Above left: The team at Highland Heritage Woodworks, from left:
Alvis Krasovskis, Jurgis Baltmanis, Arturs Zommers, Guy Phillips and Armands Balams Above right: The company is always looking to drive value into the timber it sources
allowed them to take control of their raw materials and share that narrative with their customers who were purchasing high-end joinery.
Initially, the team was interested in hardwood logs such as elm and oak and turning out beautiful staircases and cabinetry to discerning customers who wanted to know where their materials were coming from. But the sawmill also proved to them that leaning into boards and beam production using locally available softwoods would allow the company to diversify. Since then, they’ve made significant investments in new sawmill and kilning facilities, totalling nearly £600,000 – a substantial commitment for a small team of six. This investment has been supported by forward thinking organisations such as Scottish Enterprise, Opportunity North East and Scottish Forestry. Most recently, the company acquired an
timber drying kiln and a new Mebor wide band horizontal sawmill, dramatically increasing its production capacity. The company has also invested in mechanical grading equipment to supply C16 and C24 materials to timber frame house builders and builders’ merchants.
80m3
Douglas fir floor for a renowned musician’s London home and is about to start producing its own design high end cabins from local timber.
MYTH BUSTING ON QUALITY AND SUPPLY
Two well-established perceptions GiB comes up against are: home-grown timber is not good enough quality, and supply is not robust. We’ve been working tirelessly to dispel those myths, and HHW is on the same page
Looking for a way to independently and robustly verify to customers the provenance of its timber, HHW began a conversation with Grown in Britain, which led to it becoming certificate holders in March this year. HHW’s investment in both technology and certification has enabled it to diversify and authenticate its product range to include high-value flooring, SIPs, kitchen doors, cladding and boards for local and UK-wide distribution. The company is about to create a 350m2
regarding the quality of Scottish timber. “Scottish timber has a great brand from a ‘bespoke and artisan’ point of view, but our perception is that ‘home-grown’ timber struggles as a building material against European imports,” noted Mr Phillips. However, the company is proving that local timber can meet high standards, producing everything from high-value flooring to structural timber.
As the partnership with Grown in Britain strengthened, an opportunity was presented to collaborate on an exciting research and development project focused on developing ply boards using UK-grown timber. While details are still under wraps (do follow GiB on socials to keep in the loop), this project has exciting implications for the use of home-grown timber in both the furniture and construction sectors.
The company is also working with a Scottish university through the Scottish Funding Council Interface scheme, a government organisation that connects businesses with academic expertise, to further innovate in this area.
Always looking to drive value into the timber it sources, HHW manufactures high- end Scottish elm and Douglas fir flooring, Douglas fir post and beam structures for timber frames, in collaboration with Agile homes, straw-filled SIPs panels for social housing using wide board Scots pine, and in collaboration with GiB, a new to market, home-grown plywood.
Its aspirations for board production are clear: it aims to divert large logs to higher- value use, reduce timber imports, and support the local economy. This aligns perfectly with its “Forest to Front Door” philosophy, which emphasises adding value throughout the supply chain and ensuring the best possible outcome for every piece of timber.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
As we look ahead, the collaboration between innovative companies like Highland Heritage Woodworks and certification bodies like Grown in Britain will play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for UK forestry and timber production.
HHW plans to continue growing its business by providing high-quality, skills- based jobs for the rural economy. It is positioning itself as a local, low-carbon source of sustainable products, helping customers reduce their Scope 3 emissions. Indeed, through attendance at the Net Zero Academy, run by Scottish Enterprise’s Sustainability Team, it has begun exciting conversations about large volume supply to two established timber frame house builders in the north-east.
With global demand for timber set to rise significantly, and nearly 80% of the UK’s timber still currently being imported, companies like HHW are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for sustainable, locally sourced timber. It is just one example of a business demonstrating there is a strong demand for locally sourced, high-quality, timber that can be carefully milled and dried and sold into higher value goods and services.
For example, the potential for increased use of timber frame construction in England and Wales (currently at 9% compared to Scotland’s 80%) presents a significant opportunity for growth in the home-grown timber market.
While there are still challenges to overcome, such as perceptions around treated timber in construction, innovative companies are paving the way for a more sustainable and locally sourced future in the UK timber industry.
By choosing certified British timber, Grown in Britain knows we can support the responsible management of our forests, create local jobs, and contribute to a low-carbon economy. ■
FURTHER INFORMATION For more information about how to use UK-
grown timber in your projects or to learn about Grown in Britain certification, contact us at
enquiries@growninbritain.org or visit:
www.growninbritain.org
www.ttjonline.com | September/October 2024 | TTJ
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