Here’s What You Missed at the TRA AGM 2025

The TRA AGM and Conference brought members, suppliers, and industry experts together for a dynamic day of updates, insights, and celebration at the beautiful Walton Hall Hotel and Spa.

With a packed agenda of discussions, product showcases, and workshops, this year’s event was a standout moment for learning, collaboration, and progress in the timber engineering sector.

Welcoming suppliers and sponsors

The TRA welcomed a group of key suppliers as both attendees and sponsors of the AGM and Conference. These sponsors, BPC Fixings, Hundegger, ITW Construction Products, Simpson Strong-Tie, and Virtek, set up stands to showcase their latest innovations and connect directly with TRA members.

Dedicated supplier sessions during the day gave attendees the opportunity to hear about new products, technologies, and tools designed to support quality, safety, and efficiency across the industry.

Panel discussion from TRA members

The day began with the formal Annual General Meeting, where the TRA shared key association developments, financial updates, and goals for the year ahead.

A highlight of the morning was a panel discussion featuring senior representatives from Crendon Timber Engineering, Donaldson Timber Engineering, National Timber Systems, and Pasquill. This open forum tackled industry priorities, shared business challenges around health and safety, and sparked conversations on future collaboration.

Let’s talk about competency

The first workshop was co-led by Nick Boulton (TRA) and Ian Halloway (National Timber Systems), focusing on the evolving importance of competency in construction, particularly in leadership and product accountability.

Ian, Health and Safety Business Partner and master’s student in Safety Leadership, kicked things off by exploring safety leadership as a competence, drawing from his background in engineering and safety.

He presented the well-known “lone nut and first follower” theory, explaining how cultural change begins with one person and grows through influence and shared leadership. His approach to competency centres on Knowledge, Skills, Experience, and Behaviour (KSEB), and he stressed the need for internal safety training and stronger communication across all levels of an organisation.

Nick then shifted the focus to the changing regulatory landscape. Using the Grenfell tragedy as a starting point, he discussed how new initiatives like the Construction Products Green Paper are driving expectations for greater product accountability.

With two-thirds of construction products currently falling outside formal regulation, Nick emphasised the risks for companies engaging in safety-critical discussions without clearly defined responsibilities. He urged TRA members to consider adopting frameworks like the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and proposed that the TRA explore a quality assurance scheme for non-standard products such as spandrel panels and fire stops.

The secret to attracting and retaining top talent

This session, co-hosted by Liz Male, managing director of LMC, Amanda Carpenter and Kelly Stackhouse, new entrant employer support advisers at CITB, and Nick Kendall, learning and development specialist at LABC, tackled one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: how to attract and retain the next generation of timber engineering professionals.

Drawing on recent CIOB research (March 2025), the session highlighted trends in how young people and their parents view the construction industry.

While there is strong demand for apprenticeships and construction-related roles, negative perceptions such as low pay, job insecurity, and poor culture are deterring long-term commitment. Notably, 53% of young women believe the industry is not welcoming.

The panel stressed that recruitment is only half the battle as retention is where many companies struggle, with up to 67% of new entrants leaving within a year.

To reverse this trend, they proposed clear and actionable solutions:

• Inclusive and supportive workplace environments
• Stronger onboarding processes and mentoring
• Recognition and reward schemes
• Continuous training and development opportunities

The CITB’s New Entrant Support Team, launched in 2022, was introduced as a vital support service helping employers navigate apprentice recruitment, retention, and funding.

The session also highlighted the upcoming launch of the Go Construct Careers platform (May 2025), a national initiative that will make it easier for employers to connect with job seekers, advertise vacancies, and promote careers in construction.

The importance of community engagement was another key message: schools, colleges, careers fairs, and local partnerships remain essential channels to reshape public perceptions of construction and inspire future talent.

Mental health in construction

Bringing the day to an inspiring close was guest speaker Trevor Steven, a former professional footballer who represented England in two World Cups and two European Championships.

Best known for his time with Everton, Rangers, and Marseille, Trevor introduced his work with MindFlow, a charity that supports mental wellbeing through performance coaching and awareness.

He emphasised that mental health is as vital as physical performance, on the pitch and in the workplace and encouraged businesses to foster healthier, more open cultures.

Roofscape Design Awards

As the day drew to a close, the TRA hosted the 2025 Roofscape Design Awards, honouring the creativity, innovation, and technical excellence of designers from across the TRA membership. For the first time, the awards also included individual winners, celebrating rising talent and long-standing contributions to the industry.

Presentation slides are available for TRA members to download via the members’ area. If you would like to contact any of the speakers, please email info@tra.org.uk.