Lauren Haines, director at Southampton-based Elliotts Builders Merchants is celebrating 50 years in the building industry, having joined the family-run company in December 1973. Starting work as a typist in the brick department at a time when typing pools, stenciling price sheets by hand and making phone calls from a …

Sentry Fire Safety Group, the fire safety and security doorset manufacturer, showed Ed Miliband, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, round its Doncaster manufacturing facility last week (January 12). Having last visited the firm in 2011, Miliband toured Sentry’s newly expanded facility, chatted to staff, learnt …

Andy Cottee has joined plumbing and heating buying group The IPG as its new managing director. Having previously worked at Vent-Axia and Anglo Nordic, his diverse experience spans manufacturing, distribution, independent businesses and wholesale . He said, “The passion for our group’s core beliefs and vision is palpable among our …

We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. There’s an old saying: Power corrupts, and Absolute Power corrupts absolutely. It’s a phrase that gained traction towards the end of the 19th century when Lord Acton …

Lindsey Hart has been appointed as sales & marketing director of the Channel Island builders merchant NP Group. The group incorporates Norman Piette, Norman Piette Ecohomes, Annandale, Project, Quantum Building Supplies in Jersey, and Blanchard Building Supplies in Alderney. Hart’s career path at Norman Piette took her through various positions …

South Wales’ independent builders’ merchant LBS has continued its expansion with the acquisition of D G Heath, a timber merchant in Pontarddulais, Carmarthenshire. D G Heath has been trading for 38 years as a family-run business and will continue with the name; two of the directors are remaining post-acquisition, along …

Took my Chevvy to the levy, but the levy was dry Use it or lose it. That seems to be the idea behind the Apprenticeship levy at the moment. Or, more accurately I suppose, use it or someone else will. The Levy is, a tax to all intents and purposes, …

Essex builders merchant Epic Centre Supply has become the latest member of the h&b Development Group, as part of its focus on achieving enhanced growth and diversification. The h&b Development Group offers a unique opportunity for smaller merchants to progress towards full group membership, providing access to beneficial deals and …

One of the UK’s best know construction names has rebranded from the beginning of this year. Artex, part of the Saint Gobain group, distributor of a range of well-known brands including Artex, Gyproc, Thistle and Weber, is now Okarno. The Okarno brand better reflects what the company does as an …

The little people must be sacred to the big ones, and it is from the rights of the weak that the duty of the strong is comprised. People of my generation spent much of our youth being told that too much TV would addle our brains, give us square eyes …