Roofing contractors reported a significant growth in workloads during the first quarter of 2021 but were hampered by recruitment difficulties and continued material shortages and price rises, according to the Q1 State of the Roofing Industry survey produced by Glenigan for roofing contractors’ association, NFRC. Over half of  contractors surveyed …

Since the first lockdown last April, the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants has welcomed 11 new Liverymen and Freemen. All admissions and installations over the last 12 months took place via Zoom and now the Livery now has a very healthy 206 active Liverymen and 28 Freemen. Membership is by …

Builders merchant Joseph Parr has opened its newly refurbished Joseph Parr Landscape Centre and picked landscaping solutions supplier, Talasey Group, as the main supplier. The Landscape Centre,situated at Portrack Trade Park, Cheltenham Road, Stockton, TS18 2AD. is the first of its kind for Talasey, who have been trading nationwide for …

Three years after it was first proposed, the merger between builders merchants organisations  the Institute of Builders’ Merchants and  the Builders Merchants Federation is to go ahead with effect from May 1 2021. The Institute will be separately managed and operate as a brand within the BMF. Members approved the …

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters They got him for tax evasion in the end. Al Capone, that is. After years of violence, gun-running, whiskey bootlegging and general mafioso-type nastiness, old Scarface, Public Enemy No 1, was undone by his reluctance …

Builders merchants E H Smith, Harlow, Huws Gray and LBS have been nominated for the title BMF Training Company of the Year 2021, part of the annual member awards made by the Builders Merchants Federation. Nominated by BMF Regional Managers, who work closely with members in their area to satisfy …

Double digit growth is expected for the UK construction industry this year, although it may take until next year before the industry recovers the output lost in 2020 and returns to 2019 levels, according to the latest forecast from the Construction Products Association. Construction activity continued throughout the first quarter …

  Selco Builders Warehouse has donated a range of materials to Woodgate Urban Farm, based on Doulton Close in Harborne, after being approached by customer David Cox, of Facilica Building Services.   The materials have been used to create a concrete path at the entrance to the farm to improve …

Materials handling specialists Combilift is giving women’s sport a lift withthe announcement of its three-year sponsorship deal with the Monaghan Ladies Gaelic football team. The company is also sponsoring the Monaghan senior club championship. The Combilift logo will now be prominent on both home and away jerseys, as well as …

Soaring demand for bricks has persuaded brick maker Ibstock to revive its plans to build a new £60m factory in the West Midlands. Plan for the Atlas site in Aldridge were put on hold due to the Covid pandemic and have now been upgraded. A wire cut clay brick factory …