The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) is reorganising itself after predicting a 25% decline in membership subscriptions over the next two to three years, chief executive Richard Lambert has told TTJ.
The organisation, the leading body for the joinery and woodworking trades, has made several redundancies, including the position of marketing director, as its plans for two tough years ahead, predicting the joinery sector to emerge from recession in about 2011.
Mr Lambert said the BWF had budgeted for a 10% dip in subscription income in 2009 to below £500,000, with the revenue dropping about 25% in the three year period 2009-11.
Several members have elected to “freeze” their membership this year, while several others will have membership terminated for non-payment. Some have also resigned and three gone into liquidation.
But on the positive side, Mr Lambert said he had been pleasantly surprised at the number of new recruits it is picking up.
Marketing services are either being outsourced and redistributed across the BWF’s core team, while retaining technical expertise and membership service levels which he said were “essential for the organisation’s future development”.
“This is not a knee-jerk reaction,” said Mr Lambert. “It’s a considered response to what we know is coming. We are trying to manage our way through the difficulties.
“But our membership services are looking at how we can do more to help members and recruitment is still buoyant.”
Mr Lambert said those who had elected to freeze their membership did not want to leave the BWF. “Freezing gives them the breathing space they need.”
He said joinery companies had found trading conditions progressively more difficult during 2008. The BWF conducted a survey with the 30-40 highest paying BWF members and found that subscriptions revenue, based on turnover, was likely to experience a significant drop.
Several new service initiatives will be unveiled by the BWF in coming weeks and months.
