Trade should capitalise on Wood Awards publicity

They gave their views after the glulam-framed Bishop Edward King Chapel in Oxford won Gold at this year's event on November 19.

Creffields Timber, which supplied FSC-certified birch plywood used in the Roominaroom house conversion that won the Small Project category, said it was "very pleased to be associated with the event".

"It's potentially very valuable exposure for us as a company and also for timber as a material," said director Nigel Creffield. "It highlights its performance and design potential to decision makers in key market sectors and the industry really should make the most of it."

DHH Timber achieved a double connection. It supplied the Latvian birch plywood for the winner of the Judges' Special Award, the incredibly intricate Worldscape "dining landscape" table, which was designed for the 2012 London Olympics Global Feast event.

Sister company Décor Solutions also supplied clear face Canadian Douglas fir plywood for internal cladding in Canterbury's Colyer-Fergusson building, which won the Commercial & Public Access prize.

"We see the Wood Awards as a prestigious event that deserves support and can only enhance a company's standing and reputation," said director David Francis. "The lack of trade support for such events has always surprised me, given that it provides the opportunity to highlight your credentials to a larger audience. The certificate you receive as a supplier is an added bonus - a useful reception area talking point for visitors."

Brooks Brothers supplied iroko cladding and bespoke laminated iroko beams for the Trewarren house, which was highly commended in the Private category. The beams were machined and laminated at its modern Danbury mill and delivered in two weeks.

"The competition is a great opportunity to showcase the beauty, practicality and workability of timber," said sales and marketing director Mark Fleming. "Sometimes in our haste to stress environmental performance we overlook these characteristics which enable architects and joiners to design and create such magnificent structures."

James Latham also supplied Roominaroom, including European oak and American black walnut.

"Increasing the use of wood in construction delivers numerous benefits," said director Chris Sutton.

"It's renewable, sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable and the Wood Awards do an excellent job promoting this throughout the industry."

For a list of all the winners click here