The East Anglian Timber Trade Association’s (EATTA) acting chairman, Graham Skillen, addressing guests at the EATTA’s annual dinner at King’s College, suggested the industry could adopt and modify the Olympics slogan Inspire a Generation to "Inspire Us" to help attract talented young people to the sector.
"Let us adopt the Olympic message and pass on the baton to the next generation," said Mr Skillen, of Ridgeons. "We have a lot to offer them."
Mr Skillen also highlighted the large turnout at the dinner despite what had been "a difficult and hard-fought year".
He applauded the optimism of former prime minister John Major who recently commented about green shoots of recovery.
"But the fact remains that whatever economic factors we have to face next year, there is no doubt that the timber industry will be challenged in ways we have not experienced before."
SCA Timber Supply Ltd managing director Stephen King spoke about the work of the Timber Trade Federation, including the Wood First campaign and the Timber Industry Accord, as well as how it could help the timber trade come to grips with the EU Timber Regulation, being implemented in March next year.
Earlier Mr King had hosted EATTA’s first shippers’ meeting, attended by about 50 people, where producers from several countries gave presentations.
Jo Hill, volunteer co-ordinator at Help for Heroes, gave a speech about the work of the Colchester Chavasse VC Centre, which works with injured British soldiers. A total of £1,800 raised by EATTA for the charity will be presented in the near future.