It was a great honour to assume the role of President of the British Woodworking Federation in June 2024, following in the footsteps of David Oldfield. David has served the Federation with distinction for many years as a valued member of the Board and Council, and notably as Chair of the Fire Door Alliance for over a decade. Under his steady leadership, the Federation has continued to grow in strength, and I am pleased to report that we are in a strong position, with healthy reserves and an exceptional staff team committed to serving our members.

Our industry continues to navigate significant headwinds from market volatility and skills shortages to the ever-evolving regulatory landscape. However, the BWF remains uniquely placed to help members respond to these challenges. We continue to offer a wide range of programmes, events, and resources designed to provide timely guidance and support to key decision-makers within your businesses. If you have not yet engaged with these opportunities, I strongly encourage you to take full advantage of what is available.

Looking ahead, there are reasons to be optimistic. Construction output is projected to grow by 2.5% in 2025, and early indicators suggest the UK economy is beginning to stabilise. Of particular note is the Timber in Construction Roadmap, launched by DEFRA in late 2023. This important initiative has brought together leading stakeholders to focus on seven key priorities aimed at increasing the use of timber in construction supporting not only economic growth but also the UK’s ambition to reach net zero.

As President, my focus is on championing the long-term sustainability of our industry, and on attracting a new generation of talent to drive innovation and growth. I firmly believe the woodworking and joinery sector is an exciting and future-facing industry; we are at the forefront of the sustainability agenda and there are significant opportunities for personal and professional success.

I look forward to working with all of you in the year ahead to ensure our industry continues to thrive.

Andrew Madge
President