“We are now operating as a single organisation,” said ConFor chief executive David Crichton.
“It has been a long and occasionally challenging journey to get to this point and I want to pay tribute to the FTA board, staff and membership who have shown such commitment to the cause,” he added.
Mr Crichton said the benefits of a more “joined up” organisation, which will operate under the ConFor banner, had already been seen, and added that the completion of legal and financial integration would release a great deal more of the organisation’s time and energy to concentrate on the real market and policy issues where it could make a difference.
With the amalgamation, the previous FTA board becomes the Growing Sector Council within ConFor and it will provide direction and advice on behalf of the timber-growing sector.
The council will nominate members to the ConFor board and work alongside the Processors Council already in place.
Initial directors of the council will be John Firn, Nick Hoare and Chris Inglis.
The two organisations have already worked together for almost two years and say that in many respects it is business as usual. The finalisation of the full integration means a simple, clear unified face to members and policy-makers, as well as offering the extra advantages and operational efficiencies of a single organisation.
For information visit www.confor.org.uk or call 0131 524 8080.
