First Processing Industries apprenticeship completed within West Fraser

As the UK’s leading manufacturer of timber-based panel products, West Fraser is pleased to announce that the company’s continued investment in apprenticeships, as well as wider staff development training, has seen one recruit successfully complete his modern apprenticeship; achieving the technically rigorous ‘Level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Processing Industries Operations Controlling Processes and Operations at SCQF’.

Thomas Henderson (pictured above) joined West Fraser, at the Cowie plant, in 2021. On joining West Fraser, as is normal practice at the company, Thomas was allocated a mentor to help him acclimatise, and to ensure his progression included placements in appropriate and diverse areas of the factory.

With these placements, Thomas could ascertain his aptitudes and confidence. His mentor was Michael Scott-Ramsay, who had himself progressed through West Fraser’s graduate scheme, working within the Engineering Development and Quality teams.    

Michael comments: “Being able to witness Thomas developing from a fairly inexperienced young person into the hard working and conscientious professional that he is today, and to be part of that journey, has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my time at the company. 

“Having finished his apprenticeship, Thomas has actually begun a full-time job with West Fraser on our particleboard press which is one of the most demanding jobs in the Cowie plant because of all the monitoring involved.” 

Offering his own perspective on his time with West Fraser as well as undertaking day release at the Forth Valley College in Falkirk, Thomas adds…

“The Process apprenticeship has provided me with hands-on experience that significantly enhanced my technical skills and deepened my understanding of the press operator’s role, and the business as a whole. 

“I had the privilege of working alongside experts within the company, who offered me invaluable guidance and mentorship helping me to grow professionally and personally. It’s an interesting and demanding job running the particleboard line, despite much of the process being computer controlled. 

“Particularly on a ‘start-up’, you are out on the production lines checking the presses and manually opening valves to set the process in motion. 

“You’re always looking out for problems like a build-up of material in the pipes but, running continuously, we produce 1,200 boards or more during a shift.

“I really appreciate West Fraser’s support in enabling me to complete my apprenticeship. Everyone went over and above to facilitate my course. 

“I am settled into a full-time position now and can see a career path ahead, with the apprenticeship meaning I am qualified to possibly become a shift manager at some point in the future.”

About West Fraser

All West Fraser panel products produced in the UK are net carbon negative and manufactured in mills with the coveted environmental ISO 14001 accreditation. 

Responsibly sourced, the panels are FSC^® certified (C012533) and created from locally grown timber, cutting embodied carbon from transportation.

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit uk.westfraser.com