News

The Launceston branch of RGB Building Supplies recently celebrated 30 years since it opened its doors. As well as giving away goody bags to thank visitors for their custom, the branch team held a raffle in aid of RGB’s chosen charity, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, where one lucky person won a signed Exeter Chiefs shirt. The raffle raised £107 for the …

  Strength in DIY sales during October and November has helped Travis Perkins to return £50m of UK government help. The Group says its Wickes and Toolstation brands benefited from the ‘surge in DIY trade’ during the first part of the Covid-19 pandemic and that it would return business rates …

The Builders Merchants Federation welcomed the announcement, just before Christmas, that the UK and the EU have agreed a free trade agreement achieving widespread market access with no tariffs or quotas because it will provide the construction sector with much needed reassurance in respect of the cost and availability of building …

Builders merchant group Sydenhams has acquired Staverton Building Supplies based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Staverton’s, a single branch merchant, will begin trading as Sydenhams from  January 4. Sydenhams managing director Lee Wright said the company is delighted to welcome Staverton Building Supplies to the Sydenhams group. “Stavertons are a fantastic well-run …

Global plumbers merchant chain Ferguson plc has sold its Wolseley UK heating and plumbing distribution business, to private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice today (January 4 2021) for approximately £308 million. In the year ended July 31, 2020 Wolseley UK’s revenue was £1,403 million, with operating profits at £2.2million. …

Nine in ten builders face rising costs, as supply chain disruptions and rising product demand are making it hard for Britain to get building. The latest State of Trade survey data from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which represents small and medium-sized construction firms, paints a worrying picture that …

Covers Timber & Builders Merchant in Southampton has donated materials to Shirley Warren Action Church to help it create a silhouette Nativity scene. The builders’ merchant, which is based on Empress Road, provided sheets of plywood to the church, which has built the life-size display on the grass in its …

A member of staff from Covers Timber & Builders Merchant in Brighton has raised £1,250 for Cancer Research UK after organising a Christmas raffle.   Gareth Young, who works in the internal sales team at the company, organised the raffle in support of a close friend, who is sadly suffering …

National Timber Systems has invested in a new manufacturing system for its engineered joists, which will double its overall capacity. The production line, located at its Catterick site, has been dubbed the ‘Joist Super Centre’ after increasing the facility’s output from 250,000 metres per year to more than a million. …

The latest Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) report shows that sales to builders by Britain’s builders’ merchants were largely flat in October 2020, though the performance varied widely by product sector. The Landscaping sector continued to perform well, remaining strong into October and recording an increase of 16.5% compared to …