A Birmingham business man has taken over as chairperson of the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA). Richard Evans, managing director of Scotts Timber Engineering, based in Shirley, Solihull, takes over from outgoing chairperson Paul Baron who spent two years in the role.
Having graduated from Leeds University with a BSc Hons in Architectural Engineering before embarking on over 30 years employment within the timber industry, Richard is well placed to take the helm.
Richard held director-level positions at Wyckham Blackwell before establishing Scotts Timber Engineering, a subsidiary of Scotts of Thrapston, in 2012 and has been an active member of the TRA for seven years.
Speaking following his appointment, Richard commented: “I am delighted to say that the timber industry has taken a very positive turn in the last 12 months and things are feeling more confident, thanks to a range of factors that have influenced the market.
“Undoubtedly the Government’s Help to Buy initiative has created increased demand for new homes and therefore construction has increased, in turn leading to the creation of new companies and jobs to fulfil this demand.
“That said, despite the market being more confident, we are still facing challenges. Construction levels have by no means recovered to pre-recession levels so there is still a way to go. Furthermore, the sudden increase in new housing activity means that the supply chain has been put under pressure to deliver more orders, on time and to meet customers’ demands – a positive issue to have to deal with, but something that does need to be carefully considered and closely monitored if businesses are to reap the benefits of the construction industry recovery.
“Seasoned timber industry experts will know that trussed rafters are the most effective way to build modern roofscapes so we are well-placed to capitalise on the current market improvements but we will proceed with caution. Whilst house prices continue to rise and many first time buyers require financial assistance to purchase their first home, the market is fragile.”
Richard also added that health and safety would continue to be a focus for the association, both in terms of training and also how products need to be designed to be deliverable and achievable during manufacturing.
The Trussed Rafter Association is the voice of the trussed rafter industry in the UK and provides information on subjects as varied as technical building solutions to health and safety. The TRA actively promotes the benefits of using trussed rafters for both domestic and commercial projects through the trade, technical and consumer press. On behalf of its members, the TRA forges links with public and private sectors to ensure the benefits of using trussed rafters are recognised as widely as possible. For more information visit www.tra.org.uk.
Scotts Timber Engineering is a subsidiary of Scotts of Thrapston, and was established in 2012 in the West Midlands. The new, innovative company specialises in timber engineering, taking the benefits of environmentally friendly timber as a construction material and exploiting its strengths to achieve 21st century design solutions. For more information visit www.scottstimberengineering.co.uk.
Richard Evans is a graduate from Leeds University BSc Hons – Architectural Engineering and a Member of the Institute of Wood Science (MIWsc).
His career began as a management trainee at timber firm Southerns-Evans Ltd where he worked in Huddersfield and Widnes from 1980 to 1982. He then became assistant manager at the company based in Leicester from 1983.
He was responsible for the launch of a new truss plant for the company in 1986 and in 1988 joined Wyckham Blackwell as contracts manager. In 1999 he became timber engineering director, a position he held until 2012 when he became managing director of Scotts Timber Engineering Ltd.
Richard was a UKTFA tech committee member for five years and has been a TRA tech committee member since 2007, before becoming the organisation’s chairman in February 2014.
Richard has been a member of Greenpeace for over 20 years, and is a keen supporter of environmental issues and an enthusiastic believer in timber as a sustainable structural product.