United Kingdom & Belgium
Contact Seminar
Contact seminar for Estonian companies in the forest and wood industry, construction sector, furniture manufacturing, wood products (eg wood building materials, wood covering materials, windows and doors, mouldings, flooring), as well as all interested parties.
The event will take place in Tallinn on March 18th from 10:00 to 15:00 at the Nordic Hotel Forum.
We invite you to engage with and establish connections with market experts.
The United Kingdom is one of the most important markets, yet it remains inaccessible to many. There is a lack of knowledge about the Belgian wood market and the country’s forest and wood policy. The business environment and cultural context, governed by specific rules, can lead to misunderstandings in initial business contacts, potentially impacting partnership.
Join us at the seminar to gain new insights!
Program
09:00 – 10:00 Networking and welcome coffee
10:00 – 10:05 Introduction to the day by the moderator
Mr Henrik Välja, Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association
10:05 – 10:25 Welcome speeches
10:25 – 11:15 The United Kingdom as an attractive and high-growth market for Estonian wood companies and the construction sector. Introduction to Timber Development UK.
Mr David Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer of Timber Development UK
- The UK government’s ambitious priorities and key actions, as outlined in the new Timber Construction Roadmap, include promoting sustainable and low-carbon building materials and accounting for carbon emissions in building design, construction, and operation.
- The UK timber market: operation and demand.
- The UK aims to build 1.5 million new homes. How can Estonian timber house manufacturers, wood product producers and construction companies establish successful business contacts, agreements and meet demand in the UK?
- What specific requirements or expectations do UK companies have for potential partners in Estonia?
- Industry perspective on trade.
11:15 – 12:05 PEFC UK’s role in shaping sustainability trends and wood market functioning. Requirements for importing companies.
Mr John Kirkby, Executive Director of the PEFC UK LTD
- Demand for certified wood products in the UK market.
- UK National Forest and Wood Policy and the government’s environmentally friendly procurement policy.
- Sustainability trends. Government perspectives on timber use in construction. Sustainable wood in national and local government procurement policies.
- What specific requirements or expectations do the UK companies have for potential partners in Estonia?
- Key characteristics of business practices and communication culture in the United Kingdom.
10:05 – 10:25 Coffee, light lunch and networking
13:00 – 13:50 Navigating the Belgian wood sector: from regional specifics to market opportunities, trade flows and sustainable construction.
Mr Samuel Oldenhove, National Secretary of the PEFC Belgium
- Overview of the Belgian wood market structure and opportunities, including demand and requirements for partner companies.
- Introduction to Belgian forest and wood policy. Sustainability trends and the introduction of government procurement policies.
- PEFC Belgium’s role in the wood market and shaping sustainability trends.
- Overview of Belgian business and communication culture. Practical recommendations.
13:50 – 14:20 Case study: How the Vikings went to England (again)?
Mr Indrek Rüütel, Member of the Board, Viking Window AS
- Who are we and how we started to export
- Why England? Opportunism and purposeful, planned effort in entering export markets.
- Market research, decision-making, risks and implementation.
- Applying the Viking business model in the United Kingdom market.
- Full commitment and achieving a strong market presence.
14:20 – 15:00 Coffee and networking
Companies are invited to book up to 15-minute one-on-one meetings with the speakers to exchange ideas and build connections. Please register your request in advance by emailing: gerly.koitla@pefc.ee
Speakers
Mr David Hopkins
David speaks on behalf of the £10billion UK timber supply chain as Chief Executive of Timber Development UK. David is a passionate campaigner and Experienced Business Leader with a strong history in the clean-technology, environmental and sustainability sectors.
David is a former environment journalist and has written for most national broadsheets as well as editing a number of trade and industry titles focused on utility and environmental markets.
He is a former director of Carbon International, an award winning clean-technology and environmental industries consultancy working with clients such as the London Stock Exchange and World Bank. In 2021 David launched the Tropical Timber Accord at COP26 with a coalition of tropical country partners to promote sustainable forest management and trade. David is a thought leader who is currently developing projects on the potential of the BioEconomy.
Mr John Kirkby
John leads the strategic direction of PEFC UK, working closely with current certificate holders, industry partners, stakeholders, and international colleagues to promote sustainable forest management and responsible supply chains both within the UK and at a global level.
A qualified forester, he has worked for over 20 years in the UK timber industry, and from 2012 until he joined PEFC UK in June 2023, he ran his own consultancy business which specialised in helping companies in the UK achieve and maintain PEFC chain of custody certification. During this time, John was also a qualified lead auditor for the PEFC chain of custody scheme and worked for a number of certification bodies in UK.
John is passionate about PEFC UK driving real change through credible, but practical, certification and believes that sustainable forest management alongside the increased use of certified timber in construction are vital in the fight against climate change.
Mr Samuel Oldenhove
Samuel believed that another world was possible and that everyone could contribute to the solution, like the hummingbird. After ten years in the world of retail and marketing, he was searching for meaning, and putting his knowledge to work in sustainable management became an obvious choice. With a desire to put common sense and sound management back at the center, while including all stakeholders, Samuel leads the dynamic PEFC team and represents and promotes PEFC in all political and economic bodies, as well as other forums and associations.
Mr Indrek Rüütel
Indrek is a highly experienced executive whose engaging speaking style is matched only by the substance of his presentations. He is the kind of speaker who inspires a sense of pride in both the company and its people. A gifted wordsmith, he often weaves a bold approach or a witty perspective into his talks.
Indrek has been with Viking Window AS since the spring of 2004. Starting as Quality Manager, he was responsible for process and product certification as well as environmental management. Since the autumn of 2019, Indrek has served as a Member of the Management Board. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology from the University of Tartu (specializing in the thermal conductivity of windows and doors) and is currently a Master’s student in Industrial Ecology at TalTech.
Register for the contact event: 35 euros
Lecturers will speak in English.
Ask for more information: gerly.koitla@pefc.ee
PEFC Estonia, in cooperation with its partners, is organising contact events to introduce foreign markets to Estonia’s forest and wood industry as well as the construction sector. With a presence in nearly 60 countries, PEFC seeks to share market-specific expertise with supply chain companies regarding international markets. The information presented at these seminars is intended to support companies in entering new markets or operating more effectively within them. The first target market seminar focusing on Germany and the Netherlands took place on 25 September 2025 in Tallinn.
Organizers
Supporter
