Fiona Russell-Horne

Group Managing Editor across the BMJ portfolio.

Stelrad extends radiator ranges 

The Stelrad Vita Deco Concept in anthracite grey from stock 1

Radiator manufacturer Stelrad has added a number of new radiator products and extended existing ranges. Additions to the Vita Deco and Plan range and the Softline Deco, Plan and Column ranges include the Vita Deco Plan Concept and the Softline Deco Plan Concept which will from now on be available …

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Wilo UK rebooks Burton Albion FC sponsorship

Wilo sponsor photo RH 16 July 2018 007

Pump people Wilo UK have extended their sponsorship of Burton Albion FC. Having been tunnel sponsors the Pirelli Stadium in Burton-upon-Trent last year, the company’s logo will now also appear on the back of the team – known as ‘the Brewers’ – home and away shirts. Fleur Robinson, Burton Albion …

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Solo Cornish venture for Bradfords Building Supplies

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South West independent builders merchant Bradfords Building Supplies has bought Archmartin Ltd, which trades as Solo Building Supplies. Operating from one site in Penzance, South West Cornwall, the acquisition of Solo Building Supplies improves Bradfords’ branch coverage in the area and provides a great opportunity to serve other nearby towns. …

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Thompstone goes to Huws Gray

STEPHEN THOMPSTONE 1

Independent builders merchant Huws Gray has appointed Stephen Thompstone as non-executive director. Thompstone has over 35 years industry experience and is currently the CEO of Crendon Timber Engineering and MD of Wyckham Blackwell. Previously he was managing director of Buildbase, guiding the company through a successful acquisition-led growth strategy that …

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Elliotts celebrates heritage with limited edition ale

2. Tom Elliott Managing Director with the Elliotts 175 Pale Ale at Tap it Brewing Co

Elliotts, the Hampshire-based builders merchant, has teamed up with Tap It Brewing Co to launch an exclusive pale ale to celebrate their beer-brewing heritage. Founder Thomas Elliott owned a brewery and four pubs in Southampton in the 1870s, so Elliotts has gone back to their roots to create a pale ale …

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Singing the DIY blues

I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity. I have had very little occasion in the last 25 years (how has it been that long?)  to write anything like the following sentence, “Travis Perkins posts pre-tax loss of £123m.” But last week I did, courtesy of the merchanting …

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London mayor launches new clean heat boiler initiative

cleaner heat cashback

The announcement by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to encourage London’s SMEs to replace their old, inefficient boilers with modern, energy-efficient models has been welcomed by the Builders Merchants’ Federation. The  £10 million Cleaner Heat Cashback scheme is designed to help London’s smaller companies save money on their energy …

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DIY does for Travis Perkins’ first half results

3064312 Wickes fascia night

Builders and plumbers merchant group Travis Perkins posted a £123m pre-tax loss for the first half of 2018, thanks to its DIY-chain Wickes. Across the group as a whole revenue grew by 4.4% to £3.36bn in the six months to June 30 2018, compared with the same period a year …

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SCA Timber grows new name

Timber importer and supplier SCA Timber is changing its name to SCA Wood The SCA Group has six business areas: wood products, forestry, pulp, paper, energy and logistics. The common name ‘SCA’ clearly integrates all business areas into a unified SCA Group. The company name change from SCA Timber Supply …

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Bear (non) necessities

I mean the bare necessities That’s why a bear can rest at ease With just the bare necessities of life It’s all too easy to just focus on one’s own industry but, as numerous BMF and NMBS conferences have shown us, there are lessons to be picked up from outside …

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