Finnforest
From NVQs to business improvementA skillspoint solution helps nurture a culture of continuous professional improvement at Europe’s leading wood products supplier.
Background
Finnforest is a major wood products company that employs over 4,000 people across Europe. Part of the Metsälliitto Group, Finnforest specialises in using high-quality Nordic wood as a building material.
In the UK Finnforest operates from six sites, which are based in Boston, Tilbury, Grangemouth, Widnes, King’s Lynn and Hull. The finished wood that they import provides major firms such as B&Q and Wickes, not to mention a wide range of building suppliers, with items that range from skirting boards to log cabins.
Finnforest is a very forward thinking company, and it was keen to reward employees with NVQ training that helped them in their roles.
How skillspoint helped
We worked with Finnforest to identify the most appropriate qualification for the company and its staff. After looking initially at a warehousing qualification, we agreed that the Level 2 NVQ in Business Improvement Techniques was ideally suited to Finnforest’s needs.
The qualification isn’t a classic NVQ but, for example, teaches a theory of lean manufacturing, incorporates Japanese business concepts and Six Sigma methodology — and asks for these to be applied in the workplace.
How the solution worked
skillspoint partnered Finnforest with Lincoln College and Nurture 4 Growth to provide the training, and this is now firmly underway – almost all employees at Widnes have completed the course, Boston is about a quarter of the way through and Grangemouth is just starting up. Some individuals are now working on the Level 3 qualification.
Future plans
Finnforest is now expanding the training to all its centres in the UK, and is benefiting from the efficiency principles that form part of the NVQ. It’s an enormous boon to have a workforce that understands the principles of eradicating waste and hazard, and that less movement of goods is far more cost efficient!
Finnforest is a major wood products company that employs over 4,000 people across Europe. Part of the Metsälliitto Group, Finnforest specialises in using high-quality Nordic wood as a building material.
In the UK Finnforest operates from six sites, which are based in Boston, Tilbury, Grangemouth, Widnes, King’s Lynn and Hull. The finished wood that they import provides major firms such as B&Q and Wickes, not to mention a wide range of building suppliers, with items that range from skirting boards to log cabins.
Finnforest is a very forward thinking company, and it was keen to reward employees with NVQ training that helped them in their roles.
How skillspoint helped
We worked with Finnforest to identify the most appropriate qualification for the company and its staff. After looking initially at a warehousing qualification, we agreed that the Level 2 NVQ in Business Improvement Techniques was ideally suited to Finnforest’s needs.
The qualification isn’t a classic NVQ but, for example, teaches a theory of lean manufacturing, incorporates Japanese business concepts and Six Sigma methodology — and asks for these to be applied in the workplace.
How the solution worked
skillspoint partnered Finnforest with Lincoln College and Nurture 4 Growth to provide the training, and this is now firmly underway – almost all employees at Widnes have completed the course, Boston is about a quarter of the way through and Grangemouth is just starting up. Some individuals are now working on the Level 3 qualification.
Future plans
Finnforest is now expanding the training to all its centres in the UK, and is benefiting from the efficiency principles that form part of the NVQ. It’s an enormous boon to have a workforce that understands the principles of eradicating waste and hazard, and that less movement of goods is far more cost efficient!
customer testimonials...
"skillspoint’s approach is very professional. The staff teams are extremely knowledgeable and have provided ‘real’ solutions and good working practices throughout each stage of the process. There is no doubt that our business has benefitted and will continue to do so."
Linda Grubb
Executive Manager
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