I yearned for warmth and colour, Which I found in Lancelot Heat pumps, solar panels and gas boilers 1: Insulation: 0. The Warm Homes Plan has been released, finally. At its heart, the Warm Homes Plan is about future-proofing the UK’s housing stock: making homes warmer, cheaper to run and …

The Government unveiled the long-awaited Warm Homes Plan today (January 21), pledging £15bn over five years to help households cut energy bills, boost renewable heating and expand renters’ rights. First announced in 2024, the plan aims to lift one million people out of fuel poverty and spark a “rooftop revolution” …

Brand and marketing consultant, Carl Knowles, has joined landscaping materials supplier Pavestone as head of marketing from the start of January 2026. Knowles, who formerly ran his own marketing consultancy Thinck Creative, has worked with the Pavestone team for more than 18 years and brings more than 40 years’ experience …

Claire Rotheram, founder, Out-Do Marketing When the construction and merchant sectors face pressure, many companies pull back on visibility. But a quiet brand doesn’t sell. And in a marketplace defined by noise, uncertainty, and fierce competition, one agency continues to prove that strategic marketing isn’t a cost – it’s the …

Courage, he said, and pointed t’ward the land This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon There is a great deal wrong with the way the utility infrastructure in this country has developed in since the great privatisation rush. The problems have been building up ever since, culminating in the …

Lancashire based Easy-Trim Precast Roofing and Construction Products has been acquired from its administrators by concrete manufacturer FP McCann. In its latest results, to December 31 2023, Easy-Trim posted a turnover of £18.1m and pre-tax profits of £233,000. Headquartered in Northern Ireland, F P McCann turned over £415.3 million in …

Calling all UK builders merchants with an annual turnover of more than £25m. BMJ needs your help in compiling the 2026 edition of Trailblazers, the industry’s leading benchmarking publication. This supplement, published with BMJ’s April issue, compares the top 50 or so merchants’ financial performance, across a range of KPIs, …

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. Greetings, gentle readers. Welcome to the first Editor’s Blog of 2026. I had a notion – nothing as cheesy as a resolution mind you – that I would try to be …

Premier Forest Products has acquired engineered timber specialist National Timber Systems, previously part of National Timber Group England, which went into administration in late November. The acquisition safeguards 160 jobs at NTS, with plans to grow this number to 250. National Timber Systems supplies national and regional housebuilders, as well …

Builders merchant group IBMG, one the largest in the South of England, has appointed Matthew Parker as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Parker was most recently managing director of Wolseley Group’s Infrastructure division; prior to this he was managing director of Travis Perkins’ TF Solutions division, and previously held numerous …