Clearview National March 2015 - Issue 160 | Page 52

DOORS&WINDOWS

Five a Day
Campaign
Door and window companies are
being encouraged to focus on their
‘five a day’ to get the industries
fitter and healthier this year.
»»This is not about
fruit and vegetables, but the
new campaign from the British
Woodworking Federation (BWF),
outlining five activities that it
believes are essential to the health
and wellbeing of the sector in
the run up to this year’s General
Election.
Iain McIlwee, chief executive
of the BWF, explains the five
essentials for 2015:
Stay safe
“I don’t need to remind the
industry just how hazardous it
can be in a workshop or on a
construction site. We all need
to commit to a culture that
promotes our employees as our
most valuable resource and keeps
them safe and well.”“We believe
that safety and health are core
values to every successful business.
So if you’re a BWF member, sign
up to the Health and Safety Hero
campaign – a new initiative to

achieve zero tolerance in respect
of fatal injuries, RIDDOR related
incidents and occupational
ill health incidents in the
woodworking industry.”
Don’t waste a
good Election
“If we miss this opportunity
it’ll be another five years before
we’ll get another serious chance
to influence politics in this
country and the policies we
need for industry growth. This
year’s General Election looks like
being the most interesting for a
generation.
“Now is the time to contact
your local MP and the new
Prospective Parliamentary
Candidates hoping to be voted
in this May. Invite them to come
and see your business and learn
about the importance of the doors
and windows industries to the
British economy, environment
and society” Iain comments.

52 » M AR 2015 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

Keep on
learning
Dave Campbell, manager
of the Woodworking Industry
Training Forum, the training arm
of the BWF, says: “Despite hard
times, ours is an industry that
continues to look to the future.
We have the best track record of
any industry in our provision of
apprenticeships, a record we can
be very proud of. But we must
continue to invest in skills and
training.”
Inspire the next
generation
The Government’s Chief
Construction Adviser, Peter
Hansford, is calling for every
business in construction, big
and small, to adopt a school.
So this year, says the BWF, why
not offer to go in and give a talk
about what your industries and
why they are attractive to school
leavers.

Dave explains: “Where is the
nearest school to you with a Design
and Technology teacher? Give them
a call and see if there is anything
you could do to help towards
their curriculum and inspire the
youngsters about future career
opportunities in woodworking and
joinery. For older students, consider
offering work placements, factory
or site visits, and a process to recruit
new apprentices.”
Get recognition for
how great you are
The BWF’s final challenge to
the industry is to get better at its
own PR: “No more modesty in
2 015, this is the year to get your
best projects celebrated through
the BWF Awards. And if you start
the process now, you won’t run
out of time when entries close in
June.” concludes Iain.
For more information visit,
www.bwf.org.uk