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The Western Timber Trade Association organised an event for students and lecturers to bring their knowledge up to date, as part of the Timber Trade Federation’s new regional and educational engagement strategy
The TTF’s regional engagement and education manager, Tabitha Binding, the Western Timber Trade Association, and the Neath Port Talbot (NPTC) Group of Colleges held a ‘Talking Timber’ day, encouraging both lecturers and students in carpentry, joinery and construction, to find out more about today’s timber industry and products, plus advances such as modified wood, CLT and glulam.
Eight timber industry professionals, fifteen local employers and employees and over seventy carpentry and joinery students took part in the event, which included a mini exhibition.
“Timber provides a myriad of solutions that are not yet taught at college in the UK and we are taking the lead in changing this,” said Wayne Probert, WTTA Chairman and UK director at Binderholz. In addition to presentations from Probert and Binding, there were talks by Nick Boulton, director of the Trussed Rafter Association, Dr Andy Pitman of TTF members Lignia Wood and Mark Jenkins of nationwide distributors James Latham Timber. Noel Gordon of So Modular talked about offsite construction alongside Gary Numan, chairman of Woodknowledge Wales, in the afternoon, with Robin Lancashire of BM TRADA concluding the afternoon line-up.
The TTF is leading a multi-pronged approach to enlighten, enthuse and educate current and future design professionals and craftsmen to construct healthier, warmer and more energy efficient low carbon buildings. Further such events are now being planned across the country, expanding TTF’s regional engagement with the wood-using communities across the UK.
