Geoff Arnold, managing director of Pinewood Structures Ltd, has been appointed as the new chairman of the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA). He takes over the role from Stewart Dalgarno of Stewart Milne Timber Systems.
Mr Arnold has been with Pinewood Structures Ltd, one of the UK’s largest timber frame manufacturers, since 2002, where he began his career as commercial director and then became managing director in 2004, leading a management buyout in 2006. He is also chief executive of PXP Holdings Ltd, of which Pinewood is a group company along with Avebury Projects Ltd. Prior to this, he worked for Texas Instruments for 16 years, spending time in Germany, the US and the UK.
He has played an active part in the UKTFA for four years, including chairing both the health and safety, and education and training committees.
Mr Arnold said he was delighted to be able to lead the UKTFA through the challenging times ahead.
“My role, and the role of the board and the UKTFA staff, will be to focus on promoting the benefits of timber frame construction to ensure that when the demand for housebuilding returns, timber frame will be the build technology of choice to deliver high quality sustainable energy efficiency homes cost effectively and, through the use of offsite construction, very quickly,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone is saying anything positive about the market in 2009, but the general consensus is that in 2010 the economy will pick up and the housing market with it. At this point, Building Regulations in relation to energy efficiency will have tightened, which will be in our favour, and the Code for Sustainable Homes will have ramped up to Level 4. Therefore the opportunity for 2010 and beyond is substantial.”
