TTF NEWS
Strength in partnership
The Timber Trade Federation and the Wood Protection Association (WPA) are joining forces under a strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening the UK market for treated wood. The agreement focuses both organisations on working together to tackle the ‘priority actions’ that came out of an industry survey conducted jointly by TTF and WPA in 2017/18.
The survey highlighted three key issues to be addressed if demand for tread wood in the UK is to grow. These included tackling buyer’s knowledge, in order to correctly order or specify treated wood; improving user awareness of how to install and use pre-treated wood, and building confidence in the performance of treated wood through independent verification of treatment quality.
Picture: Wood Protection Association
Commenting on the agreement TTF Managing Director Dave Hopkins said: “This strategic agreement is based on a mutual desire of the TTF and WPA boards to work more closely on matters of common interest.” WPA chief executive Gordon Ewbank added that it is the synergies between the TTF and WPA that made the partnership agreement an obvious
strategic move for both organisations: “The WPA’s technical knowledge bank, standards and regulatory expertise together with our profile in the European wood protection market make a great match with the TTF’s timber supply chain understanding, communication networks and lobbying influence.” Under this agreement WPA will also make available to TTF members its other specialist services such as regulatory affairs, technical support, the WPA Benchmark quality assurance scheme and training at privileged partner consultancy rates. Both organisations will continue to operate as independent trade associations. The agreement will have significant potential to build confidence in treated wood and grow demand, spearheaded by a ‘Treated Timber You Can Trust’ campaign.
Success in timber sales
The Timber Trade Federation has launched a sales training programme for candidates across the wood supply chain, which results in successful delegates receiving membership of the professional body, the Institute of Sales Management, at Executive level. The TTF Essential Foundations of Sales Management course mixes one-to-one tutoring with online coursework, workshops and projects.
The course is aimed at individuals who have been identified as having potential in a sales role, and aims to get them started on handing a small portfolio of customers profitably on behalf of their business. Over a 12 month period, six one-day workshops take place away from the
candidate’s business. Two assessed sales management distance learning projects are also undertaken by the candidates with guidance from the trainer.
Topics covered by the training include customer and competitor analysis, customer relationship management, KPIs for sales, territory management, negotiation skills, sales prospecting,
marketing, and turning customer objections into sales. Continuing professional development is available as a second stage to the Foundations course, for managers looking to grow the effectiveness of small sales teams. For further details contact Karen Sussex at the Timber Trade Federation:
ksussex@ttf.co.uk.
Cladding and flooring take centre stage
Two new product-focused working groups have been launched by the Timber Trade Federation to bring its members and timber users and specifiers together for the common business good. The Timber Flooring Working Group is looking at sustainable sourcing of materials in the flooring production supply chain, aiming to give advice to all stakeholders later in the year.
Low growth
The Timber Cladding Working Group is looking at access to markets, following the introduction of the 18m height limit for timber cladding externally on buildings, introduced with the post-Grenfell amendment to the Building Regulations. Industry stakeholders, including builders’ merchants, interested in attending these meetings should contact the TTF at its headquarters in The Building Centre in London.
versus no growth
General consensus among the speakers addressing the TTF’s UK National Softwood Conference was that timber business in 2019 is likely to experience low growth, possibly between 1-2%, rather than no growth. The exception is said to be the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sector, for which zero growth is predicted. The lack of growth may possibly be offset slightly by potentially more stable pricing, subject to the outcome of Brexit negotiations. David Hopkins, Managing Director of the Timber Trade Federation, said: “No-one can deny that Brexit has already begun to reduce
confidence in the marketplace, and that any disruption to supply chains will have a serious impact on our industry’s ability to supply the materials to Keep Britain Building. The smooth flow of imported timber into the UK is therefore essential for the construction industry to function normally.” The close correlation between UK GDP and the value of softwood imports continues to highlight the timber industry’s inherent connection to the economic health of the nation.
May 2019 / 3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
