Three Scottish employees of Stewart Milne Timber Systems are the first to achieve Gold Award status under new City & Guilds accreditation of the UK Timber Frame Association's (UKTFA) training and accreditation programme for designers and manufacturers.

This recognition of the industry's training standard gives a major boost towards a fully qualified workforce at every stage of timber frame construction.

Stewart Milne's Robert Sinclain, Andrew Milne and Angus Hay, all based in Aberdeen, were the first three candidates to complete the manufacturers' programme and to achieve the Gold Award for their high standard of work.

UKTFA qualifications are recognised by all leading timber frame manufacturers in the UK and the accredited training schemes are available at three different levels bronze, silver and gold. Gold, for senior designer or operatives at production foreman level is the highest level qualification of its type.

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Chris Wall, Group Business Manager at City & Guilds for Business, said: "We are pleased to be able to add the Designers and Manufacturers programme to the UKTFA’s Accreditation portfolio. The standard of the programmes at all levels is excellent, as is the overall quality assurance systems which support the training and assessment. We continue to be impressed by the UKTFA's desire to address the Timber Frame industry's need for a fully trained and qualified workforce at every stage of the supply chain."

Paul Mitchell, Managing Director of Stewart Milne Timber Systems (Scotland), said: "The focus on improving quality and customer satisfaction continues to increase and the UKTFA programme is a fantastic way to ensure organisations are properly skilled to exceed customer expectations. At Stewart Milne we are committed to training and development and are delighted to be at the forefront of this. As industry leader, we believe this will facilitate adoption across the industry providing increased confidence in the credibility of the industry and those who work in it."

Ray Curran, head of education and training at the UKTFA, says: "When it comes to choosing a construction method and a quality supply chain, developers have much higher expectations than ever before and so it’s essential that there is formal recognition of where competency lies within the timber frame industry. It is also imperative that the timber frame industry has a framework of accredited programmes to allow candidates to progress as experience is gained. The UKTFA will continue to work closely with housebuilders and the wider timber frame industry to ensure we have a fully qualified, motivated workforce for the future."

(GK/JM)