1. March 2017 Update: Forestry and Timber Technologies Industry Leadership Group and Timber Development.
Andy Leitch

2. Scottish Forest and Timber Technologies Industry Leadership Group Structure – priorities
SFTT ILG
Skills Group
Emerging Markets
Forest Floor Efficiencies
Adding value through innovation in Construction
Outline that industry put in significant effort to agree Aims and objectives of RFFG, therefore important document and important that we review regularly and update objectives when required.

3. Scottish Forest and Timber Technologies Industry Leadership Group Structure – priorities
SFTT ILG
Skills Group
Emerging Markets
Forest Floor Efficiencies
Adding value through innovation in Construction
Outline that industry put in significant effort to agree Aims and objectives of RFFG, therefore important document and important that we review regularly and update objectives when required.

4. Industry Skills Group activities to date
Draft Action plan in place. “About us”
Forestry Apprenticeships (shared).
Forest Machine Operators Training.
Forestry Ambassadors.
Careers mapping.
Introduce Steve and he will talk about SE led activities aimed at encouraging and facilitating growth in the forestry and Timber Technologies sector.

5. Lantra Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards – SFTT Trees and Timber Award: Winner Emma Staniforth, Runner-up Matt Lingard
Introduce Steve and he will talk about SE led activities aimed at encouraging and facilitating growth in the forestry and Timber Technologies sector.

6. Provide rounded development.
Lantra Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards – Overall Learner of the Year: Emma Staniforth
Shared apprenticeship scheme across private and public sector forest based companies:
Provide rounded development.
Possibly be more attractive to candidates.
Share risk.
Share cost.
Introduce Steve and he will talk about SE led activities aimed at encouraging and facilitating growth in the forestry and Timber Technologies sector.

7. Developing a Forest Machine Operator Training Course/Apprenticeship
Focused on new talent and upskilling where required.
Considering Apprenticeship model.
36 week course offering a more consolidated option to that of the original 8 week course.
Provide a qualification.
Will require buy-in from public and private sector.
At a costing stage and exploring all funding options.
FCS has committed funds to pilot any new training model agreed by FMO sub-group .
Introduce Steve and he will talk about SE led activities aimed at encouraging and facilitating growth in the forestry and Timber Technologies sector.

8. Forestry Ambassadors
Uniform approach to representing sector to schools and further/higher education establishments.
Develop material that can be used by all.
Possibly develop a register of ambassadors;
To recognise efforts of individuals and organisations.
To give a point(s) of contact to access ambassadors.
Who would maintain the register? ICF? Colleges?
Regional groups have a part to play in providing ambassadors and points of local contact?
Introduce Steve and he will talk about SE led activities aimed at encouraging and facilitating growth in the forestry and Timber Technologies sector.

9. Updated Careers Map
Single careers map that represents opportunities across all segments of our sector. (Feedback form Claire)
It must be designed to be attractive and understood by potential students, their parents and career advisors. Best practice from other industries.
Engage fully with Scottish Government career initiative “My world of Work” and ensure only pertinent and current information is placed on this platform.
Introduce Steve and he will talk about SE led activities aimed at encouraging and facilitating growth in the forestry and Timber Technologies sector.

10. WoodWisdom End of Programme Seminar 4th and 5th April, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
23 Transnational Projects involving 12 countries and over 20 partners. Four of them had UK partners.
Over 30M euros invested in research on adding value to wood supply streams in Europe.
Key focus areas were; wood mobilisation, construction and biotechnology.
Some very interesting topics:

11. WoodWisdom Seminar – Construction
Hybrid Cross laminated components.
Durable Bridges
Tall Timber Facades
How wood products contribute to healthy buildings
Hardwoods for construction sector
Using recovered wood for reprocessing and manufacture
Wood based thermal insulation materials
Silent Timber Buildings.

12. WoodWisdom Seminar - Biotech topics.
Value chains for Polysaccharides from wood.
Aerogels for biomedicine
New substitute for creosote
Liquid fuels from lignin.
Biorefining recycled wood.
Manufacturing Composites from nanocellulose.
New products created from hemicellulose.