Guernsey-based plumbing and heating specialist, Duquemin & Ozanne has joined independent builders merchant buying group NBG, the first new partner for the group this year. Servicing the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Duquemin & Ozanne offers design services – working with architects, plumbing engineers and homeowners to provide bespoke heating systems. Duquemin …

Over 98% of the Siniat boards sold in the UK and Ireland will be made in the UK, now that global lightweight construction materials manufacturer Etex, has officially opened its 200 million euros expansion of its plasterboard production facility in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is Etex’s largest production investment ever. …

Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS), the provider of business software solutions, has announced a strategic rebrand to Klipboard. The Klipboard name and refreshed identity symbolise the integration of the group’s operating brands, unifying its global teams and solutions under a fresh, cohesive vision. The rebrand was inspired by the success of …

Concrete building products producer Breedon has added two new people to its sales team. Darren Johnson, who has worked in the UK brick market for over 25 years, will be initially focussing on increasing Breedon’s customer base for Kingscourt brick across the North of England, but will also over time …

The IBC Buying Group has announced the appointment of Paul Hetherington MBA FIoD as its new Non-Executive Chairman, a move which reflects IBC’s ambition to strengthen its position as the UK’s leading buying group for independent builders’ merchants and suppliers. In his role, Hetherington will focus on expanding member services …

Most of the houses of the Midland town were of a pleasant architecture. They lacked style, but also lacked pretentiousness Apparently we are in for the ‘biggest building boom in a generation’. Really? Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner talks a good talk on this, but the Planning & Regeneration Bill …

It’s that time of year again. The 2025 edition of BMJ’s Trailblazers will be published with the April edition. Once again, it will feature the top UK builders merchants, those turning over more than £30m or so in their last financial year. Trailblazers has long been used to benchmark the industry, comparing …

Richard Sharp is joining NMBS as its new finance and operations director in May, taking over from Julie Langford, who leaves at the end of September after 17 years’ service. Sharp’s previous role was finance director at Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions (OSS), where he was responsible for four businesses, supplying timber …

Lotty Pritchard has been appointed marketing director for the SIG UK Roofing business, having joined as Head of Marketing two years ago. She brings seven years of experience in the construction industry, having previously worked at Jewson. Before that, she held various marketing positions across different industries after completing her …

Risk expert Caspar Berry is the latest speaker confirmed for the BMF All Industry Conference in June. He studied Economics and Anthropology at Cambridge and forged an early career as a screenwriter, but his expertise comes from a life-changing decision he made at 25, when he became a professional poker …