News

Six independent builders merchants have been nominated for this year’s BMF  Merchant Engagement Award. The shortlisted companies are Bradfords Building Supplies, EH Smith, Harlow Timber Group, IBMG, MGM (Timber) Scotland, and Tippers. The award highlights and celebrates merchant companies that are helping to drive the industry forward through their sector …

Bradfords Building Supplies CEO, David Young, has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s proposed plans to place greater emphasis on technical education. The plans propose courses linked to local industries, apprenticeships and vocational routes aimed at tackling skills shortages and reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or …

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s housing ambition must be matched by supply chain resilience, according to a recent comment from Huws Gray Partnership Solutions. Managing director Lyndon Johnson outlined the businesses hopes for Burnham’s premiership, looking at the supply chain infrastructure needed to realise his ambition of supercharging the building of …

Builders merchant Travis Perkins has celebrated with one of its colleagues who has 60 years with the business under his belt. Jim McCarty started working for the company in July 1966 as a 16-year-old and he still works full-time at Travis Perkins’ Trowbridge branch. The company he joined was independent …

This year’s BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) MasterMerchant competition saw teams from merchants and suppliers take on a series of physical challenges over one of the hottest weekends of the year.   The contest took place in Ingleton, North Yorkshire, saw teams try their hand at canyoning and caving, after scaling …

Sussex bespoke timber fire doors and joinery manufacturer Forza Doors has renewed its support of  Partridge Green Youth Football Club, a club it has been supporting for four years. During Forza Doors’ four year sponsorship, the club has celebrated league and cup success, including the U15 team winning their league, …

Huws Gray Partnership Solutions has launched a pioneering new Specials Management Hub, designed to transform the way housing providers, local authorities and contractors source specialist and hard-to-find building products. Currently being rolled out across Huws Gray Partnership Solutions‘ nationwide account portfolio, the bespoke hub has been developed in-house to provide …

David Paley has been celebrating his silver anniversary with Travis Perkins Hire, having joined the company in 2001. Paley started at the Durham branch where he was the first branch hire manager in the North East; in 2020, he became branch hire manager at the Burnopfield branch. He said: “I …

A rare opportunity to step inside the kiln of clay tile manufacturer BMI Redland’s Bedworth-based Rosemary Kiln has provided new insight into the production of its Rosemary roof tiles.   Produced from Etruria Marl clay collected in Staffordshire, the classic Rosemary Clay Tile range has been a feature of UK architecture …

Tom Reynolds, former Chief Executive of the British Brands Group, and, before that, of the British Bathroom Association, will be the new Chief Executive Officer of the Builders Merchants Federation. Reynolds will take up his post on November 9; his appointment is part of the leadership transition at the BMF, …