Structural timber training programme to accelerate use of timber in construction launches at Futurebuild
A major new industry training programme designed to accelerate the use of timber in construction across the UK has officially launched at Futurebuild 2026, backed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
Led by Donaldson Timber Systems in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, NMITE, Structural Timber Association, Timber Development UK and BE-ST, the Timber in Construction Skills programme aims to address a growing industry skills gap by building confidence and technical capability in designing, specifying and building in timber.
The programme will deliver 15+ fully funded training modules for construction and built environment professionals, apprentices and college students, ranging from introductory learning through to more advanced technical training. Courses are designed for roles across the built environment with an emphasis on installers through to construction project management.
The Timber in Construction Skills Programme launched at Futurebuild, an annual conference for the built environment held at Excel London, where the BE-ST team hosted one of the event’s largest physical exhibits. At the centre of the stand was a new practical training rig developed at the BE-ST Innovation Campus in Scotland and transported to London for the exhibition.
The bespoke rig demonstrates the full assembly and disassembly of multiple structural timber systems, including timber frame, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), Glued Laminated Timber (glulam) and Nail Laminated Timber (NLT). The system has been designed to support hands-on training and help build confidence and technical understanding among site operatives and construction professionals working with offsite manufactured timber systems. Following the event, the rig will move back to BE-ST's Innovation Campus where it will be used for training delivery.
The practical training rig forms part of a wider package of 15+ new training courses being developed through the programme by BE-ST, Edinburgh Napier University and NMITE, with sector support from Donaldson Timber Systems, the Structural Timber Association and Timber Development UK.
The training has been developed to help those in the construction sector or those entering the sector to:
Increase technical knowledge in timber construction
Stay current with regulation, specification and material developments
Solve live project and delivery challenges
Gain meaningful CPD learning relevant to their role
Access trusted expertise and peer learning opportunities
Alex Goodfellow, CEO at Donaldson Offsite said:
“Structural timber has a critical role to play in supporting the UK to overcome the housing crisis and build more sustainable, low carbon homes. I believe that the use of structural timber is the only way we can achieve the volume of homes needed to the high quality and performance standards expected.
However, the industry’s ability to meet that demand depends on our ability to attract new people to construction and develop the right skills, knowledge and confidence to build using structural timber. The Timber in Construction Roadmap of which this CITB funded project derived, plays an important part in supporting change and growing the use of timber in construction.
This project plays a critical role by developing robust, accredited training pathways that support new entrants, apprentices and existing construction workers to improve understanding and capability of structural timber systems and best practice. We want to attract more people into the sector, support long-term industry growth and ensure the UK has the skilled workforce needed to deliver the next generation of homes and we’re pleased to lead this project, to deliver those goals.”
Following the launch at Futurebuild, Timber Development UK will lead a new webinar series titled Timber in Construction 101, beginning in June 2026 and running till March 2027. The webinars will provide accessible, practical insight for professionals looking to improve their knowledge and confidence in timber construction. The six-part series will cover key themes including Material Intelligence, Specifying Timber, Offsite Manufacturing, Onsite Excellence, Navigating Compliance and Constructing Carbon.
Professionals and educators interested in joining the webinar series can register for the first webinar, focused on material intelligence, here.
Alongside the training rollout, the partners are seeking a cohort of educators and industry experts to review the courses and provide feedback as the programme develops. Educators interested in participating in the review process can register their interest through BE-ST.