Join James Moxey and Ceri Loxton at two pivotal WoodBUILD 2024 workshops designed to inspire and engage the next generation in the forest industries.
In the quest to inspire young minds and drive them towards careers in the Forest Industries, access to engaging content, courses, and qualifications is crucial. As part of WoodBUILD 2024, two dynamic workshops are set to break new ground, aimed at exploring and addressing the challenges in these sectors while fostering collaboration between the Forest Industry and the Education sectors.
“The forest industries in Wales share much in common with lots of other sectors looking to attract enthusiastic, intelligent, committed young people to join their sector. How are we going to do this? How needs to be involved in making this happen? what resources do we currently have in Wales to help us achieve this and what more do we need? How can we work across sectors and nations to help insure we have informed, educated and motivated young people to help us respond to the climate crisis?” Ceri Loxton, Research Scientist, BioComposites Centre, Bangor University
Future Generations in the Forest Industries’ on Tuesday, July 2 at 11:30 AM and ‘Inspiring Future Generations’ on Wednesday, July 3 at 14:00 PM aim to advance the essential work highlighted in a recent study, which identified significant recruitment challenges in both Forestry and advanced timber manufacturing.
“The future of all sectors in the Forest Industries relies on our ability to attract young people who will take on the challenge of decarbonising Welsh society through the creation of sustainable forests and the construction of low carbon homes. The importance of making this happen cannot be over-emphasised.” James Moxey, Woodknowledge Wales
The skills and recruitment work undertaken by James Moxey, Business Development & Delivery, Woodknowledge Wales as part of the Home-Grown Homes 2 project (HGH2) has unveiled critical challenges in the forestry and advanced timber manufacturing sectors.
There’s a clear need for a unified approach among stakeholders to create a cohesive plan and implement activities that will not only resolve these issues but also support Wales’ ambitious goals to decarbonize society and build sustainable homes.
The 2024 Edge Foundation Skills Shortages bulletin highlights some stark realities:
- The overall labour market remains tough.
- Employment patterns are undergoing significant changes.
- Skills shortages are numerous and growing.
- Investment in skills is on the decline.
- Skills shortages are costly for UK businesses, the economy, and the environment.
- Employers value work experience and transferable skills.
- Young people lack confidence in meeting future skills requirements.
- The education system is struggling to keep pace with skills needs.
With more than half of UK businesses experiencing skills shortages and an aging workforce—20% of foresters are set to retire by 2030—the need for innovative solutions is urgent. The Forestry and advanced timber manufacturing sectors, pivotal in decarbonizing Welsh society and addressing housing crises, are at the heart of this issue.
Workshops to Inspire and Collaborate
The upcoming workshops, hosted by James Moxey of Woodknowledge Wales and Ceri Loxton of BioComposites Centre, Bangor University, are not just about discussing challenges but about developing actionable solutions to bridge the skills gap and attract new talent.
Workshop 1: Future Generations in the Forest Industries
Date: Tuesday, July 2 at 11:30 AM
This interactive session aims to bring together a diverse group to explore how we can inspire young people about the value of careers in the Forest Industries. The focus will be on understanding how these careers can offer meaningful work that contributes to climate action.
Workshop 2: Inspiring Future Generations
Date: Tuesday, July 3 at 11:30 AM
This session will delve into ensuring young people have access to inspiring content, courses, and qualifications. The goal is to explore and define the challenges in these areas and to develop creative actions for collaboration between the Forest Industry and the Education sectors.
These workshops are more than just events—they will contribute towards creating a sustainable and skilled workforce for the future. By addressing the challenges and leveraging the enthusiasm of the younger generations, we can secure a greener, more sustainable future for Wales and beyond.
Strategic Actions for Forestry and Advanced Timber Manufacturing
Outline findings from our recent study into skills and recruitment have propose a plan of action.
Forestry
A Welsh Forestry working group for skills and recruitment has been established in response to the skills challenge, to focus on four key themes:
- Growing Interest: Collaborate with Careers Wales and communication specialists to accurately depict the incentives and appeal of Forestry careers to young people.
- Growing Awareness: Expand awareness-raising activities and create an online resource to connect employers with educators, highlighting careers that support Wales’ Net-Zero ambitions.
- Growing Access: Develop apprenticeships and ensure biodiversity management practices are integral to forestry training.
- Growing the Workforce: Create a prospectus to encourage investment in expanding the forest contractor base across Wales.
Advanced Timber Manufacturing (ATM)
We are working with Welsh timber frame manufacturers and joiners to address four main themes:
- Building Interest: Adapt career offers to align with younger generations’ values.
- Building Access: Identify and develop essential course content to support ATM, including lectures and modules in key subject areas.
- Building Awareness: Promote careers in ATM through events, lectures, and firsthand experience opportunities.
- Building a Workforce: Use regenerative principles to drive skills and recruitment within housing developments.
Common Themes and Collective Action
The study also identified common themes that support several recommended actions. These include:
- Awareness: Raising society’s understanding of the role of Forestry and low-carbon ATM in decarbonizing Wales.
- Interest: Highlighting incentives to attract people to these sectors.
- Access: Creating learning pathways for proper training and skill development.
- Workforce: Supporting entry into the sectors through experience, employment, and continuous professional development (CPD).
The key to success lies in collective action. By bringing together representatives from private, public, and third-sector organizations, shared solutions to barriers can be found.
Impact on the Timber Industrial Strategy
The Timber Industrial Strategy (TIS) relies on a steady flow of skilled individuals to thrive. The workshops and subsequent actions are designed to ensure this flow supports the TIS’s ambitions. By adapting to the needs of the people of Wales and attracting talent to sectors offering climate action careers, the study calls for immediate and concerted efforts.
Register for WoodBUILD 2024 and be part of these critical industry discussions.
