Opinions Archive
Archive of industry opinions from the global ttj industryOpinions By Date
October 2023
Top
Positive political difference for forest industry
The UK forestry minister is working closely with the industry to support its development and now a sector deal with government is in prospect, reports Confor chief executive Stuart Goodall
Women in timber engineering an award winning strategy
Nick Boulton, chief executive of the Trussed Rafter Association, shares his views on how diversity in the workforce is changing for the better
August 2023
Top
Sales and sustainability
A new international coalition to harness market demand in support of national tropical sustainable forest systems is nearing the launch of its Roadmap, writes Mike Jeffree
A new route to certification
The goal of the US Sustainable Hardwood Coalition is a certification scheme that really works for small scale forest ownership, writes American Hardwood Export Council consultant George White
TTJ celebrates 150 years
150 years is a long time and it seems mind-boggling that TTJ has been around for that long.
June 2023
Top
Stepping up to safety act
The Building Safety Act is billed as the biggest overhaul of UK construction regulation in 40 years. Chief executive Andrew Carpenter shares the Structural Timber Association’s response and its view on implications for wood-based building
End to end joinery experience
Keys to success for joinery businesses large and small are pricing, marketing and taking the consumers’ product perspective, writes industry veteran Roy Wakeman
Ligna's return a bellwether for investment sentiment
As this issue was going to press I was preparing to travel to the Ligna exhibition in Hannover – the world’s largest woodworking technology fair.
April 2023
Top
The first step in a career for life
The British Woodworking Federation has posted members’ career experiences in its online apprenticeships resource to highlight the breadth of opportunities that the sector offers new recruits, from craftwork, to hi-tech computer aided design, sales to engineering. CEO Helen Hewitt reports
Investment focuses on forest sector
Private equity is increasingly looking for green investment opportunities. That includes development of exciting new low environmental impact wood-based materials, writes Sampsa Auvinen, CEI-Bois chairman and advisory board chair of the new United Bankers Forest Industry Green Growth fund
February 2023
Top
TDUK calls for budget action to protect net zero as recession sets in
The Construction Products Association has predicted a recession for UK construction in 2023 with output set to fall 4.7%. Private housing new build and private housing repair, maintenance and improvement – the largest and third largest construction sectors – are set to be the worst affected, with falls in these areas only partially offset by continued growth in infrastructure. Timber Development UK CEO Dave Hopkins comments.
Solving school overcrowding sustainably
Prefabricated timber building can meet the UK’s desperate need for more and better school classroom space says Dr Mila Duncheva, business development manager UK & Ireland, Stora Enso Building Solutions
Making the training connections
Having a skilled and knowledgeable workforce across the timber sector has never been more critical and latest developments at the Institute of Carpenters can help deliver it, says its president Geoff Rhodes
December 2022
Top
World Cup distraction from difficult markets
The World Cup has kicked off and while we’ll all be hoping for English or Welsh success, the tournament is not necessarily universally being welcomed by all in the business community.
Stoical softwood sector in sobering times
There was no ignoring the grim global economic picture at the 2022 International Softwood Conference, but it also highlighted the sector’s longer term positives. Conference moderator, Fort Builders Merchants director Keith Fryer reports
Confor urges government stability and planting
Economic headwinds are building for the UK sawmill sector, but Defra now has the resources to make a difference for the industry by stimulating productive tree planting, writes Confederation of Forest Industries chief executive Stuart Goodall
October 2022
Top
Are we at a tipping point for fire door safety?
The recent passing of the Building Safety Act 2022, along with the Fire Safety Act 2021, marks a critical point in the way building safety risks will be considered. To ensure compliance with the new regime, greater understanding and awareness of the benefits that third-party fire door certification provides is crucial, writes Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF)
Congo Basin Regional Scheme a PEFC first
The PAFC Congo Basin scheme aims to increase sustainable forest management certification in the region, writes PEFC development officer Thomas Seyvet
TTJ Awards' royal connections in 2022
News of the Queen’s death broke as TTJ was going to press.
August 2022
Top
Thank you for the glulam
The demountable Abba Arena in London is a masterpiece of hybrid engineered timber and steel construction and a building for our increasingly over-heated times, writes TTJ consultant editor Mike Jeffree
