David Hebdon, md of builders merchant John Nicholls, opened the Cemco lightside conference with a look at what the group has done in the past year and why it was important to hold the event.

Builders merchant group Travis Perkins has raised over £850,000 for UK charities Action for Children and Mencap since 2007.

Cement manufacturer Lafarge Cement swept the board at the NBG LLP buying group supplier awards last month.

SNIPEF, the Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation is urging the Scottish Government to bring in a boiler scrappage scheme similar to the English scheme announced in December.

The UK construction industry has been in decline for two years, but the rate of decline is now the slowest it has been in that time.

Boiler manufacturer Vaillant is investing £2million in a high profile nationwide TV advertising campaign.

Kitchens, bathrooms and heating distributor BCG has announced the appointment John Hunns to the new role of Development Manager in the merchant division.

Plasterboard manufacturuer Lafarge Plasterboard has appointed Adrian Forbes as sales & commercial manager for the Western Region.

Global Stone (Colchester) has appointed Des Stokes as area sales manager, covering the South of England.

TRADA Technology Ltd has appointed Tim Gillman to the new position of operations manager.