WoodBUILD 2025 tackles urgent skills gaps with powerful stories, fresh voices, and practical workshops to build a high-value forest nation—now and for the future
WoodBUILD 2025 is putting people and skills at the heart of its mission to grow a thriving forest nation. With the timber industry facing urgent skills shortages and an ageing workforce, this year’s conference will deliver a set of dynamic workshops and debates designed to tackle the big questions of recruitment, education, and workforce transformation across the supply chain.
On Wednesday morning, the main stage opens with Plenary 3: People and skills for a high-value forest nation, a powerful session that examines how we engage both current and future generations to support a vibrant, low-carbon forestry and construction sector.
From school pupils exploring career ideas to employers wrestling with training gaps, the session will bring together a diverse group of voices to uncover what skills are needed now and in the future—and how we build a system that truly meets those needs.
Harriet Jenkins: A forestry future rooted in passion
This year’s focus on skills and youth engagement is perfectly embodied in the journey of Harriet Jenkins, a passionate young forester whose story was recently shared by the Royal Forestry Society as part of International Women’s Day 2024.
Growing up in rural Wales, Harriet didn’t initially see forestry as a career path—but a love of nature, a strong science background, and exposure to inspiring mentors eventually led her to pursue a degree in forestry. Today, she is a Forestry Technical Officer at Tilhill, and a rising voice in the sector’s next generation.
Harriet’s story showcases the importance of accessible role models, real-world engagement, and clear career pathways for young people. Her journey illustrates how the forestry sector can unlock powerful new talent by making space for diverse interests, values, and perspectives.
At WoodBUILD 2025, Harriet will take part in the skills focused plenary discussion, bringing first-hand insights into what young professionals value in the workplace—and how the sector can become more inclusive and future-facing.
In Harriet’s own words: “We need to show young people that forestry isn’t just one thing—it’s science, sustainability, people, and purpose. It’s about being outside and making a real impact.”
Wednesday 4 June 9.45: People and skills for a high-value forest nation
This plenary session begins with a ministerial video address from Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, who will underscore the importance of people and skills to Wales’ Timber Industrial Strategy.
This is followed by a short video piece featuring young people reflecting on their career hopes and motivations—offering a fresh perspective on how they view the future of work and climate.
A headline panel discussion titled Turbulent times: Managing skills needs and sector transformation will follow. A panel of policy makers, education providers, and industry representatives will explore:
- What skills are needed to support the forestry and construction sectors?
- What do younger generations value in work—and how can industry respond?
- How must businesses evolve to attract and retain talent at all levels?
- What policies are needed to support a thriving, future-ready workforce?
At the heart of the conversation: How can we become a thriving forest nation—today and for generations to come?
To complement the plenary, WoodBUILD 2025 is offering two in-depth workshops that drill into the details of current skills needs—and opportunities for transformation.
Defining skills needs for timber frame and joinery manufacturing
Low-carbon construction is creating booming demand for timber framers and joiners—but colleges are struggling to fill courses, and many training providers are out of step with what the industry actually needs. In this practical session, James Moxey will bring together voices from education, timber frame and joinery manufacturing to ask:
- Are current carpentry and joinery courses still fit for purpose?
- What new or updated skills do employers now require?
- How can we ensure that apprenticeships and training pathways meet the demands of low-carbon construction?
This session is a must for manufacturers, FE providers, and workforce planners seeking to align learning with real-world delivery.
Future Generations – Sustainable Schools for the future
Looking to the future means investing in it. In this workshop, Cymbrogi—an organisation Empowering today’s learners & educators to shape tomorrow’s sustainable world—will lead participants through its model of education—one that puts sustainability, enterprise, and community at the heart of learning. The session will explore how the timber industry can form meaningful partnerships with schools to:
- Inspire students with real-world sustainability and skills challenges
- Enable sawmillers, manufacturers and builders to share their innovations
- Support the next generation to envision careers in natural materials and climate-positive construction
Using real examples, including engagement work at Cymbrogi, the session will help industry players understand how to communicate their value and purpose in a way that resonates with schools and students.
Be part of the change
As Wales continues to roll out its Timber Industrial Strategy and expand home-grown housing programmes, the need for a skilled, inspired, and supported workforce has never been more urgent.
WoodBUILD 2025 invites everyone—whether you’re a policymaker, manufacturer, educator, or student—to join the conversation. From technical training to school engagement, from policy to personal stories, these sessions offer a rare opportunity to shape the future of a high-value forest nation.
Let’s inspire the next generation—and build a timber future rooted in people.
