Accsys, the manufacturer of Accoya wood, proudly sponsored the ‘Rising Star’ award at the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Awards 2024, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent in the woodworking and joinery sector.
As part of the sponsorship, winners and shortlisted candidates for the Rising Star award, alongside the Apprentice of the Year finalists, were invited to Accsys’ state-of-the-art Accoya wood production facility in Arnhem, the Netherlands, to see first-hand how Accoya is made.
Attendees of the trip included: Lilli Mae, Partnerships Manager at Gowercroft; Harrison Ward, Apprentice/Student at James Wilding Joinery Ltd.; Paige Kavanagh, Carpenter at Corbel Conservation and Tautvydas Bumblys, Production Administrator at Heron Joinery.
The Accoya sales and marketing team hosted the group, with key representatives including Laura Keily, Head of Marketing; Alejandra Castro, Marketing Manager; and Mike Lewis, Technical Sales Manager. They were supported by Helen Hewitt, CEO of the BWF.
The multi-day experience included exclusive site visits to several long-standing Accoya projects in the Netherlands, offering attendees a first-hand look at the material’s performance over time. Stops included the Breakers Beach House in Noordwijk, where Accoya’s natural aesthetic complements the coastal environment; Fort Vier Restaurant with its distinctive architecture and exposed Accoya cladding; and the 1.5-kilometre Accoya boardwalk in Amsterdam. Now over a decade old and exposed to continuous foot traffic and variable weather, the boardwalk continues to demonstrate Accoya’s proven durability, dimensional stability, and suitability for demanding outdoor applications.
Laura Keily, Head of Marketing commented: “Nurturing the next generation of talent in woodworking is crucial to ensuring a strong future for the industry. We were honoured to host the rising stars of the industry and show them the magic that happens behind the scenes at our Accoya manufacturing site. It was inspiring to show them some of the incredible projects that can be achieved with Accoya and witness their enthusiasm and passion for wood. I look forward to seeing how they will continue to shape the future of our industry.”