BWF appoints ‘no ands Tony’ as its first fully dedicated Training Manager

The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has appointed a new Training Manager to help ramp up work in the education, training and skills arena for the joinery and woodworking industry.

Tony Batchelor joins the BWF team following former Membership & Training Director Dave Campbell’s departure. Tony will be responsible for delivering on the BWF’s three core training objectives: increasing recruitment into the sector; maintaining and developing high quality qualifications and delivery partners, and fostering a culture of continuous learning in the industry.  The new role will focus exclusively on training and Tony will also support the development of associated commercial products.

BWF Chief Executive Iain McIlwee commented on the new appointment:

"Perhaps the biggest change the joinery sector currently faces is to the skills landscape. With CITB's role under review, changes to Apprenticeship Funding, and core qualifications being radically reformed, there are huge opportunities for BWF to help develop the training environment that the industry needs.

"We have a good training strategy, but to meet these challenges and opportunities head on we need a fully focussed and dedicated training post within BWF. Now for the first time we have a dedicated training manager role which isn’t split with other responsibilities. As such I am delighted to introduce ‘no ands Tony’. Tony is a vital part of our plan to attract talent into our sector and he has the experience to help BWF develop the right infrastructure and qualifications for the joinery sector.

"In short he will be a fantastic addition to the great team that we already have in place."

With a wealth of experience on construction industry training matters through working at CITB, Tony has previously engaged with construction industry representatives across the four home nations to develop National Occupational Standards, training and qualification solutions, and trailblazer apprenticeships for a wide range of occupational areas.

Having spent the early years of his working life in the public transport sector, Tony has worked on training and skills projects for much of his subsequent career including a spell contracted to British Council to deliver training on vocational and educational projects in Asia.

ENDS