Professional Builders Merchant

For the staff that buy, sell or handle wood, the level 2 NVQ Diploma in Merchant Supplies will help provide a consistent standard nationally and has the potential to be recognised throughout the industry as the minimum competence required.

Everyone will benefit from the introduction of this qualification:

• Employers will have an assurance that staff are qualified and quality will improve
• Staff will gain confidence, esteem and a sense of satisfaction and achievement
• The reputation of the industry will improve as more staff become qualified

The NVQ has been developed by employers, the Sector Skills Council and the awarding body PIABC.

PIABC is determined to help professionalise the wood and timber industries by offering relevant qualifications and have recently also launched NVQs in:

• Woodmachining level 2
• Woodmachining level 3
• Sawmilling – round timber level 2
• Sawmilling – secondary conversion level 2
• Tooling Technology – Saw Doctoring level 2
• Wood Preserving level 2

Also, there is now a national apprenticeship scheme for the wood and timber industry

Helen Hewitt, Proskills wood and timber industry lead said “These qualifications have been developed specifically for companies in the Wood and Timber Industries, and come after a long wait for the industry. We have been extremely excited about this launch as this is truly the first time the industry has worked together towards achieving a fully competent workforce for the future.”
PIABC will offer these OFQUAL accredited qualifications. PIABC is a professional awarding organisation operating within the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

28th August 2012

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