Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Builders merchants organisation the Builders Merchants Federation has announced a corporate reorganisation which will see it leave its Soho Square head office for premises in the Midlands.
Current managing director Chris Pateman will leave the organisation at the end of December due to the relocation. In the interim, the managing director responsibilities will be shared between chairman Terry Parker with the help of BMF business secretary Peter Matthews whilst a replacement managing director is recruited.
At the same time, the organisation has announced that subscriptions will be reduced for the year commencing April 2012 by at least 30% for merchant members and the scales will be made more transparent.
As well as relocating from Soho Square, the BMF will maintain a small and more cost effective presence in London to assist the Policy Officer who needs to be near to Parliament, as well as providing a base for visiting staff and members for meetings.
Chairman Terry Parker says that the BMF will work closely with the CPA and organisations including NMBS and UNIMER for potential collaborative initiatives as well as keep a PR presence and develop initiatives that will help to maintain and develop members business. The intention is to grow the membership to cover the majority of the UK merchants.
He says that research amongst members revealed that members value highly the training services and apprenticeship offerings, the Government lobbying work, the majority of the business support services offered and the provision of specific member services that assist the successful development of merchants.
However, it was felt that there was little to be gained from BMF involvement with the EU or organisations who have little relevance to the industry. The research also revealed that members felt that the Soho Square head office had served its purpose and that London was no longer the most effective location.
Parker says: “The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris for his hard work over the last five years in taking the BMF forward during extremely testing economic conditions
“We appreciate that these are major changes to the BMF, however in times of increasing and rapid change and the demands put on all our businesses we must move forward in a professional and effective manner which will lead to a new BMF.
“A new BMF that is in good shape has energy, commitment to members’ interests and is ready to address the issues of the day for the entire industry.”
Other members of staff may be unable to relocate and details of these and further details of the new premises will be released as soon as possible.
