TILHILL Forestry is working with both the University of the Highland and Islands and Innovate UK on a new ‘knowledge transfer partnership’.

Its purpose is to develop and deliver ‘Trees to Timber Mill’, a digital end-to-end logistics solution delivering process efficiencies, improved reporting and reduced supply-chain costs in the timber trade with a unique decision-support system enabling the company to both optimise the standing timber crop’s conversion into logs during tree harvesting operations and maximise the high-value sawn timber product cut from these logs at the sawmill.

Dr Ian Heywood, Innovate UK, knowledge transfer adviser, North Scotland, said: “Investing in innovation is a key indicator of an ambitious and forward-thinking company and it is a pleasure to be working alongside the academic team from the UHI and the North of Scotland KTP Centre to support Tilhill Forestry in delivering this exciting project.”

Dr Euan Bowditch, UHI researcher – forestry and social ecology, said: “Inverness College UHI (Research) is very excited to be working in partnership with Tilhill Forestry.

“Innovation has always been at the heart of research and this partnership offers the opportunity to address a key issue in forestry, as well as integrate and develop interdisciplinary skill sets – we look forward to bringing innovation experience to both our students and own research.”

Tilhill’s Peter Whitfield added: “We are very much looking forward to working with UHI and KTP teams.”