TTJ Awards' French connection

The French timber industry exhibition Carrefour International du Bois is sponsoring the Small Business of the Year category at this year’s TTJ Awards.

The biennial Carrefour takes place in Nantes, with the next show scheduled for June 2-4, 2010. The focus is exclusively on timber and wood products, with a special section, Techniques and Solutions, dedicated to their application in construction. The 2008 show had over 500 exhibitors, 15% from outside France.

The organisers say Carrefour is also attracting a growing number of visitors from abroad and they are keen to strengthen contacts with the UK market. This, said the exhibition’s international business executive Sam Padden, lies behind the decision to back the TTJ Awards.

“The Carrefour has decided to sponsor the Small Business of the Year Award as it fits the show down to the ground, since the majority of companies present are small to middle-sized, and it’s also the ideal opportunity to cross the bridge and invite the UK wood trade to hop over the Channel for the next show in 2010!” she said.

The other TTJ Awards sponsors are: Weinig Group, Timber Trader of the year Gold Sponsor; Progressive Solutions, Hardwood Trader of the Year; Arch Timber Protection, Softwood Trader of the Year; Osmose, Achievement in Engineered Timber; Coillte Panel Products, Panels Trader of the Year; W Howard Ltd, Plywood Trader of the Year; SCA Timber Supply Ltd, Career Development; and Combilift Ltd, Excellence in Marketing.

The pre-Awards champagne reception is sponsored by Finnforest and the sponsor of the Environmental Achievement Award will be announced shortly.

The TTJ Awards take place at the Park Lane Hotel, London on September 17. For ticket information contact Natasha Denney on 020 8269 7833, or ndenney@ttjonline.com.