Timber Development UK has launched a new Timber Skills Action Plan to enable the construction industry to achieve net-zero targets
A new Timber Skills Action Plan will equip the UK construction industry with the skills to increase the use of timber and achieve net-zero targets.
Developed in partnership between Timber Development and the HCI Skills Gateway, the Timber Skills Action Plan has been launched at Futurebuild London this week.
Increasing use of timber could reduce significantly carbon emissions
With the construction industry responsible for almost 40% of global emissions, and half of all materials extracted from the environment, experts have identified the use of timber as a key solution to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Timber is lightweight, easily workable, and can be processed efficiently using modern methods of construction, reducing waste and improving productivity.
This provides solutions for net-zero public sector buildings, national retrofit targets and affordable, energy-efficient housing.
Engineered products like Cross-Laminated Timber can capture and store carbon in the built environment, resulting in a net benefit of 754CO2/m2 reduction compared to other forms of construction.
The Timber Skills Action Plan will also build the necessary skills to deliver net-zero
The Timber Skills Action plan provides an industry-agreed breakdown of the skills and knowledge required for building with timber.
To address the skills gap, Timber Development UK has built a coalition across industry, academia, and funders, creating the competency framework at the heart of the plan.
The framework already underpins a set of short, practical courses developed by NMITE’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) in partnership with TDUK.
The Timber TED (Technical Engineering & Design) courses provide comprehensive and flexible training for modern timber construction methods, enabling professionals to upskill and reskill in this critical area.
Supporting built environment professionals in implementing timber
David Hopkins, chief executive of Timber Development UK, said: “Our ambition is to support every built environment professional to identify and address timber skills and knowledge gaps so the industry can make the best use of timber in construction.
“The construction industry faces a steep climb to achieve net zero targets as one of the worst-performing industries. Timber provides a ready-made solution that doesn’t rely on greenwashing, speculative innovations, or progress in other industries to deliver genuine carbon savings in the short and medium term. We now need the construction sector and government to hear this call to action.”
Kirsty Connell-Skinner, programme manager at the HCI Skills Gateway, said: “This plan, led by HCI Skills Gateway using Scotland’s best practice, is an important step in the development of the UK-wide timber construction trade, as it allows us to set a national mission for the industry.”
