Well here we are, nearly at the end of 2016, and what a year it has been. From the depths of the recession to a year that has brought some great growth and some interesting projects. Working with the preservation team from a few projects in HMS Victory, to 13 kilometres of fencing for the MOD, to a project in Westminster Abbey that will open up a new area for the public in 2017. 
The Brexit vote hit us mid-year and did some damage to the exchange rates. For those of us buying timber in North America and Europe it increased our prices significantly, which has unfortunately, had to be passed on to our customers.
Partly as a result of Brexit and partly as our commitment to supporting the
Grown in Britain project, we have bought a small parcel of Oak and Ash logs from Hampshire this year, and we’re hoping to buy more in the New Year. What will be more difficult to find in the UK than across the Channel is the consistency of logs that do not have significant knots in the first 4-5 metres. If our industry can start to understand timber better, and is willing to work with the character of the timber, the UK supply chain has a great chance. But if we continue to reject timber for the smallest blemish, we will be wasting a great resource and timber of the very highest quality will become scarcer and, of course, more expensive.
On a positive note I am confident that in January we will have our Grown in Britain licence and will shortly be able to offer our first GiB timber.
Our Fencing and Gate division continues to grow with the team some 40% bigger than a
year ago, servicing some of the UK’s largest house builders. Gates have always been a staple product of ours and we have some great gate makers in our workshop, making bespoke entrance gates and field and hunting gates. Please contact us if you have a gate in mind, we can either copy one that you have that has seen better days, or one you have passed and photographed.
As we grow our team has to grow, and with effect from January 2017, we have three job opportunities. One in our machine and product workshop in Selham, Petworth, one for a skilled fence erector and one for a fence labourer these can be Selham or Farnham based. Click here to take you to the job details and instructions.
We would like to thank all of our customers for your custom in 2016, we have been involved in some very interesting projects with you this year, and we look forward to working with you in 2017.
We also look forward to meeting all of our new customers in 2017 as well, whoever you may be.
Please note we close at 12.00 midday on Thursday 22 December and return, Bright and Breezy on Tuesday 3 January 2017.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Don’t forget, for all of your hardwood and joinery softwood requirements…………………
Call our Sales Team on 01798 861611 or email: sales@wlwest.co.uk
Like this:
Like Loading...