The 2011 TTJ Timber Trader of the Year prize has been won by James Latham plc for the second year running.
Lathams’ chairman Peter Latham collected the top award from Neil Forbes of gold sponsor Weinig at the awards ceremony at the Grand Connaught Rooms on Thursday.
Voters praised Lathams for “the best quality, delivery and stock availability”, knowledgeable staff and excellent customer services”, and for being “very reliable, helpful and friendly.
Earlier in the day, Awards host and guest speaker, property developer and television presenter Sarah Beeny entertained about 350 guests at the annual event, which has become the industry’s premier networking and awards occasion.
Other winners on the day included Crown Timber plc for Softwood Trader of the Year, sponsored by Arch Timber Protection, while Timbmet won the Hardwood Trader of the Year, sponsored by Progressive Solutions International Ltd.
The Panels Trader of the Year prize, sponsored by Coillte Panel Products, saw a win for Lawcris Panel Products, while Plywood Trader of the Year, sponsored by W Howard Ltd, was won by International Plywood.
Marden-based JW Timber scooped Small Timber Business of the Year, sponsored by Carrefour International du Bois.
The judged awards categories saw wins for Wolseley UK in the Excellence in Marketing Award, sponsored by Combilift. The Career Development Award, sponsored by SCA Timber Supply, saw wins in the under-25 category for Ashley Reynolds (Lathams) and Dawn Chinn of EH Smith Builders Merchants in the over-25s.
The Market Development Award, sponsored by TRADA Technology and Timber Expo, saw a win for Accoya modified wood producer Accsys Technologies, while the Environmental Achievement Award saw Jewson victorious.
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios won Achievement in Engineered Timber, sponsored by Osmose, for its use of cross-laminated timber at the Woodland Trust headquarters, while a new category – Website of the Year – saw Howarth Timber Group secure the prize.
For photos of all the winners see the next issue of TTJ.
