Birtley Building Products has announced the appointment of two new sales executives.

Timber merchant North Yorkshire Timber has appointed Rob Timmens as sales director.

Andrew Lillywhite has joined the leadership team of BCG, the kitchen, bathroom and heating distributor, as the new commercial and operations director.

Growth in the UK construction sector was sustained in July, according to the Markit/CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers' Index. However, the rate at which it improved has slowed from the previous month.

The Federation of Master Builders is supporting calls from the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne for the banks to increase support for small businesses.

Hull independent builders' merchant, MKM has transformed the garden of Carole Jones after she won the builders merchant's competition to win a garden make-over.

According to the Federation of Master Builders, the workload levels of its members are continuing to fall.

Sussex-based timber and builders merchant Covers Timber and Builders Merchants has invested in three Ford Focus' ECOnectics cars.

Builders merchant group Travis Perkins has done better than expected in the six months to June 30, so much so that it plans to pay a dividend for the first time since last February.

Gemma Nind has joined softwarw solutions supplier Progressive Solutions as marketing assistant.