"Scottish forest industries will establish wood as the 'natural choice' for sustainable and innovative customer solutions" 

Cluster vision
The Cluster community in Scotland has developed this vision with the aim of doubling the growth rate of industry sales from 1.5% to 3% per annum.

The Cluster goals are to:

• Become a demand-led industry that is competitive with the best in the world
• Grow and develop markets for higher value products and services
• Encourage a domestic wood-using culture where wood is the natural choice of customers
• Build a connected and innovative industry that understands and responds to new consumer demands
• Be recognised as an industry that makes a valued contribution to communities and the environment as well as the economy.

Specific targets set by the Cluster for the five years following its establishment include:

• The creation of over 1,000 new jobs
• The stimulation of an extra £100m of investment in processing capacity
• An increase in market penetration from 9% to 15%.

The Strategic Framework
The vision, goals and targets will be pursued through a focus on three strategic themes, each with its set of operational objectives. The emphasis in all three themes is on the promotion of innovation. These themes and objectives are incorporated in Roots for Growth, the strategic framework for action of the Scottish Forest Industries Cluster which was launched in September 2000.

This document resulted from extensive consultation across the industry with individuals, organisations and businesses, many of whom have participated directly in the Cluster process. It is, however, a working document and it is recognised that priorities and objectives will inevitably evolve with the Cluster process itself.  

Reviewing Cluster work
Since the Cluster was established, there have been a number of opportunities for reviewing work and priorities.  In December 2001, an update on Cluster activities was produced in the form of a first annual review.  Roots for Growth - the first year provides a summary of achievements of the first 15 months of the initiative.  This review was presented at a major Cluster conference (Summary conference proceedings) and identified the following priorities for the Cluster:

A second review, Sustainability and innovation in Scotland's forest industries was produced to coincide with the Second Cluster Conference held in March 2003.  This publication illustrates how the above priorities have been addressed and highlighted the following as key actions for 2003-04:

• Strengthen links between the research community and industry;
• Enhance the role of timber in sustainable construction;
• Assess further market opportunities for small roundwood and co-products;
• Enhance career pathways and improve access to training opportunities;
• Consolidate the work of the e-Business Forum and the Timber Transport Forum;
• Project a stronger and more coherent voice for the forest industries.

In February 2005, the Cluster held its Third Cluster Conference at which its third report 2004:2005, Opportunities for investment in Scotland's forest industries, was launched, providing a further update on achievements of the initiative.

Hard copies of all these documents are obtainable from the Cluster Support Unit; comments and views on them are welcome.