Talbott’s is proud to announce that our Managing Director, Mick Johnson, is a founding member of the Wood Fuel and Heating Association (WFHA) and has since been appointed to its Board — the newly established trade body representing the UK’s wood fuel and biomass heating sector, from fuel producers and boiler manufacturers through to installers, distributors and compliance specialists.
About the WFHA
The WFHA was launched to give the UK wood fuel and heating industry the unified, credible voice it has lacked — representing the sector’s interests in government policy and regulatory discussions, promoting high standards and best practice across the supply chain, and challenging inaccurate or misleading portrayals of biomass heating in the media. Its founding mission is to unite the UK’s wood heating and fuel community to raise standards, build confidence, and protect members’ interests, while making the case for sustainable wood heating as a serious contributor to the UK’s decarbonisation goals and energy security.
The Board is drawn from across the sector, including representatives from Innasol, LC Energy, South East Wood Fuels, Amp Clean Energy, Bowland Bioenergy, DC2 Engineering, and NFU Energy — bringing together expertise spanning fuel supply, boiler manufacturing, installation, and compliance.
What this means for Talbott’s
Mick brings 40 years of experience across the waste wood, dust extraction and biomass heating industries to the role, including over 15 years as Managing Director of Talbott’s. During his tenure, he has overseen the engineering development of the flagship Talbott MWE range, which has proved an enormous success for customers across the UK woodworking industry — giving him a rare depth of practical, engineering-led perspective to bring to the WFHA Board.
For over 45 years, Talbott’s Biomass Energy Systems has been at the forefront of designing and manufacturing British wood fuel heating solutions. Throughout my career, I’ve become increasingly convinced that the future of our industry depends on collaboration, innovation and having a strong, united voice — which is why I was proud to become a founding member of the Wood Fuel & Heating Association.
— Mick Johnson, Managing Director, Talbott’s Biomass Energy Systems Ltd, Founding Member of the WFHA
As a founding member of the WFHA — and now serving on its Board — Mick reflects that becoming involved was never about personal recognition, but about helping establish a trusted, independent voice that can represent the entire wood fuel supply chain with authority: from manufacturers and installers to fuel producers and woodland managers. Talbott’s is proud to be a corporate member of the WFHA, underlining our commitment to supporting the wider industry alongside our own customers.
As a WFHA Board Member, Mick will help represent the interests of biomass boiler manufacturers and the wider woodworking and manufacturing sectors that rely on reliable, compliant, high-performance heating — ensuring the practical, engineering-led perspective of companies like Talbott’s directly informs the policy and standards debate, rather than being decided without industry input.
Continuing a track record of industry leadership
This appointment builds on Talbott’s long-standing position within UK biomass heating, as part of the Smith Brothers (Leicester) Ltd engineering group alongside sister company Air Plants Dust Extraction Ltd. It reflects a wider commitment to raising standards across the sector — not just within our own systems, but across the industry as a whole.
To find out more about Talbott’s biomass energy systems, visit our products page or get in touch with our team.