The West Lothian Woodworking Initiative, funded by HCI Skills Gateway at Edinburgh Napier University, encourages young students to enter the trade through interactive carpentry and joinery workshops. 

These supervised workshops, where children are given the reins to craft their figurines using recycled timber and handheld tools, not only teach carpentry skills but also foster a sense of empowerment and capability in the young participants, a testament to the programme's effectiveness.

Graeme Binnie, programme founder, established the initiative to help bridge the skills gap and create more opportunities for women and young people to get involved in the construction industry from a young age. 

The workshops also establish alternative pathways for creative learners beyond academia and train practitioners to deliver the workshops in their classrooms.

The West Lothian Woodworking Initiative won the College Development Network’s (CDN) innovation award in 2023. It has been rolled out in over 60 primary schools across West Lothian, bringing new access routes into construction for local children. 

Binnie said: “These workshops are an integral part of creating an inclusive and engaging educational environment for pupils of all ages. 

“Numerous schools have expressed keen interest in integrating the programme into their curriculum and are supporting this drive for real, tangible change in our education system and the construction industry.”