Throughout 2024 our industry continued to face significant and persistent hurdles including a change in Government and a budget which was incredibly conflicting for our industry and BWF members. Despite this, there were many glimmers of hope, with the new Government’s focus on reforming the skills and education landscape, improving the planning reforms for councils as well as support for manufacturing SMEs and green industries.

We have made a number of notable achievements in 2024 providing a strong platform to continue to build upon for raising industry standards and promoting the exceptional craftsmanship across our membership. Our key aim as a federation is to help you, as a BWF member, run a successful, compliant and profitable business. We use our collective voice to shape the future of the industry.

For the first time, the Government formerly recognises timber as a material to help address many of their own targets through the Timber in Construction Road Map (TiC). The roadmap aims to increase timber usage in construction, creating a larger market for domestic timber and wood products. This offers the woodworking and timber industry a significant opportunity to increase domestic timber demand, stimulate investment, and create new green jobs. All of which aligns with our ongoing Build It Better with Wood campaign focusing on promoting wood as the construction material of choice.

Through our industry schemes we continue to champion best practise to raise the standards in the industry as well as influence many decisions made by the Government. We are heavily regulated and have to adhere and adapt to regulatory requirements and changes with 2024 proving to be a very big year with the change from a British Standard over to the European Standard for the manufacture of timber fire doors. Reviewing consultations and announcements as well as being involved in British and European Standard Committees (at last count it was sitting at 21 committees) certainly keeps the team very busy!.
Keeping our members up to date remains high on our agenda. This is achieved in several ways, BWF Members Day, our monthly Technical, and Health and Safety Updates, monthly drop-in webinars or the Technical Helpline which remains one of the most utilised services the BWF offers to its members. 2024 was the highest yet for enquiries from members.
A strong online presence, including a website and social media profiles, helps federations reach a wider audience, including potential members and stakeholders, both locally and nationally.

In today's digital world, active social media is a necessity, enhancing the BWFs reputation, reach wider audiences, increase engagement with stakeholders as well as promote our members products and services. To do this we have strengthened the Marketing and Communications team.

The BWF is one of the most respected and relevant construction trade organisations. This is because we continue to prove we are resilient, strong, united and can adapt as an industry. The BWF team are dedicated to offer the best service to the membership and no matter what your own needs are, we are here to help.

Helen Hewitt
Chief Executive