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TTF CEO comments on Proskills
John White, Chief Executive of the Timber Trade Federation blog on the 14th July 2010
I attended the latest meeting of the Wood Industry Board of Proskills yesterday. The entire wood industry supply chain came together in 2009 and agreed to join with Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for, amongst other things, the construction products sector. We were formally integrated into Proskills on the 1st January this year and I have been hugely impressed with the progress we have made as a sector in addressing the many things we need to do to get our industry in a position where it can offer to its employees, prospective employees and employers the resources that will help drive wood industry businesses forward.
Much of what has been happenning is detailed, prosaic and in some cases mind-numbingly detailed but absolutely vital work assessing the current standards for jobs in the sector. This forms the basis of qualifications that get recognition and attract governemt training grants. This and associated work will take some time before the industry sees the real benefits in the form of a comprehensive, accredited suite of qualifications at all levels that can be used to develop people in the industry, but the work that is going on is necessary.
Having said that the Proskills Academy is using what is out there already to provide an invaluable resource for employers. I saw on Tuesday the launch version of the Academy’s new website, through which its services will be delivered, and will be getting a fuller demonstration next Thursday. Boy it’s impressive and already has things employers can use, much of it for free. Such things as a software programme to manage staff development are professional, quality services any forward thinking company should want to access. ProSkills and the TTF will be marketing to TTF members in due course but do take a look at mps-academy.co.uk
Education, Skills and Training are another part of the mix of industry developments that can take the wood and wood products industry forward.