British Woodworking Federation (BWF) joins CTI

The BWF joins the Timber Trade Federation, the Structural Timber Association and the Builders Merchant Federation as major timber trade associations in the CTI network.

CTI chairman Peter Hindle MBE said the BWF’s participation strengthened the CTI network even further. “It will add a much-needed element to our supply chain representation, amplify our political voice and provide critical insights into key workstreams, particularly education and training,” said Mr Hindle.

“The CTI’s proposed new approach is one we fully support,” said BWF chief executive Iain McIlwee. “It’s a more focused, project-led way of working with leadership coming from the industry itself, so we are keen to lend our weight and get stuck in.

“We are particularly looking forward to the results of the three workstream reports and working with the other supply chain partners to take their recommendations forward.

“The BWF has long advocated that the supply chain needs to work together more effectively and the CTI in its current guise offers a real opportunity to achieve this.”

The CTI has commissioned three reports into areas critical for the development of the timber supply chain: on education and skills, sustainability, and growth and value.

The reports will be published in the autumn, followed by a Parliamentary Conference in October 2016 to discuss the findings with policy makers.

“The inclusion of BWF into the CTI fold makes this now a truly representative body and is critical for the evolution of the organisation,” said David Hopkins, managing director of the Timber Trade Federation.