LEAMINGTON SPA: Timber Center and Build Center are carving a stronger future for staff with the introduction of a training scheme on British timber products, projects and processes.

Held in local Build Center and Timber Center branches across the country, ‘WoodWorks’ has been introduced in conjunction with BSW Timber, the largest sawmilling business in Great Britain.

It has been designed to help develop and train staff in their knowledge of common timber products and their uses. Comprehensive course content provides an insight into the timber and forestry industry, an introduction to British Softwoods and details the most common uses of timber, plus an overview of methods of repair, maintenance and improvement.

Paul Robertson, national timber development manager for Build Center and Timber Center at parent company Wolseley UK, explained: “We take training and career development very seriously and our investment in the ‘WoodWorks’ internal training programme ensures the team is equipped with expert knowledge on timber. This in turn will help provide Build Center and Timber Center customers with exactly the right advice and products they need.”

The training has already proved popular with Timber Center and Build Center staff, including Scott Jordan, branch manager at Build Center Derby. He comments: “I was very impressed with the ‘WoodWorks’ programme and found the topics covered very useful and relevant. It is ideal for those with little or no timber knowledge but also as a useful refresher course for others.”

The ‘WoodWorks’ training scheme forms part of Timber Center and Build Center’s ‘Good for Wood Too’ timber awareness programme, championing the versatility and performance of timber as a building material. The programme also raises awareness of the commitment Build Center and Timber Center have to sourcing high quality, sustainable products, as well as investing in value-added services and technical expertise to create a true ‘one stop shop’ for timber.

Mr Robertson added: “Timber Center and Build Center are committed supporters of responsible forest management and sustainable sources of timber, and ‘Good for Wood Too’ enables us to share this message with our customers.”

All 12 dedicated Timber Centers and more than 150 Build Centers across the UK have FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody Certification and can offer over 6000 products from forests which are managed sustainably.