Members of the Builders Merchants Federation flocked to the Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham to hear presentations from the board members concerning the state of play at the organisation.

The Bank of England is amongst seven central banks which have today cut their interest rates in an unprecedented move to try and steady the lurching global economy.

Builders merchant chain Buildbase are supporting a tool-based charity scheme that helps a charity in Gloucestershire and one in Africa.

Tom McElkerney has been appointed brand managing director of plumbers merchant Plumbase.

Salus Controls have appointed Chris Goss as regional sales manager for London and the South East. to further bolster the UK sales team and to cope with the company's expansion within the heating controls sector.

Another 14 workers at Castle Cement in Ketton could be in line to lose their jobs, according to a report in the Rutland Times.

The Construction Products Association are expecting to see private housing starts fall 38% this year, dropping a further 14% in 2009.

NMBS have continued to develop their NMBS Report Centre, in order to move further into the development of web-based account management solutions to remove cost from the supply chain.

South western staff, manufacturers and customers from plumbing and heating merchants PTS took to the golf course to raise an impressive £1,505 for the NSPCC.

Spear & Jackson - the manufacturers of builders' tools and gardening equipment - have promoted Ian Archer to the position of sales & marketing director.