Woodknowledge Wales

Woodknowledge Wales

Inspiring innovation through collaboration

Skills and Education

Making Wood Work for Wales

by

Wales Climate Week zoom session, 11:15-12:15, 6 December

REGISTER NOW

A thriving timber industry offers economic, environmental and social benefits to Wales. Opportunities exist all along the supply chain, from nurseries through forest management, harvesting, restocking, sawmilling, right through to the end-use of timber, for example in construction or furniture.

Join session chair, Huwel Manley, operations manager for Natural Resources Wales (NRW) as he hosts a remote panel discussion focused around how to make wood work for Wales. Panel members will include Woodknowledge Wales’ CEO, Gary Newman, Elaine Harrison, National Manager Wales at Confor: Confederation of Forest Industries (UK) and Steve Cranston, Project Lead for Welsh Government’s Delivering Net Zero.

This Wales Climate Week session will open by showcasing companies in Wales who use timber and who have chosen to put fairness at the heart of their operating models. The panel members will then discuss the actions needed to promote a healthy, growing timber industry in Wales.

  • How can the use of timber accelerate decarbonisation of the natural and built environments?
  • How can we deliver low-carbon housing in Wales through the use of Welsh grown timber? 
  • How can we encourage inclusive recruitment and retention in an industry with a huge range of jobs, skills and careers on offer?

Want to know more about the Welsh timber industry, carbon sequestration within timber products, timber training and careers?

This session will be of interest to anyone who:

  • would like to know more about the environmental, economic and social benefits offered by the Welsh timber industry.
  • are interested in reducing embodied carbon in construction, in taking a whole life-cycle approach which recognises carbon sequestration within timber products. 
  • are keen to learn about the breadth of different training, jobs and career paths across Wales and to explore inclusive approaches to employment.

Speakers

  • Elaine Harrison. National Manager for Wales. Confor (Confederation of Forest Industries).
  • Gary Newman. Chief Executive. Woodknowledge Wales.
  • Steve Cranston. Project Lead – Delivering Net Zero.
  • Huwel Manley. Head of Operations South West Wales. Natural Resources Wales.

Full speakers bios can be found at the Wales Climate Week Virtual Conference Programme

Format of the session

11:15-11:20Introduction
11:20-11:30Watch newly filmed case study videos from:
– timber contractors: Williams Homes,
– timber frame manufacturers: SO Modular, and
– award winning social enterprise: Down to Earth
11:30 – 11:55Q&A open panel discussion
12:10-12:15Sum up and close

Register now at Wales Climate Week (gov.wales) where you can also view the rest of the virtual conference agenda and other available resources.

REGISTER NOW

CoP update: Joiners Community of Practice

by

Newly launched CoP to focus on market differentiation, skills and how to make the joinery sector more engaging

Our new joiners Community of Practice (CoP) launched mid-November with a mix of different sized businesses participating. 

Those present expressed interest in being part of the Community so they might hear from others, discuss individual challenges, and learn about how to leverage opportunities. A number of topics for further discussion came up during this initial meeting. These included the challenges associated with market competition driven by imports from Europe and market differentiation. CoP members also want to discuss how they can support one another and their industry. In particular, they wish to look for opportunity around skills and recruitment, and how to attract and engage newcomers into the joinery sector.

Joinery businesses interested in discussing opportunities and challenges of skills and recruitment are encouraged to join the next meeting on 30th November, 9-10am via Zoom.  On the agenda:

  • Challenge: What is your biggest challenge – recruitment overall or lack of skilled people?
  • Recruitment: Are you or have you been experiencing any recruitment challenges? Is / was this impacting on your business? If so, how? Have you developed a process to mitigate this? If so, what does it look like?
  • Skills: Do you need to train new employees? Do you have a training programme for all staff? Do you have any working relationship with local colleges/universities?
  • Potential: If you had complete power, what would your top three actions be to turn this challenge into an opportunity?

Results of the discussion will inform a report on skills across all sectors of the wood value chain as part of the Home Grown Homes Project. 

If you are unable to attend but would like to share your views and experience with us, please contact christiane.lellig@woodknowledgewales.co.uk.

Wales launches Net Zero Skills consultation

by

Sector consultation

Welsh Government's Net Zero Sector Skills Action Plan graphic

Welsh Government has launched its Net Zero Sector Skills consultation [1-3]. The consultation provides an opportunity to strengthen our understanding of the current skills position for each emission sector in Wales, as outlined in Net Zero Wales.

“As the timber construction industry is a key opportunity for future zero carbon Wales, it is very important that Woodknowledge Wales members contribute to this consultation. For those who wish to input into the Woodknowledge Wales response, please contact James.” Gary Newman, CEO, Woodknowledge Wales

The window for responses will cover a three month period where all stakeholders with an interest in contributing and shaping the skills needed to support our net zero journey are asked to respond.

The consultation will end on 31st December 2023.

“Skills will be a key enabler as we transition to a net zero economy. Everyone needs to take responsibility and play their part in taking action to improve practices, investing in people and communities to innovate and build a more resilient economy. This is just the start of this process and Government cannot tackle the challenge alone. A Team Wales approach is the only way we can drive forward these changes and meet our net zero commitments.” Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy [1]

Net Zero Skills Sector Consultation Annex 2: Roadmap [3]

The Net Zero Skills Action Plan (‘the Plan’) [4] was launched in February 2023. The plan sets out this Government’s commitment to support our just transition to net zero through a more co-ordinated approach. It prioritises 7 key areas and contains 36 actions, recognising the importance of skills in supporting our net zero challenges by equipping our current and future workforce with the right options and opportunities. 

Achieving a just transition to net zero is essential; we must leave no-one behind as we move to a greener, fairer future. Source: Stronger, Fairer, Greener Wales: Net Zero Skills Action Plan [4]
Net Zero Skills Action Plan from Addysg Cymru / Education Wales

In the development of the Plan, research and evidence was commissioned to inform the plan’s actions, this included the evidence from the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP). Their Net Zero skills: Insights and evidence from emission sectors in Wales Report [5] set out the current net zero skills position across Wales, the future skills needs, and gaps to meet the changing demands on the workforce for the transition to net zero.

Continued implementation of the action plan is scheduled throughout 2023 with targeted support for employers, an awareness raising campaign and Ministerial events. The Welsh Government will maintain strong links with industry and stakeholders throughout this phase to ensure all inputs are harnessed to help shape skills needs and the future offer.

A report on the outcomes of the consultation will be published in 2024. Development and publication of sector-specific roadmaps and implementation will continue throughout next year.

References

1: OPEN CONSULTATION: Net zero sector skills, Consultation description, www.gov.wales, 11 October 2023, [Accessed October 2023]
2: OPEN CONSULTATION, DOCUMENT. Net zero sector skills, www.gov.wales, 11 October 2023, [Accessed October 2023]
3: Net Zero Action Plan Sector Annex A: Roadmap, www.gov.wales, 11 October 2023, [Accessed October 2023]
4: Stronger, Fairer, Greener Wales: Net Zero Skills Action Plan, 28 February 2023, Policy and Strategy, Welsh Government, www.gov.wales [Accessed October 2023]
5: Net Zero skills: Insights and evidence from emission sectors in Wales Report, 28 February 2023, Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP), www.wcpp.org.uk [Accessed October 2023]