Current Projects
We are working on various industry-related projects currently. Details of each are given below.
Chiselling Away At Skills Shortages
For Furniture & Furnishings companies - FREE TRAINING
An ESF funded project for the West Midlands ~ it is post code dependent for employees aged 19+ wanting an NVQ Level 2 in:
Business Administration, Customer Service, IT
Team Leading, Telesales, Management Warehousing, Lift Truck etc
Furniture and Cabinet Making + Installation
Wood Machining, Polishing & Finishing
Kitchens + Bedrooms Manufacture + Installation
Restoration, Soft Furnishings, Upholstery
Blinds and Shutter Installation, Bed manufacture
For further information contact paul@ffinto.org Tel: 0115 922 1200
Scottish Labour Market Intelligence July 2006 - June 2007
FFINTO will be working on a detailed analysis of the furniture sector in Scotland analysing the industry composition of numbers and needs. The project will enable the partners to identify the specific sector training needs, skills gaps/shortages at present and for the future.
For more information on this, please see the Scottish ESF Projects tab on the left hand side of the website.
Continued Professional Development (CPD) (January 05 to December 06)
To widen participation in lifelong learning so that more people continue throughout their lives to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding and improve their employability in a changing labour market. In turn this will improve the productivity/competitiveness of the furniture companies participating. Initial skills being focused are CNC, CAD, CAM, Management and Environment.
Increased Competitiveness (Labour Market Intelligence) (January 05 to December 06)
Research to identify emerging skills shortages and follow up actions. This includes undertaking a detailed LMI (Labour Market Intelligence) survey in eight of the regions together with research into the export issues within the sector by BFM.
Change Up
CHANGE-UP aims to develop and pilot test an integrated approach to better anticipate and manage restructuring processes in the European upholstered furniture industry in order to avoid or limit their negative social consequences.
It will address the sustainability of a European network of centres providing a range of services supporting the upholstered furniture manufacturers (labour market observatory, skills update, knowledge management, technology transfer, innovation management, international marketing, innovative models of industrial relations).
Expected benefit: improvement of both the competitiveness of enterprises and the employability of workers in the sector.
Woodmachining Standards Revision
The Woodmachining Occupational Standards have been revised. The review was completed by CITB ConstructionSkills, FFINTO and UKW. The review process has been complex, as it sought to satisfy the needs of the three sectors. The revised structure and units have been submitted to the regulators and we await their considerations. If the proposals are accepted the new NVQ will become available circa spring 2006.
UK Prison Services
Shotts Prison, Scotland
This initiative is looking at engaging employers in Scotland to recruit prisoners on their release who have been trained to apprenticeship standard and with additional qualifications e.g. fork lift truck training. Funding routes to support the training and employment for the induction period is being sought.
Verne Prison, Dorset
This initiative is to implement Apprenticeships framework within Verne Prison and also to look at engaging employers in Dorset to recruit prisoners on their release who have been trained to apprenticeship standard. Funding is being supplied for the setting up of the apprenticeships by the Local Learning and Skills Council.
