BWF and TTF announce The Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI)

Following encouraging talks, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and Timber Trade Federation (TTF) have confirmed a new umbrella trade organisation, The Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI), which will become the voice of the industry and is set to be officially launched on 10 June 2015.

Iain McIlwee and David Lennan, chief executive’s of the BWF and TTF, announced the new organisation to TTF Members and members of the BWF Council on 2 February.

Iain McIlwee stated:

“The exciting part is not just that we have a clear and consistent vision for a growing and vibrant timber industry, but how well we complement one another as organisations and just how closely we share the core values essential to securing this future. We have a fantastic steering committee in place and are making good progress. For BWF we have been growing in terms of both influence and membership, but linking up with the TTF is the next and natural step and helps ensure that the voice of our members is louder than ever and is heard by Government and key influencers at home and in Europe.”

David Lennan added:

“The Confederation of the Timber Industries is shaping up to be a world-leading trade association that will ensure all the good work this industry does is better co-ordinated and communicated up and down the supply chain. The voice of timber industry will be heard by a new Government and in the EU. These are exciting times for timber and timber representation.”

The concept of The Confederation of Timber Industries has been widely and enthusiastically supported by both BWF and TTF members and stakeholders. The collaboration is seen as a big and necessary step for the timber and woodworking industries to move forward and get issues to the top of the national agenda.

The BWF has almost 700 members drawn from manufacturers, distributors and installers of timber doors, windows, conservatories, staircases, furniture, all forms of architectural joinery including shop-fitting, timber frame buildings and engineered timber components, as well as suppliers to the industry. The organisation has grown by about 40% over the last three years, increasing in influence and picking up a number of high-profile awards.

The TTF has around 350 members and promotes timber as the world’s leading renewable, low carbon construction material through the political, promotional and technical representation of its members’ interests. Representing all sectors of the timber industry in the UK, including importers of wood and wood products to builders merchants and forest owners around the globe.

There will be plenty of opportunities to discuss at meetings over the next few months and we are setting some time aside at BWF Members Day  to look at how we best shape the CTI around the needs of our members.  We very much welcome your views on these developments and if you do have any thoughts, messages of support, ideas, priorities, considerations or concerns, please do let us know by email to iain.mcilwee@bwf.org.uk or calling the office on 0844 209 2610.