TTF president John Tong has urged the trade to put the funding of generic timber promotion on a firmer footing.
Speaking to the annual dinner of the North West Timber Trades Association (NWTTA ) in Liverpool last week, Mr Tong praised the wood. for good promotion campaign for helping to “shift perceptions of timber” and making “more people aware of timber’s technical and environmental qualities”.
“But we all know that campaigning costs money and that cash needs to be found from somewhere,” he said. “The current funding is approaching the end of its planned life and alternative arrangements need to be found if generic wood promotion in the UK is to continue.”
Mr Tong said that he was “gravely disappointed” at the lack of support for the recently proposed “promotion premium” to fund timber marketing.
“I believe, if we are to continue to build on the foundations laid by wood. for good, establishing substantial funding for generic wood promotion must become a priority,” he said.
Mr Tong also recommended all TTF members to adopt its responsible purchasing policy which he described as “an excellent way of meeting the government’s requirements to purchase only legal and sustainable wood and wood products”.
President Andrew Masterman congratulated the 418-strong audience on making the NWTTA dinner the best attended industry association event apart from the TTF annual dinner, but also urged more members to get involved with the organisation’s seminars and other events through the year.
Mr Masterson also announced that the NWTTA’s secretary Gordon Mellor was standing down after 12 years in the post, to be succeeded by Chris Varley.
“Gordon will be sorely missed,” he said. “He’s been a tower of strength for the Association.”
