“While in the timber industry we know the benefits of building with wood and how our businesses bring economic prosperity in every region of the UK, not all politicians are aware,” said David Hopkins, chief executive officer of the Timber Trade Federation in the organisation’s recent newsletter. “With the launch of the APPG we are making a channel to put timber centre stage.
“The APPG will only succeed if we have the best politicians from it, and you will benefit if you have an MP from your constituency. This is why we are calling on all our members, whichever association they are in, to write to their local MP to invite them to join the APPG.
“This is because as a local business, employer, and as members of MP’s communities you have a powerful voice in their constituency; and remember it is up to us as an industry to tell the story of timber to our MPs – loudly – if we are to get our voice into Parliament.”
To help members, the TTF has distilled the core themes of how timber can support the government’s carbon, employment, and economic targets, as well as the polices it advocates for, into a briefing called #NetZeroNow, as well as a letter template to get in touch with MPs.
Mr Hopkins reminded members that the timber industry faces fierce competition from other elements of the construction sector “who aggressively push against sustainable construction, and lobby politicians to push against higher standards, regulating embodied carbon, or other policies which would aid your business”.
