NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering), is thrilled to announce that NMITE’s Timber Technology Engineering Design (TED) course has won BE-ST's (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation) Green Skills award and Professor Robert Hairstans, a key contributor to our institution as the Centre for Advanced Timber Technology Director, has won the Beacon Award.
This award for Green Skills is a celebration of our commitment to sustainability and innovation. It marks a crucial step towards a greener and more skilled future for the construction industry, aligning with NMITE's vision for positive change.
Professor Hairstans' recognition comes as part of BE-ST's first-ever Accelerate to Zero Awards, where 20 businesses, individuals, and organisations were celebrated for their dedication to decarbonising the built environment across various categories. The ceremony, held in central Glasgow, marked a significant moment for NMITE and Timber TED, highlighting their pivotal role in driving transformative change within the construction sector.
Addressing the Construction Skills Crisis
The construction industry is currently grappling with a significant skills shortage, requiring an additional 350,000 skilled workers over the next decade to meet the demands of achieving net zero by 2050. In response to this challenge, NMITE, in collaboration with our partners, introduced the Timber TED initiative. This innovative program seeks to upskill and reskill professionals in the built environment, focusing on the urgent needs arising from the climate emergency. What sets NMITE apart is focusing on future methods and skills rather than doing things as they have always been done and demonstrating to the industry how technology accomplishes more with few resources to close the skills gap more quickly.
Timber TED's Impact at NMITE
We are proud to share the success of Timber TED's pilot courses, TED 1 and TED 2, during the 2022-23 academic year at NMITE. Thirty-two learners from diverse construction backgrounds participated in the program, with an impressive 44% female uptake, challenging industry norms and promoting inclusivity.
The 12-week course features a unique nine-day, in-person residential learning component that provides participants with immersive and practical experiences. Our learners included architects, engineers, project managers, and timber frame manufacturers, showcasing the program's broad applicability across various professional roles in the industry.
A Collaborative Partnership for Success
Timber TED's success is attributed to a robust competency framework developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders – the Timber in Construction Skills Action Plan. NMITE, alongside Edinburgh Napier University and Timber Development UK, spearheaded a coalition that seamlessly connected industry, academia, and funders. This collaborative effort was designed to equip the UK construction industry with essential skills to increase timber usage and achieve ambitious net-zero targets. During delivery, we collaborated with partners, like Oakwrights, to share industry perspectives and to demonstrate to learners how evolutions in technology are transforming the industry.
Addressing the Net Zero Skills Gap
Timber TED stands as a beacon of success in effectively addressing the net zero skills gap. The initiative offers a series of short, practical courses designed to provide comprehensive and flexible training in modern timber construction methods, guided by historical uses of timber in the built environment. This empowers professionals to adapt to evolving industry needs, encouraging a continual process of upskilling and reskilling in this critical area.
