Talking Timber: Education | 73
YOUR WASTE COULD BE TREASURE TO SCHOOLS Gervais Sawyer says schools are crying out for wood materials
Just occasionally, my wife asks me “Shouldn’t we move to the countryside Gervais and downsize?” to which I reply “Leave my workshop? No chance”. You see, I have always had that urge to make things. It probably started with my Dad who had a total ‘can do’ attitude to life, but was then fuelled by toys like Meccano and the amazing Brickplayer. (I still have both). Over the years I have evolved
a well-equipped workshop where I can take on most things in wood and metal. When I look around my house I can hardly believe that I have made so many things. Furniture, joinery, kitchen units, toys and so on, and not just for myself but for friends and clients too.
Back when I was at school we were assigned workshop tasks to develop manual skills that included needlework and, of course, woodwork. Some of those projects have survived to this day, partly because we were given really good materials with which to work and guided into executing good designs. The results were items that we were proud to take home. I was hooked and have observed over the years that the satisfaction of creating things is in everybody. Success in those early projects is vital.
Fast forward now to where I go out to schools careers fairs to try and interest young people in the wood related industries. We are Britain’s fifth or sixth biggest economic activity and yet are totally invisible to teachers and children alike. I enjoy getting them to imagine waking up to a world with no wood in it. “You are sleeping on the concrete as there is no bed, floor or roof. Toddle out to the loo – a bit embarrassing as there is no door or toilet paper”. You can see that I know how to get a response, EUGHH!
My most recent careers fair was to a mixed grammar school in a middle class district and it was a joy because the students were really engaged. Polite, interested, eye contact and asked lots of questions. Fine, until I spoke to the design-technology teaching staff. They soldier on with limited resources to the extent that the only materials they can afford are MDF offcuts and old pallets. Now I salute them if it teaches them how to pull out a ring-shank nail (ever tried? Impossible!) but they are hardly going to be able to make anything they can be proud to take home. This is a tragedy.
Now I do know of timber companies who supply to schools and colleges good materials that to them are just offcuts and waste but to the schools are just like gold dust. Could you open a channel of communication to your local school? After all, they may supply your future employees.
www.ttjonline.com | November/December 2022 | TTJ
Gervais Sawyer is a wood consultant and a member of the Wood Technology Society
The trade has always grumbled about the difficulty in recruiting, but it seems to me that several barriers need to be overcome. Are you visible? (Sorry, I have said that in a previous column.) Support with materials and advice and perhaps works visits? Can you offer a career structure?
Careers Fairs happen at schools all over the country and it will cost you nothing to attend and promote your company. I can assure you that you will enjoy the experience. ■
Above: Gervais Sawyer goes out to schools careers fairs to try and interest young people in the wood related industries
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85
