Following the decision to postpone the promotional premium, the wood. for good board has decided to examine ways in which the scheme can be relaunched. A working group has been set up which will report its initial findings to the board in May. No timetable has been set for a relaunch but it is unlikely to be during 2005.
Pending the report from the working group, the board has approved a plan to promote the benefits of generic promotion to the UK industry. A “Manifesto for UK wood promotion” outlining wood. for good’s key achievements and putting the case for increased UK funding will be published and circulated to potential UK funders in the spring. A key feature of the campaign in 2005 will be to enhance the benefits of membership by working even more closely with its funders to provide them with promotional opportunities.
Wood. for good’s 2005 programme and funding is not affected by the postponement of the promotional premium. The plan will continue the successful “Changing attitudes” campaign which focuses on wood’s role in reducing climate change, new product advertising, a full PR programme, conferences, seminars and publications.
The postponement of the promotional premium was a disappointment, as funds raised by the scheme would have enabled us to promote wood and wood products even more effectively. However, the solid and loyal core of support from UK sawmillers (now through ConFor), the Forestry Commission and others, as well as support from NTC members and their UK offices such as Finnforest, StoraEnso, UPM-Kymmene, Setra, SCA Timber and Iggesund, that we have enjoyed since the start of the campaign continues throughout 2005.
This is an exciting time for the UK timber industry. We have made great progress. But the fact remains that the UK industry’s financial contribution to wood. for good is still relatively small. At a time when competing materials are raising significant sums for promotion and doing an increasingly effective job, we need to ensure our industry’s promotional efforts are properly funded.
