It was acknowledged at the Scottish Timber Trade Association dinner last week that the Timber Trade Federation needs to get its finances “on a sounder footing”.
There was also a call from STTA president Michael Walker for a new commitment on funding UK timber promotion.
The dinner in Edinburgh was attended by 240 STTA members, with guests including the city’s Lord Provost Lesley Hinds, the Finnish ambassador Pertti Salolainen and Ewan Brown, a leading figure in Scottish financial circles.
TTF president Geoff Rhodes told the audience that the Federation’s current budget issues should not detract from its recent achievements, citing the value of political contacts it has made, its work with the IWSc on improving industry training, its recruitment of 40 new members in the last 18 months and its support for the successful Wood Awards and wood. for good campaign. But he also acknowledged that the last year had not been “an easy one financially for the Federation”.
The TTF is holding an extraordinary general meeting today to discuss its current deficit and overdraft arrangements and Mr Rhodes said the Federation was having to take new measures to secure its financial future “so we can concentrate on our priorities”.
“In addition to these steps the new flexible leasing arrangement for the TTF’s [London] accommodation means that within six months superior but cost-effective new offices could be found.”
Mr Walker acknowledged Scottish concerns about the TTF’s situation, but did not share the view of some STTA members who favour leaving the Federation. He believed that the UK industry should continue to work together, adding that it was especially important that the trade acted in concert on public relations and timber promotion. He is urging the UK trade to pick up a greater share of the cost of the wood. for good campaign, which to date has been largely funded by the Nordic Timber Council (NTC), and he is recommending a new strategy to fund industry-wide marketing initiatives, with a levy on wood and wood products supplied in the UK.
He later told TTJ that this concept has been developed by a group of “senior TTF members” , which he chairs, and would be put forward to the TTF governing council.
“The levy would enable us to share the burden of wood. for good with the Nordic Timber Council more fairly,” he said. “It would also mean we’d no longer have freeloaders benefiting from promotional campaigns without funding them – the whole market would pay.”
