The success of the North West Timber Trade Association was applauded by Timber Trade Federation president Geoff Rhodes at the association’s annual dinner which attracted more than 400 guests last week. It was, said Mr Rhodes, a clear reminder of the importance of the area associations to the TTF.

The importance of the UK timber industry should also never be underestimated, he continued, as it is the third largest softwood importer in the world and the value of timber based products traded in the UK amounted to £2.4bn in 2001. “It is vital,” he said, “that the interests of this large and expanding business are voiced clearly and coherently through the work of our federation.”

He told guests that this year the industry is being promoted to architects by the TTF’s support of the Wood Awards, the new Centre for Timber Engineering at Edinburgh’s Napier University and of the wood. for good campaign.

Guests also heard that the TTF had worked hard to develop closer links with government and that three ministerial meetings in the last six months had included “a very successful one with the environment minister Michael Meacher in January”. Forestry minister Elliot Morley has also agreed to meet the TTF again later this year.

Referring also to the association’s collaborations with other organisations such as TRADA, UKFPA, WPIF, BWF, BRE and to the Institute of Wood Science, with which it has co-operated on the development of its new training Foundation Course, Mr Rhodes concluded that “it is only through developing and maintaining one strong voice for our trade that our shared interests will be advanced”.

&#8220Our area associations are the very bedrock of our national federation and nothing shows this more vividly than the energy and vibrancy of the NWTTA”

Geoff Rhodes, TTF president

“Our area associations are the very bedrock of our national federation and nothing shows this more vividly than the energy and vibrancy of the NWTTA.”

In his address NWTTA president Keith Purcell made an appeal for all non-members present to become more actively involved in their area association. “The frequent cry of ‘what’s in it for me?’ rather than ‘what can I put back into it?’ is becoming rather boring,” he said.

He also appealed to those present to make an effort to raise prices. “With such low stocks of softwood, for example, you would think that there couldn’t be a better time to strengthen our position. It’s got to come very soon, or there are going to be casualties.”