Press Release: WITForum Shows Strength In Numbers As Board Grows

Download the PDF Release Here The Woodworking Industry Training Forum (WITForum) has welcomed eight new members to the Board, making it stronger and more representative than ever before. Administered by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF the aim of the WITForum is to tackle the widening skills gap that exists within the joinery industry, and the Board plays a pivotal role in shaping its direction and priorities. The new members include representatives from joinery companies of all sizes: Waller (Yorkshire) Ltd, Tompkins Ltd, HB Traditional Joinery, Parker & Highland Joinery, Arnold Laver Timberworld, Elmwood Joinery (East Anglia) Ltd, Oakwrights (Bath) Ltd and JELD-WEN UK Ltd,. The revamped Board will meet for the first time in October to set the WITForum’s plans and priorities for 2011 and beyond, and will oversee input into the qualification development being undertaken by ProSkills, helping shape the training landscape.
        
Pauline Kelly, Chair of the WITForum Board, says: ‘I’m delighted to welcome these eight new faces to the Board, and look forward to working with them to develop and improve the training on offer. It is my belief that training is vital to the long-term success of the woodworking industry, and it’s something about which I’m immensely passionate. We’re in a fortunate position to be able to represent the views of our members in a number of qualification reviews to ensure that those available provide the skills necessary to succeed, and help ensure the future of the industry. As government purse strings are tightened and the amount of funding available for training is reduced, the Board will play a vital role in channeling our limited resources to achieve the best for the industry.’ Speaking about the new additions to the Board, Manager of the WITForum, Dave Campbell, says: ‘Boosting the number of manufacturing members represented on the Board, our new recruits join us at a crucial time as funding cuts are looming large on the horizon, and qualifications are up for review and redevelopment. Coming from companies of all sizes, our new Board members represent a broad sample of the membership, helping to ensure that the WITForum caters for the full range of joinery manufacturers and addresses their varied training needs. I look forward to working alongside the new Board members to help drive qualification reform, ensure available training meets the industry’s needs and, ultimately, ensure the future of the woodworking industry as a whole.’ For more information about the work of the WITForum, log on to Download the PDF Release Here