Continuing to extend its buying options for customers, timber merchant Arnold Laver & Co Ltd has been awarded a Grown in Britain chain of custody licence, enabling British-grown timber and wood products in its range to be positively identified and promoted.
Andrew Laver, Managing Director, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded our Grown in Britain licence, which helps to further demonstrate our commitment to the purchase and promotion of home-grown timbers from within Britain. We see this as a real opportunity to continue the education of our customers, and their clients, when it comes to what materials are available and what they should be specifying when purchasing timber and timber-based products.
“We felt that this was a good time to be supporting the development and expansion of our woodlands, particularly when there are so many conversations taking place about the UK’s standing in both Europe and the World,” he continues. “We are a proud British Company that trades on its heritage and reputation, so it’s only right that we help to ‘fly the flag’ when it comes to supporting our own timber industry.”
Most of the UK’s major contractors have signed up to a timber procurement preference statement, clarifying that they will give preference to timber ‘assured as Grown in Britain’. Commenting on Arnold Laver’s licence, Steve Cook of Willmott Dixon said: “Major contractors are looking to work more closely with timber and builders merchants in their supply chains. Arnold Laver are leading the merchant sector by offering their customers assured British-grown timber. This is great news for construction contractors and also for the home-grown timber industry. It connects up vital supply chains that benefit all our businesses, and benefit the UK economy.”
Arnold Laver’s certification demonstrates the increasing role of British-grown timber in the marketplace which already accounts for around 40% of wood used in Britain. CEO of Grown in Britain, Dougal Driver, added: “We are pleased to see Arnold Laver, one of the key players in the timber and merchant sectors, defining the business opportunity and coming on board with Grown in Britain chain of custody certification. We hope more timber and builders merchants follow Arnold Laver’s lead in understanding the potential value of Grown in Britain certification as a positive marketing tool.”
