New webinar series aims to strengthen timber construction skills

In support of a major new initiative, the Timber in Construction Skills Programme, a new series of webinars has been launched to equip the industry with essential skills – Timber in Construction 101 – completely free for anyone interested in using timber.

Skills development is a core theme of the Timber in Construction Roadmap. The Timber in Construction Skills Programme is a key project in this landscape, as a two-year initiative backed by the CITB and delivered by a powerhouse partnership including TDUK, BE-ST, Edinburgh Napier University, NMITE, the STA, and Donaldson Timber Systems.

Alex Goodfellow, CEO of Donaldson Timber Systems, said: “The Timber in Construction Roadmap highlighted the importance of developing the workforce alongside the growth of timber construction, and this CITB-funded initiative is an important step in helping address that challenge.

“By bringing together industry, education and innovation partners, we have an opportunity to create a long-term skills framework that supports better project outcomes, attracts more people into construction and helps the sector deliver the high-quality, low-carbon homes the UK needs in the years ahead.”

David Hopkins, chief executive for Timber Development UK, echoed this message, saying: “As offsite approaches and low-carbon materials like timber gain significant market share, the professionals who understand wood – and can work with it confidently – will be the ones who lead the industry into the next decade. We are proud to work with our network of partners, members and industry experts to launch this webinar series – made free to all – in support of the wider programme, and bring the industry knowledge to support this skills evolution.”

The series – Timber in Construction 101 – features six intervention-led webinars, mirroring the course content currently being developed. With the series covering the entire timber value chain, learners will be able to engage in skills they can use on-site or in the factory the very next day, including around core concepts. These are:

• Material Intelligence: Understanding timber performance and properties
• Design and Specification: Navigating fire safety and structural integrity
• Offsite Manufacturing: Optimising factory-to-site delivery and precision
• Onsite Excellence: Mastering logistics and sequence management
• Navigating Compliance: Building confidence in the regulatory landscape
• Constructing Carbon: Evidencing carbon claims for timber construction

Learners can now enrol into the webinar series, with the first webinar in the series, Material Intelligence, beginning on 3 June 2026. The series, which will persist through to March 2026, will be made available on demand to learners, to help cultivate a new network of students and educators for timber.

Help shape the future of timber construction skills

We’re looking for individuals and organisations who want to actively contribute to the Timber in Construction Skills Programme. Express your interest in getting involved in a way that suits your expertise and capacity by completing the online form with BE_ST.

You can get involved by:

• Reviewing and strengthening programme content
• Contributing new knowledge, case studies or teaching materials
• Championing the programme within your organisation or institution
• Supporting educators to embed timber content into learning
• Taking part in events or contributing to podcasts

All you need to enrol into the webinar series is a free Timber Development UK account. For more information about the Skills programme as a whole, please visit the BE-ST website.

Timber Development UK | Build a better world through wood

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