The steel and concrete industries’ expected domination of an offsite construction exhibition this summer is symptomatic of a promotional funding problem in the timber industry, according to the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) and wood. for good.
The groups’ comments follow news that timber frame manufacturer Century Homes is so far the only industry company to book a large exhibition space at OFFSITE 2005, which is being backed by the DTI and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Century’s exhibition house at OFFSITE, organised by BRE and SmartLife, will be one of three full-scale houses showcasing modern methods of construction. The others use steel frame and concrete construction systems.
But Century’s house represents the only timber frame involvement among a total of nine large exhibits.
UKTFA chief executive Bryan Woodley said efforts were made to try and have a generic timber industry house at OFFSITE but ultimately there was not enough interest.
He said: “The concrete industry has got about £6m a year to spend on promotion while we are really struggling.”
Wood. for good managing director Charles Trevor said: “As an industry we have not got our funding to the level of the concrete and steel guys who see the need for a properly-funded industry-wide effort. We have not got the funds for such a large-scale effort.”
Mr Trevor said he was “disappointed” about the shelving of the industry’s Promotional Premium Scheme.
BRE said timber frame is well represented among the smaller exhibits in the event’s marquee.
A high-level delgation of ministers and civil servants will visit OFFSITE 2005 at the BRE’s Watford site on June 6-9.
