The prize of a united industry

We had some interesting comments after what was, though we say so ourselves, a positive and successful 2009 TTJ Awards on September 17. One came from Stephen Beggs of architects/engineers BDP, winner of the Achievement in Engineered Timber Award. He said the event opened his eyes to the depth and diversity of the UK timber industry and its supply chains and, leading on from that, the potential for his company to form new connections and relationships.

It has, indeed, been our aim to draw as broad a spectrum of timber businesses as possible to the TTJ Awards, and the introduction of categories such as the engineered timber and technical support awards has further widened their outlook and appeal. As a result the audience now ranges from independent and multiple merchants and distributors, through importers and sawmillers, to sheet material, joinery, pallet, modified and engineered wood and timber frame producers, plus treatment and machinery manufacturers.

Our Award sponsors have also become more diverse, this year including our first overseas trade show, the Carrefour International du Bois of France.

At first there might not seem to be a link between this and another comment I got after the Awards; that the TTJ should throw itself behind the relaunched wood for good campaign. But I think there is a connection.

It’s frequently said, not least in the TTJ, that the timber industry’s weakness in promoting itself and fulfilling its true market potential is its fragmentation. If the dynamism and diversity of the industry we now see distilled at the TTJ Awards could be channelled in a marketing campaign it would have some serious clout. That’s the opportunity presented by wood for good and why TTJ is more than happy to back it.

Imagine the campaign logo on the letterhead and vehicle livery of companies across the spread of our industry and everybody buying into the effort; from mouldings to machinery manufacturers, merchants to panel product mills. That, I agree with the person I spoke to after the TTJ Awards, should be the vision. And, bringing the thing full circle, maybe that would create the opportunity for a new Award category; Best Use of the wood for good Campaign!