Due to real concern in the English sector that there is a lack of business focus in the England Forestry Strategy, the former Forest Industries Development Council (FIDC), now Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor), has been working to promote a more positive business focus and partnership approach by the Forestry Commission England (FCE). As a consequence FCE and FIDC jointly hosted a workshop in March 2003 for English business leaders and government to discuss the best way forward. There was consensus that a partnership approach to reinforcing wood-chain competitiveness was needed.

The England Forest Industries Partnership (EFIP) has recently been established, working at the national level and supporting the industry to engage effectively in Regional Forestry Framework development and assisting the industry to work more closely and contribute to the delivery of the government’s wider objectives. This marks a sea change for the sector in England.

EFIP as a newly-emerging public private partnership has been highlighted in the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affair’s Rural Strategy 2004 and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Sustainable Buildings Task Group report, tackling the issues of competitiveness and sustainable development that cannot be addressed solely through a regional process.

The partnership includes representatives from all elements of the forestry and woodland sector from the grower through to the processors, the end user and relevant government departments. The Partnership will be affiliated to the England Forestry Forum and will inform the wider forum group, drawing upon advice from experts who are knowledgeable about specific issues but are not represented on the group.

Regional links

It has already been successfully demonstrated how this approach to partnership working can yield results in Scotland and Wales, so this is a major step forward for England’s forestry sector. EFIP plans to build on the work that has already been undertaken both in Scotland and at a regional level in England, playing an integral role in linking the regional initiatives with national and UK agendas, enhancing communication and information dissemination, building on communication links, institutional capacity and business development, complementing existing small scale initiatives, the regions’ current work and wider agendas. For example, EFIP is in discussions about the potential to roll out work pioneered in Scotland on e-business to the south-west region.

Other work already in progress includes local government procurement initiatives and facilitation of joint sector representation at the Sustainable Communities Summit 2005. A comprehensive action plan facilitated by industry will commence rolling out in mid-November.

  • EFIP’s vice-chairman is Tilhill managing director Matthew Rivers, while Mardi MacGregor has been appointed as the partnership manager, working out of the head office of the Country Land & Business Association, an EFIP partner, in Belgrave Square, London. Ms MacGregor was educated in forestry in Australia and moves into the UK forestry sector from her previous role working on improvement strategies and waste directive policy with the Local Government Association. She brings to EFIP her experience of working in a number of the key sectors in both Australia and internationally.

    For more information on EFIP and its work explore the link www.efip.org.uk (up and running from the end of November) or contact Mardi MacGregor at mardi@confor.org.uk.