Once more this year the TTJ Awards at the Savoy Hotel, were heralded a great success.

The latest in a long-line of distinguished guest speakers was Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, designer and star of several television home design programmes including Changing Rooms, Home Front and Fantasy Rooms.

His speech attracted universal plaudits from the 270-strong audience. He discussed his role and that of other designers and media personalities in helping shape consumer trends and how the links between them and their supplier industries, including the timber sector, are becoming ever more important.

Mr Llewelyn-Bowen also hosted the Awards presentation itself.

Editor Mike Jeffree opened the proceedings by saying that the TTJ is not going to sit on its laurels as far as the success of the Awards are concerned and is looking at several ways of developing the event.

At the close of the presentations, advertisement manager Tim Oliver explained that one of the developments for 2003 will b e the launch of a “Timber Industry Trainee of the year Award” in association with the Institute of Wood Science. He also said that the TTJ is in talks with the Electoral Reform Group, with a view to the latter taking over gathering and scrutiny of readers’ votes.

The winner of the Timber Trader of the Year Award, sponsored by UCM Timber plc, and the Hardwood Trader of the Year Award, sponsored by Jungheinrich, was James Latham plc. M&S Softwood Ltd, of King’s Lynn, won the Small Timber Business of the Year award, sponsored by Osmose; Softwood Trader of the Year Award, sponsored by Associated British Ports, was won by Rowlinson Timber Ltd, Nantwich; the General Trader of the Year Award, sponsored by Kerridge Computer Company, was won by Howarth (Timber Importers) Ltd ; Plywood Trader of the Year Award, sponsored by Lord Forest Products, was won by Caledonian Plywood Ltd, Tilbury ; Panels Trader of the Year Award, sponsored by Weyerhaeuser Europe, was won by Finnforest UK Ltd, Widnes; and the Excellence in Marketing Award, sponsored by Gerling NCM, was won by, Smartply Europe Ltd, Dartford.