The companies are members of the UK Contractors Group (UKCG), whose materials task group chairman Steve Cook (Willmott Dixon) now leads the GiB campaign with Confor chief executive Stuart Goodall.
Environment secretary Owen Paterson, speaking at the launch of the GiB report at the House of Lords on Tuesday, said the support of UKCG would make it easier for woodland owners to get timber to market and ensure they aren’t disadvantaged in procurement.
Mr Paterson also said GiB fitted with Defra’s objectives to grow the rural economy and improve the environment.
Dr Peter Bonfield, who led the campaign up until the report’s launch, said the likes of M&S, B&Q, Travis Perkins and Heal’s were also supporting the initiative, which aims to develop a sustainable woodland culture.
“It [the campaign] has the potential to create a whole new economic engine for woodlands, wood and the people involved,” said Dr Bonfield.
