Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Builders merchants trade association, the BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) crowned its top merchant and supplier achievers at a gala dinner last night (September 17).
The winner of the Young Merchant Achiever Award 2026 was Daniel Broadhead, marketing manager at Tippers. Runner-up was Lawson’s Elliot Young. Winning the Young Supplier & Service Achiever Award was Rachel Davies from Velux, while the BMF Marketing Excellence Award went to Joanna Morfield from Southern Sheeting. Highly Commended in the same category was Forgefix marketing manager Rebecca Fortescue-Halliwell.
Winning the BMF Apprentice of the Year was Graham Hitchman from Lords Builders Merchants, the Best Performing Student – IoBM Diploma in Merchant Management was Phoebe Prince, Frank Key.
The Outstanding Contribution to the BMF award went to Rachel Fryers of Merritt & Fryers, while outgoing BMF chairman Richard Hill won the Honorary Achievement Award.
Company awards went to: Tippers, BMF Training Company of the Year; EH Smith Builders Merchants, BMF Merchant Member Engagement Award; Polypipe Building Products, BMF Supplier Member Engagement Award; Specialist Driver Resourcing, BMF Service Member Engagement Award;
John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said: “The Awards Dinner was a fitting finale to our Annual Members’ Conference which was attended by over 420 people. Together, the awards celebrate the young people building their careers in our industry, the businesses making a real difference through training, engagement, sustainability and marketing excellence, and those leading the way in the digital transformation of our sector.
“Our congratulations go to all of this year’s award winners, whose commitment, talent and innovation continue to strengthen the building materials supply chain.
“I would also like to add my personal thanks to Richard Hill, our outgoing chairman, whose Honorary Achievement Award recognises his outstanding service, leadership and dedication to the BMF and its members. It has been my privilege to work alongside him throughout his six year tenure as BMF Chairman, and I have greatly valued his support and advice throughout.
“Finally, our thanks to our headline sponsor, NMBS, and all the event’s other sponsors for their generous support, which helped make our Conference and Awards possible and contributed to this evening’s celebration of our members’ achievements, collaboration and the strength of the building materials supply chain.”
Attendees were asked to wear something yellow to highlight one of the BMF’s charities for the year, the Maddie Rose Foundation.
