UK construction activity stablisised at the start of 2026, with January data pointing to a much slower rate of decline than at the end of last year, according to the latest  seasonally adjusted S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The Index rose sharply to 46.4 in January from …

The nominations window is now open for the BMJ Industry Awards 2026, the merchant industry awards programme that truly reflects the opinions of the industry, because it’s voted for by the people who work in the sector day in day out. Merchants, their customers and their suppliers are the ones …

There are some promotions in life, which, independent of the more substantial rewards they offer, acquire peculiar value and dignity The wider world is just a bit too horrible to contemplate writing about this week, so, for once, I’m going to stick to stuff that’s more relevant to the day-job. …

Family-run builders merchant Carvers Building Supplies has announced Julian Aleksandrowicz as the winner of its Driver of the Year 2025 award. The award recognises excellence across several key areas including reliability, delivery efficiency, customer service, and punctuality—all of which contributed to the points Aleksandrowicz consistently accumulated over the last 12 …

The AquaKast bath from distributor Frontline includes a broad mix of silhouettes, from compact oval and slipper designs to boat baths, back-to-wall and corner configurations. It is made using a premium material combining high-quality acrylic with stone resin reinforcement. Each bath is hand-finished and, despite the solid feel, the baths …

Vandersanden, the European family-owned brick manufacturer, is bringing its new range of traditional stock bricks to the UK, to coincide with the company’s 100 year anniversary.   The new traditional stock brick is made from a dry, fine sand and has a very smooth, flat surface with a subtle texture for …

Urban and Hue are two new furniture collections from distributor Frontline Bathrooms. Urban features a refined handless door profile and a sculptured fluted design. It comes in a trio of matt finishes, and wall-mounted or floor-standing configurations. Hue’s palette includes matt cocoa brown, and there are coordinated basin units and …

Specialist flat roofing supplier Flex-R has become a supplier member of the Builders Merchants Federation. The decision comes after the company won two merchant supplier awards last year and, the company says, demonstrates its commitment to supplying the builders merchants sector. Flex-R has been selling synthetic single-ply EPDM membranes to …

Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has expanded its plant, tools, skips and equipment hire offering, via a new ‘pay-as-you-go’ service. Pay as you go Hire sees customers without a Travis Perkins trade account able to hire all tools, machinery, plant and site equipment for their vital trade and construction needs for …

Wokingham-based Anderson Roofing Supplies Ltd has become the latest merchant to join buying group NBG as a Partner, to benefit from access to its online Hub, Supplier deals and a wider support network of fellow independent merchants. Anderson Roofing, which started up in 2003, has a second branch in Camberley, …