Kingfisher is to open 40 more stores at its Screwfix business this year, creating up to 500 new jobs. Screwfix currently has 711 stores in the UK and 12 stores in Ireland employing 11,643 people. It’s target is to have 900 in the UK and ROI. The rapid growth of …

Employees at Combilift, the Irish manufacturer of truck-mounted lift trucks, decided to get into the swing of St Patrick’s Day (March 17th) and their company-wide dance was captured on camera.

The boss of Archwood Group, the North Wales-based parent of Richard Burbidge and Atkinson & Kirby has told the BBC of the pressures companies are facing from long delays and extra costs due to Brexit and urges a more ‘streamlined’ approach to paperwork. Josh Burbidge, managing director of Archwood Group, told …

Wilsonart is to distribute its Zenith compact laminate via its builders’ merchants network from this month. Zenith is Wilsonart’s best-performing compact laminate: 12.5mm thin, that looks and feels like stone yet doesn’t require templating, allowing for fuss-free, easy installation. Zenith is fully waterproof with a consistent colour that carries throughout …

The UFEMAT Congress scheduled to take place in London from 14-17 October 2021 has been postponed for six months due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. The conference, which brings together builders merchants, building material suppliers and trade bodies from across Europe, will now be held from 28-30 April 2022. The …

Civils merchant, Keyline Civils Specialist, has strengthened its senior leadership team, with the appointment of David Rudd as national sales director, Chris Woollard as commercial director, Jon Pitman as finance director and Vicki Evans in a new dedicated role as head of human resources. Rudd was most recently regional sales …

Independent builders merchant buying group NMBS has strengthened and developed its workwear category following the decision by Dickies to abandon the merchant market at the end of March. Dickies represented around 50% of NMBS workwear category in both turnover and volume. In response to the Dickies sudden decision, NMBS added …

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published the first sector-wide skills plan for construction, developed by industry. The Industry Skills Plan for the UK Construction Sector 2021-25, sets out the key skills challenges facing construction and how they will be tackled and has been welcomed by the Builders Merchants Federation. …

Wilsonart, the manufacturer of laminate worktops has expanded its marketing team in the UK ahead of ambitious plans for growth and development in 2021. The company has appointed Helen Dennett as UK marketing communications manager to head up the bathroom arm of the business. Dennett previously worked for Travis Perkins …

Sussex-based builders merchant Parkers Building Supplies, has launched its online 24 hour trade shop in response to customers’ growing need to be able to order and buy materials at their own convenience day or night, 365 days a year. The new online platform provides builders with a paperwork portal which …