Monday, January 5, 2026
Premier Forest Products has officially announced the acquisition of National Timber Systems (NTS), which is a big step for the British construction supply chain. This strategic purchase not only rescues a specialist manufacturer from the fallout of the National Timber Group UK administration but also positions Premier Forest as a dominant force in the high-growth engineered timber sector.
The acquisition, finalised following National Timber Group’s entry into administration in late November 2025, ensures continuity for NTS’s existing operations and manufacturing footprint. Most importantly, the deal safeguards 160 specialised jobs, with Premier Forest revealing ambitious plans to increase that workforce to 250 as they scale operations throughout 2026.
By integrating NTS into its portfolio, Premier Forest Products acquires three key manufacturing and design facilities located in Bristol, Newcastle, and Catterick. This geographic spread allows the group to provide nationwide coverage, significantly enhancing its ability to serve regional and national housebuilders.
The move follows a busy period of expansion for the Newport-headquartered business, which recently purchased Arnold Laver sites in Manchester and Reading from the same administrators. This latest deal further consolidates Premier Forest’s “vertically integrated” model, moving the company deeper into the manufacturing of technical, high-value timber components.
National Timber Systems is widely regarded for its innovative approach to off-site manufacturing. Its product range is designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern housebuilding and the rapidly expanding modular construction sector. Key components of the NTS offering now joining the Premier Forest Group include:
NTSROOF®: A BBA-accredited, panelised rapid-fit roof system.
Engineered Joists: High-performance floor solutions that reduce material waste and installation time.
Roof Trusses & Cassettes: Precision-engineered structural components for complex architectural designs.
Specialist Floor Cassettes: Offsite solutions that streamline on-site assembly for large-scale developments.
Terry Edgell, Co-Founder and CEO of Premier Forest Products, emphasised that NTS is an “excellent fit” for the company’s long-term vision. “NTS aligns with and enhances our existing Mon Timber Engineering offer,” Edgell stated. “This acquisition will help support faster, more efficient housebuilding and modular construction through continued product innovation and increased manufacturing capacity.”
The timing of this acquisition is particularly relevant given the UK Government’s renewed focus on addressing the housing shortage through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Engineered timber is a cornerstone of this strategy, offering a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to traditional brick-and-block or steel-frame builds.
By expanding its capacity to produce panelized systems and engineered wood products (EWPs), Premier Forest is positioning itself to be a primary partner for developers looking to meet tightening environmental regulations and accelerated delivery timelines.
“Premier Forest has a strong reputation for quality and service,” noted Nick Kershaw, Managing Director of National Timber Systems. “We see them as an excellent cultural fit, enabling NTS to continue to grow and develop. We look forward to achieving further growth in 2026 and beyond.”
The transition of NTS into the Premier Forest brand marks a new chapter for the 160 staff members who faced uncertainty during the National Timber Group’s collapse. The immediate priority for leadership is the stabilization of operations and re-establishing seamless service to a customer base that includes some of the UK’s largest construction firms.
As the industry moves into 2026, the synergy between Premier Forest’s distribution network and NTS’s engineering expertise is expected to drive significant market share. The ability to provide a “one-stop shop” for both raw timber materials and complex engineered components gives the group a distinct competitive edge in an increasingly consolidated market.
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Tags: engineered timber UK, modular construction solutions, National Timber Systems acquisition, Premier Forest Products, timber manufacturing Bristol, timber roof systems, UK housebuilding strategy
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