Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, visited the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) headquarters in Coventry for talks on jobs, regional growth and the pressures facing the region’s building materials supply chain. The Mayor was welcomed by BMF CEO John Newcomb and policy and public affairs manager Brett Amphlett, and …
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Window and door manufacturer NorDan is celebrating a hundred years of operation. The June festivities, set in the home to the Norwegian Ambassador on Palace Green, shone a spotlight on NorDan’s core principle of ‘Perfekt Samspill’, a collaborative, family-like environment that focuses on harmony across all facets of the business. …
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Builders’ merchant James Burrell has opened a new warehouse as part of the 1.3-acre external yard extension to their Billingham premises. This expansion represents a new chapter in the five-year strategic plan, enhancing their logistical capability to support customer demand for a wider range of building products. As part of …
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Plumbing and heating specialist Simply Plumbing & Bathrooms Ltd has joined National Buying Group as a Partner. Simply Plumbing & Bathrooms, Based in Bromley in Kent, began trading in 2011 as a heating and plumbing merchant before opening a bathroom showroom in 2016. Becoming part of NBG provides the company …
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Duravit has published its latest Sustainability Report, setting out the company’s progress, measures and goals as it continues to embed sustainability across its global business. Prepared in line with the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the report reflects Duravit’s preparations for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), supported …
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The BMF has issued an urgent warning to merchants and building materials suppliers seeking funding for colleagues to take the popular Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship programme. After July 17, merchants and suppliers will no longer have access to the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship through the BMF. This follows …
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The UK roofing products market remained level in 2025 after two years of negative growth as weak housebuilding activity, cost pressures and low market confidence continue to weigh on demand, according to an industry report by Barbour ABI. The market recorded a marginal 1% decline in 2023, followed by a …
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The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report published by MRA Research show like-for-like value sales (adjusted to remove the impact of trading days) for April 2026 through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were up +0.5% compared to the same month in 2025. Like-for-like volume sales …
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The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published by MRA Research, shows April’s total like-for-like value sales, adjusted to remove the effect of trading days, were -0.6% lower than the same month in 2025. With no difference in trading days, total unadjusted value sales were also -0.6% lower, with …
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The BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) has welcomed the launch of the Regional Building Foundation, a new organisation that brings together businesses across the construction industry. BMF CEO John Newcomb has joined the Foundation’s Advisory Board, where he will represent the interests of the building materials supply chain and ensure the …
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