The long-running TTJ Awards celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, with the Nobu Portman Square in the heart of central London providing the backdrop for the event.

After running as a virtual event last year because of Covid-19, the timber industry’s leading awards event returns as a physical, in-person gathering in central London on September 17, with the addition of digital live streaming to a wider audience.

The host and guest speaker will be top sports presenter Jason Mohammad, the host of BBC’s Final Score and co-host (with football pundit Robbie Savage) of the popular Radio 5Live football phone-in, 606.

Online voting for this year’s Awards remains open until July 22 – and can be accessed on the TTJ Awards web hub at https://awards-ttj.ttjonline.com. A wide range of timber trade customers, including merchants, joinery manufacturers, structural timber systems suppliers, architects, building contractors, garden product producers and furniture makers can register their votes for their best-performing timber suppliers. Timber suppliers are welcome to notify their customers of the voting link.

Sponsors for 2021 include Timber Development UK (TDUK), which has been created out of the merger between the Timber Trade Federation and TRADA. TDUK is sponsoring the top award – the Timber Trader of the Year. Other sponsors include West Fraser, Hubtex, Lonza Wood Protection, W Howard, James Latham, Hubtex, Koppers, Landguard Point Group, Composite Prime and Glennon Brothers.

NOBU PORTMAN SQUARE

TTJ has signed up to Nobu’s new flagship London hotel for this year’s Awards. The Nobu brand of hotels is making waves globally for its modern luxury and minimal Japanese design. World-renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and Meir Teper are the driving force behind the Nobu hotel empire, with the Portman Square property (formerly the Radisson Blu) its latest project.

The hotel’s spaces are beautifully conceptualised by London-based architecture and interior design firm, David Collins Studio, in conjunction with Make Architects.

The comprehensive refurbishment includes a grand entrance and double-height lobby.

Close to Marble Arch, the hotel is walking distance from the shops of Oxford Street and pubs and restaurants of Marylebone and Mayfair.

Every year the Awards celebrates achievements in the timber trade across different trading categories and is a large and popular gathering point for the timber products supply chain.

“In 2020 the TTJ Awards went virtual for the first time in its history,” said TTJ editor Stephen Powney.

“It was a different experience necessitated by the pandemic restrictions, but proved a valuable industry gathering point for the UK timber trade.

“We’re delighted we have a physical event once again in the heart of London and excited to confirm this fantastic new venue and our guest speaker Jason Mohammad. Pencil in September 17 now and make sure you’re part of one of the first timber trade events to return to action!”

Italian woodworking machinery producer SCM Group UK is once again making the trophies, with wood supplied by the American Hardwood Export Council.

JUDGED ENTRIES

As well as the voted categories, our long-running judged categories make a return this year and consist of:

• Excellence in Marketing

• Environmental Achievement

• TTJ Smart Manufacturing Award

• Career Development (under 25 and over 25).

If you are a timber products company that wants to highlight your achievements in marketing, environmental initiatives, machinery investment or career development then get in touch now.

For details on how to enter these categories, go to the TTJ Awards website at https://awards-ttj.ttjonline.com.

As well as his profilic record in providing coverage of football, our host and guest speaker Jason Mohammad has fronted BBC coverage of snooker and rugby.

He was a key part of the BBC’s team at both the Rio Olympics and Euro 2016, hosting Six Nations coverage as well as other international rugby, the World Snooker Championships, and has reported pitch-side from the football World Cup.

Away from sport he has co-hosted Crimewatch, covering updates on cases the show is following, and appeared in Dr Who, proving his acting skills as a news presenter in two Christmas special episodes.

Jason’s morning radio show on BBC Wales is one of the most popular in the country, and reflects his background in news presenting and journalism. On TV he’s presented Wales Children in Need, Wales Sports Personality of the Year, sports coverage and factual and documentary programming, including for the Welsh language channel S4C. He’s also written a book profiling his sporting heroes.