MKM Building Supplies (MKM) and its long-term partner, James Jones & Sons Ltd, have unveiled a major UK-wide campaign dubbed “Great British Timber” to aggressively promote the adoption of British-grown C16 structural timber. This ambitious initiative aims to challenge decades-old specification habits, educate the trade, and underscore the economic and environmental benefits of sourcing timber domestically. With MKM supplying over 150,000 tonnes of timber annually across the UK—a colossal volume equivalent to the weight of more than 12,000 double-decker buses—the campaign is poised to significantly shift market perceptions. The “Great British Timber” drive is strategically positioned to highlight C16’s proven strength, exceptional value, and superior sustainability profile.
Debunking the C24 default
The core focus of the campaign lies in dispelling the long-held industry assumption that imported C24 timber is the universally superior or stronger choice. For the vast majority of common UK construction applications, including loft extensions, floor joists, stud walls, decking frames, fencing, and garden structures, UK-produced C16 timber performs equally well and meets all necessary building standards.
C16 is a graded softwood, with the ‘C’ denoting ‘Coniferous’ and the ’16’ indicating a minimum bending strength of $16N/mm^2 (Newtons per square millimetre). While C24 boasts a higher strength grade of $24N/mm^2 and is often preferred for high-load or long-span applications, industry experts from both MKM and James Jones argue that C16’s strength is more than adequate for most typical domestic projects.
Emma Loftus of James Jones & Sons noted that C24 is “too often… specified by default,” an unnecessary practice given C16’s capability for most everyday construction. This over-specification frequently leads to higher material costs and a greater reliance on imported products.
The push for British-grown C16 aligns perfectly with the rising demand for sustainable construction materials and shorter supply chains. The environmental benefits of choosing domestic timber are substantial, notably the reduction in “timber miles” and associated embodied carbon emissions compared to imported alternatives.
Furthermore, supporting the UK’s forestry and wood processing sectors provides a vital economic boost. The British forestry industry is a key pillar of the rural economy, contributing over £3 billion and supporting more than 34,000 jobs. Choosing locally grown timber directly invests in this critical domestic infrastructure.
Gareth Nicholls, Head of Timber Category for MKM, emphasised this commitment: “We’re determined to do our bit to back British-grown timber — not just by talking about it, but by giving our branch teams the tools to have those conversations with customers.”
The sustainability credentials of the C16 supplied by James Jones are particularly strong. Sourced entirely from UK forests, the manufacturing process is designed for total material utilisation, ensuring that every component of the harvested tree is used. This commitment means offcuts and by-products are repurposed for everything from engineered timber products to animal bedding, maximising resource efficiency and minimising waste.
Education and outreach
To facilitate this market shift, the “Great British Timber” campaign is spearheaded by a comprehensive educational and promotional program targeting both MKM branch staff and their trade customers.
Key to the campaign is a major roadshow set to tour 20 key MKM locations across the autumn. These events are designed to be interactive, offering customers and tradespeople the opportunity to engage directly with experts, learn about C16 specifications, and participate in activities.
In parallel, James Jones & Sons is conducting drop-in training sessions for MKM’s 135-strong branch network. These crucial training modules are designed to solidify staff expertise in areas such as conversion and span tables, best practice for timber storage, and clear customer guidance. The goal is to ensure that every MKM team member is confident and knowledgeable when discussing C16’s suitability for a project.
This combined in-branch education, staff training, digital content, and roadshow activity ensures that the benefits of UK C16 timber—its technical fitness for purpose, its cost-effectiveness, and its powerful sustainability credentials—are clearly communicated to the thousands of builders, developers, and homeowners MKM serves each year.
The initiative also supports wider, coordinated efforts across the industry to educate architects and specifiers, who play a crucial role in the initial design and material choice phase of construction. This collaborative approach, involving James Jones and other leading UK suppliers, seeks to cement the British-grown C16 as the intelligent, responsible, and practical default choice for the majority of new and refurbishment construction projects across the UK.
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