Sykes Timber is a family business…

Sykes Timber is a family business rooted in heritage, but driven by innovation

When John Sykes left his native Yorkshire in search of a new start and settled in Warwickshire in 1862, little did he know he was sowing the seeds of a timber dynasty that would still be going strong some 163 years later. John’s son, George, joined the business in 1870 and his son, Joseph, the third generation, followed in 1913. The fourth generation was welcomed in 1942 in the form of Joseph’s son, Stephen, who passed the business on to his sons, Robert and Richard in the 1990s. Today, the sixth generation of the family is involved.

Sykes is a traditional yet forward-thinking business, retaining its founding Quaker values of integrity, simplicity, fairness and sensible stewardship, but always striving for more—innovating, refining and expanding, but never losing sight of what truly works. Its site at Atherstone in Warwickshire spans 10 acres and houses 80 species of stock, which is supplied in both sawn and machined sections. Sykes has travelled the world for generations, building irreplaceable exclusive relationships with the best log suppliers on every continent to serve customers—both merchants and makers—who demand and appreciate the best quality of timber to supply and make pieces that last generations.

Sykes timber is ingrained in the great houses of Britain—the panelled libraries and winding staircases that have become part of our architectural heritage. However, its wood is also found in everyday houses—a shelf in a townhouse kitchen, a table top in a farmhouse. What makes Sykes special is that its level of service doesn’t change, no matter who it is supplying and how much they are buying. Natural, real timber is for everyone—that is the message Sykes strives to get across.

Sykes timber is also found on the water, Teak , Mahogany, Walnut, Iroko, Elm and Oak are only a few of the timbers Sykes supplies to boating markets. Purchased from the best sawmills around the world in the highest grade, they are then hand-graded again, meaning customers will eventually receive a Sykes-grade timber.

Underlying everything is a philosophy of stewardship. Certification is important, but common sense and care are also key. Sustainability is at the heart of everything Sykes does and that starts with its own housekeeping. The company has planted thousands of trees in the UK and its site is mostly self-sustained year-round through wood boilers and solar panels. The Sykes family has long understood that timber is only as sustainable as the people who manage it.

Wood is the most sustainable material on earth. It is reliant on sunlight, water and soil, storing carbon as it grows, renewing itself as forests regenerate. It is strong, beautiful, versatile and, unlike plastic, steel or concrete, it requires no alchemy. Natural wood is for everyone, there’s no need for composites or modification—natural wood is a luxury everyone can afford, they only need the opportunity to do so.