CONFOR'S popular annual policy conference returns to Westminster in December.

With Labour in power for the first time in 14 years, the conference will focus on what that means for the industry and how the forestry and wood sector can deliver the priorities of the new Government.

Forestry Minister, Mary Creagh, has been invited to set out her views on the forestry and wood industry and how it can work in partnership with the new Labour Government to deliver its key priorities.

Key topics for discussion will be forestry and wood as a driver of rural economic growth, how to ensure greater UK timber security, skills, and increasing the supply of home-grown wood to build the sustainable homes of the future. 

Speakers will present on next steps for The National Wood Strategy for England and the Timber in Construction roadmap, working with the UK Government and Forestry Commission - while a Sector Skills Plan for the industry will be a big feature at the event, to be held at the QEII Centre, Westminster, on Thursday, December 5.

Confirmed speakers include Ross Hampton, Executive Director of the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition, to give a global perspective on the industry, and Paul Brannen, former Labour MEP and author of Timber! How Wood can save the world from Climate Change.

Naomi Matthiessen, formerly forestry lead at Defra, will give a perspective from her new role as Deputy Director for Landscapes, Nature & Forestry in the Welsh Government - and other speakers include: Richard Stanford, CEO of the Forestry Commission; Kelly Harrison, Director, ESG Impact Strategy, Whitby Wood; Alex Goodfellow, CEO, Donaldson Offsite; and Stuart Goodall, Confor CEO.

The event is again sponsored by Gresham House, Scottish Woodlands and Tilhill/BSW Group.  

Stuart Goodall, Confor CEO, said: "Our policy conference has become the key date on the forestry and wood calendar to analyse government policy and discuss how that can be shaped to support the industry.

Forestry minister Mary Creagh has been invited to the conference Forestry minister Mary Creagh has been invited to the conference (Image: PA)

"This year's event is especially significant with a new Government at Westminster.

"There is so much to discuss; Environment Secretary Steve Reed has talked of the need to 'turbo-charge' the rural economy, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves is consistently stressing the need to ‘onshore’ supply chains - and timber security needs to be part of that, alongside food and energy. On both these points - and on the Labour pledge to deliver 1.5 million sustainable new homes this term - forestry and wood is ready to deliver. 

"By aligning with these economic policies, our industry can also make a significant contribution to the UK's net zero and wider environmental ambitions."

Stuart added: "Of course, we need to remember that we aren't starting from scratch - the National Wood Strategy for England and Timber in Construction roadmap are detailed and forward-looking documents that we’ll be looking for the new Government and its agencies to adopt and deliver on."

For more details and the booking link, click here.