdale, about why an apprenticeship is a positive route into the woodworking and joinery manufacture industry: “Through an apprenticeship you gain a range of experience in the different areas of the factory, using different skills and tools, which means that you’re able to choose where you work after. This also means that you’re a bigger asset to a company as you have valuable knowledge and skills in all key areas.”
Cai and Chris were representative of many more apprentices who shared positive views. Creativity, the broad range of career paths, and the ability to learn something new every day were recurring themes. Many also highlighted
the benefits of being able to take a hands-on role and apply learning in a practical environment rather than in a classroom.
It’s clear that a career in woodworking and joinery can appeal to a wide and diverse audience, particularly those who do not want to go to university or take an ‘academic’ route following A levels. An apprenticeship offers the ability to learn and develop maths and engineering knowledge as well as problem-solving skills in a workplace environment.
Companies in our profession have long offered apprenticeships in collaboration with further education training providers, and we believe that now, more than ever, apprenticeships can play a key role in tackling the skills shortage.
We also know that we need to engage with the younger generation before they begin to consider and plan their future career. This is where our established schools’ education programme, WOW I MADE THAT, plays a crucial role inspiring students aged 13–18 to consider a career in woodworking and joinery manufacture.
Aligned with the National Curriculum for Design and Technology (D&T) in England for Years 9–12, WOW I MADE THAT introduces students to woodwork and challenges students to research, design, make and evaluate a timber or timber-based product of their choice, including a timber structure, such as a classroom extension or bridge, or a piece of classroom furniture. The programme consists of a scheme of work for teachers, a student workbook and student handouts – since July 2021 there has been 98 downloads of the teacher scheme of works which clearly demonstrates the demand for woodworking educational programmes within schools.
The programme focuses on the importance of embedding sustainable building processes into a project, from the initial design through to product development and completion, and helps students to understand the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. Throughout the programme students can also learn about the career opportunities available in the woodworking sector to provide insight into the many rewarding roles available within our industry.
It’s vital that kids of school age, when they are thinking ahead to their careers, have a positive view of woodworking, and we can’t simply rely on people discovering our sector once they leave secondary education.
Driving forward skills and training
The continued and successful growth of our sector is reliant on encouraging the next generation and ensuring that those within the profession continue to strive for best practice. Apprenticeships allow businesses to develop a workforce with skills specific to their business, enable the passing on of knowledge from existing employees and ultimately provide a workforce who are highly motivated to advance and upskill within the sector.
This requires a holistic approach to skills and training, with a diverse offering to inspire those at the beginning of their
careers and support the continued professional development of those already working within the sector.
To ensure the sector continues to grow and thrive year on year, we must find new and innovative solutions to help tackle the skills shortage. Yes, there’s a key role for the BWF here, but it’s vital that all stakeholders – including woodworking and joinery manufacture companies, education groups and further education providers – come together and play their part. There is a huge the opportunity in front of us, but we have to go out there and grab it.
For more information, please visit https://www.bwf.org.uk/ n
About the author
Helen Hewitt CEO
British Woodworking Federation (BWF)
References
1. Haynes, L., ‘Construction needs over a quarter of a million extra workers by 2026’, in Construction News, contructionnews. co.uk, published 14 June 2022, accessed 23 November 2022