Joinery industry insight

Summary
• Ian Purkis started his career in the automotive industry.
• He joined the John Carr Group in 1986.
• He will be BWF president until 2011.
• He is a keen yachtsman and rebuilds clinker-built National 12 Class racing dinghies.

Growing up in Surbiton, Ian Purkis dreamed of a career in the automotive industry – a far cry from the industry in which he later found his calling.

He was taken on by Chrysler UK as an apprentice and completed a mechanical engineering degree before being appointed facilities engineer at one of its assembly plants. But when he responded to an ad in The Engineer headed with the Monty Python catchphrase “And now for something completely different” it proved a turning point in his career.

That ad was for a job in the plastics, petrochemicals and paper converting industry, from where he moved into the PVCu window sector, becoming one of the first people to extrude PVCu window profiles in the UK.

At that point he wasn’t an obvious candidate for president of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) but, with his recruitment by the John Carr Group in 1986, Ian's career took an unexpected turn into the field of timber window manufacture – and he’s never looked back.

Red letter day

Ian, 58, describes meeting Peter Carr and John Redman in January 1986 as “probably the best day of my working life – with election as BWF president close second!”

“From the moment I joined, I enjoyed every second,” he said. “I learned so much from Peter in particular as he created the most successful joinery company in the UK. It was a real privilege to be involved and when the opportunity arose to take on the role of manager of a timber door and window manufacturing plant, I jumped at the chance.” It was here that Ian's involvement in the BWF began.

As his involvement in the BWF grew, Ian's career was also changing as he was promoted to the position of development director at John Carr; a position which evolved into his current role as technical director at Jeld-Wenfollowing the acquisition in 1999.

Now, after a career spanning more than two decades, Ian's dedication to the industry has been recognised with his election as BWF president. And there's no question that he has serious ambitions for his term of office, which runs until 2011.

“The BWF prides itself on acting as the voice of the industry, championing the interests of its members in policy development, providing advice and guidance on legal, employment and technical issues and offering invaluable training,” he said. “Being president of the BWF gives me the opportunity to focus on three main areas: reaffirming the BWF's core objective of helping increase members' sales and profitability, recruiting new members and continuing the work of outgoing BWF president, Pauline Kelly.”

When it comes to helping members, Ian is forthright in his ambition to support companies affected by the current recession.

“In my time as BWF president I want to help increase the sales and profitability of our members, but I appreciate that the current economic climate may make this harder to achieve than I might have anticipated,” he said. “I will work to ensure that the BWF is there for its members in times of need, lending support through tough times and making sure that they first survive and are then in a position to benefit when the inevitable upturn arrives.”

Challenges and opportunities

When asked about the joinery industry's fortunes and how timber is faring against PVCu, Ian's answer reflects his past experience on both sides of the fence.

“I see the window industry as having significant challenges in the future, but with these challenges come opportunities for growth tied to the carbon agenda,” he said. “The main challenge to be overcome is the misconception that exists surrounding the thermal performance of British wood windows, and I look forward to working with the BWF team to address this and show consumers that timber really is the material of choice when it comes to environmental responsibility.”

Ian pays tribute to Pauline Kelly’s achievements as BWF president, particularly in the field of training, and admits following in her footsteps is daunting.

“She has left me with a hard act to follow,” he said, “but I am up to the challenge, and will do my utmost to ensure that BWF members receive all the support they need in these tough times and beyond.”

The proud father of two grown-up sons, outside work Ian is also a qualified yacht skipper, but his real interest is rebuilding and sailing old wooden clinker-built National 12 Class racing dinghies with his wife Margaret – a team effort which provides a great example of British woodworking in action!