Wood Awards in major sponsorship boost

Arnold Laver is sponsoring the Gold Award, which goes to the overall Wood Awards winner, and managing director Andrew Laver said the company decided to support the event because it chimed with its aim "to encourage the use of wood based products in all aspects of the built environment".

"The Wood Awards recognises those who excel in the design and crafting of those products," he said.

PEFC UK chairman Alun Watkins said his organisation was supporting the competition in partnership with the MTC because it 'promotes and celebrates wood that has been legally and sustainably sourced".

"We now have the opportunity to encourage more projects using PEFC-certified timber to enter, as well as the chance to provide information on certified options available," he said.

MTC UK director Sheam Satkuru-Granzella said the Awards also "played an essential role in raising the awareness of wood and timber products from around the world".

BWF chief executive said the BWF saw the Awards as "underpinning the fantastic, creative, durable and environmentally friendly projects that wood delivers".

"Our involvement also reflects our view that the timber industry needs to work together to deliver a consistent message," he said.

David Venables, European director of Wood Awards founding sponsor the American Hardwood Export Council, welcomed the new wave of support.

"It is a huge endorsement for the role the Awards play in engaging the design community about what is possible with wood," he said.

The Wood Awards launched their 2014 call for entries at Ecobuild, and, said organiser Lucy Kamall, are hoping to equal or even exceed the record last year of 318 projects.

"We were completely cleared out of literature at the show, and really believe the Awards are hitting their stride," she said.