Eight years after taking on the role of CEO when Woodsure became a wholly owned subsidiary of HETAS in 2017, Bruce Allen is formally stepping down as CEO and retiring in September 2025. Bruce’s leadership has propelled the success of Woodsure, making significant strides in improving the quality of wood fuel across the UK. 

We wish Bruce a happy and relaxing retirement and thank him for his hard work. His impact across the organisation and the wood fuel sector cannot be understated. 

Woodsure under Bruce Allen 

Since Bruce’s appointment as CEO of Woodsure in 2017, Woodsure has seen extensive growth. Now, 8 years later, Woodsure is continuing to set the standard for UK wood fuel, improving the quality and sustainability of wood fuel across the UK, remaining the UK’s only wood fuel accreditation scheme. 

The Woodsure mark has grown to become the trusted way for consumers to recognise that the wood fuel they are purchasing is both high-quality and sustainable, driving habits towards more environmentally responsible domestic heating with wood fuel. The nationally recognised mark has remained at the forefront of consumers’ and suppliers’ minds since it launched, and Bruce’s work over the past eight years has ensured accredited certification  has remained robust whilst involving minimal paperwork for suppliers. 

Bruce’s leadership has led Woodsure to become a pivotal figure in the wood fuel industry and play an incredibly important role in minimising domestic burning emissions, allowing Woodsure to grow alongside its lab, which offers testing and certification services to verify regulatory compliance. Work with Defra and DESNZ in administering government schemes has enabled Woodsure to positively represent the industry, positioning the organisation as an important part of improving sustainability, whilst at the same time aligning to fuel quality. 

Administered schemes 

Over the last eight years, Woodsure and its influence in promoting sustainable, environmentally conscious heating practices has only widened. Two avenues which have allowed Woodsure to grow have been its two administered schemes on behalf of government: the Biomass Suppliers List and Ready to Burn certification. 

Both these schemes, administered on behalf of DESNZ and Defra respectively, have allowed sustainability efforts to thrive and consumer knowledge of safe, efficient fuels to expand. 

Woodsure pioneered the use of quality, safe wood fuel for domestic heating through its creation of the Ready to Burn scheme in 2017. The importance of this previously voluntary scheme was recognised by government in 2020, and it became a compulsory regulatory requirement, with Woodsure trusted to continue operating the scheme. Air quality and consumer safety have since seen continued improvements, and its widespread use is a testament to Bruce’s dedication and vision. 

Bruce commented on his retirement, stating: 

I’ve been engaged with reducing particulate emissions and increasing sustainability  across the solid fuel and biomass sector since before Woodsure became part of HETAS in 2017, and the rapid improvements we have made over the past eight years with Woodsure have shown the importance of trusted, certification and quality assurance schemes. 

“I’m looking forward to having more opportunity to spend time with my family, to do lots of things that we enjoy, and sometimes relax in my retirement. I am confident that Woodsure will continue to thrive under the direction of its leadership and the hard work of every individual. I cannot thank the dedication of Woodsure suppliers enough – your efforts have shone a positive light on our industry every day, and I wish each of you the best for the future.