The blue of the distance became the blue of the night, and all the fields were grey. To be honest I’m surprised it took this long to get a reaction to the US mid-term elections. Just days after saying that  he was “absolutely willing” to accept the results of the …

Plumbers merchant Unique Plumbing Supplies will be joining plumbers merchant buying group PHG from 1 January 2027. Based in the Southampton area, Unique is led by managing director Nick Khaira, and has six branches and a dedicated bathroom showroom across Hampshire. Khaira said: “We are delighted to be joining PHG …

Norman Piette Group (NP Group), the builders merchant in the Channel Islands, has appointed Glenn Paddison as its new Group Chief Executive Officer, succeeding John Bampkin after seven years in the role. The appointment marks a new chapter for the established Channel Islands business, which operates builders’ merchant and hire …

There was a sharp and accelerated reduction in construction industry business activity during October, according to the seasonally adjusted S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®). At 43.6, down from 46.1 in September, the headline index registered below the neutral 50.0 value for the twenty-second month running. In addition, …

James Hardie has reached an agreement with Swisspearl for the transfer of its remaining European inventory of Hardie® Plank and Hardie® VL Plank cladding products. Swisspearl will manage the UK-based inventory, distribution, and supply of these products, supporting access, subject to product availability, for customers with existing James Hardie specifications …

Fancy giving money to the Government, Nobody will see the stuff again. Well, they’ve no idea what money’s for Ten to one they’ll start another war Ah, the Autumn Budget. That annual occasion when we all gather around our screens, clutching a cup of tea, hoping the Chancellor will sprinkle …

Construction intelligence company Glenigan, part of Hubexo, has launched its Building Materials Forecast, a new subscription service that forecasts future demand for construction products and materials across the UK. Unlike forecasts based primarily on new construction activity, the Building Materials Forecast combines project intelligence with analysis of the existing building …

it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamentable blast. Any readers who studied English Lit in their youth may remember having to write about the pathetic fallacy. It’s a …

Two colleagues are celebrating three decades of working for builders’ merchant Travis Perkins. Dan Storer, regional director for Birmingham and the West Midlands, and Dave Stretton, regional director for Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, both started working at Travis Perkins on the same day, joining the business’ Management Training Programme, which has …

Kevin Fenlon has been installed as Master of the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM) for the ensuing year, to be supported during his year in office by Senior Warden Steve Durdant-Hollamby, and Junior Warden Julian Milligan. The ceremony, which took place at Fishmongers Hall in London on Friday 23rd …