Speaking at the association’s AGM in the Midlands last week, Mr Watson – who took over the role from past chairman Mike Beale – said the TRA will also focus on implementing a training scheme for its members and resolving health and safety issues.
Susan Farrow, whose position is now TRA director rather than secretary, told the 70-strong audience that the association was in good shape. Three new members were signed up last year and, combined with a decrease in expenditure, the association had made more than £2,500 profit where it had been expecting a deficit of around £4,000.
“If we can continue to increase membership, I hope income will increase”, she added.
The association intends to invest more this year in publicity, promotional material and its website. Already new corporate branding has been designed with help from Janet Brown and David Law of Arch Timber Protection, and the TRA announced that it intends to enter the Best Technical Information Support category of this year’s TTJ Awards.
Mark Murphy, chairman of the TRA’s health and safety committee, said strong links have been developed with the “top brass” of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and the TRA is now represented on the HSE’s Woodworking Advisory Group and had provided guidance on the role of the supplier, hauliers and customers.
“Risk assessments are one of the biggest things we have done as a committee,” he said, adding that mutual understanding between the HSE and truss fabricators was vital.
