News

Supply chain issues dampen Forterra factory plans

images Forterra hats

Brick and block manufacturer Forterra has put the brakes on its £27m refurbishment of the Wilnecote brick factory. The company has blamed global supply chain issues, which mean things like semi-conductors and chips used in the robotic equipment are in short supply. “The factory is now expected to close at …

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Laker celebrates a fully electric forklift fleet

laker Combilift in action

Laker Builders Merchant has taken a delivery of electric Combilifts, culminating in a now fully electric forklift fleet across all branches after the acquisition of the electric forklifts in 2021. Steve Robinson, Laker Builders Merchant managing director, said: “We’ve fulfilled our ambition of going fully electric on all our forklifts …

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Toolstation helps fund construction project in Bridgewater

toolstation help 2

Toolstation has partnered with the Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) social enterprise, helping fund a construction project at Wembdon Village Hall, based in Bridgwater. The project oversaw the creation of a dedicated youth space within the Hall for local young community members to utilise for social activities and gatherings.     …

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Bradfords launches latest Building Sustainable Communities event

Building Sustainable Communities Logo s

Bradfords Building Supplies will host the latest in its ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ event series on May 26 at Somerset County Cricket Club. Designed to inspire, inform and engage the South-West on achieving long term environmental and social sustainability for the built environment, the series launched with its inaugural event in …

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Band of Builders appoints first CEO

Gavin Crane BoB CEO

Band of Builders – which was founded in 2016 before becoming registered in 2019 – has appointed its former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Gavin Crane to CEO. The newly created role is part of the charity’s plans to expand its scope, reach and influence within the construction industry. …

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Russell Roof Tiles hosts charity football match

RRT Charity Football Match 002

Russell Roof Tiles (RRT) is hosting a charity football match at Villa Park Stadium on May 27. Two squads of 17 including 16 players from RRT’s Burton and Lochmaben sites, as well as suppliers and customers have accepted the invitation to participate in the match with the ambition to raise …

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PHMI report shows increase in Q1 value sales

PHMI Q1 2022 Report 002

The latest Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report, published in May, shows total value sales through specialist Plumbing & Heating merchants were up 2.9% in Q1 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, with no difference in trading days. The increase in sales again came entirely from price …

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Price inflation outstrips volume growth in Q1 merchant sales

BMBI0006 BMBI Q1 2022 002

The BMF’s Builder Merchants Building Index (BMBI) latest report on sales of building materials in the UK, underscores the growing impact of price inflation on the sector.  The value of sales in the first quarter of 2022 was up by +17.7% against Q1 2021. Almost all of this was driven …

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Selco supports Farnley Falcons with donation

falcon rugby selco

Farnley Falcons is currently undertaking a significant round of improvements around its home pitch on Butt Lane after being a recipient of a grant from the Rugby League World Cup 2021’s CreatedBy programme. Selco Builders Warehouse, an official partner of the tournament to be held in England later this year, …

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West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero sets the standard for OSB3

west fraser OSB board

West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero, a precision-engineered OSB3 board, can now boast of being the greenest of its type in the UK. Produced in Scotland, West Fraser’s load-bearing board has been extensively developed to be free from added formaldehyde. By choosing OSB3, builders will be working with a product made from …

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