News

Independent builders merchant buying group National Buying Group has welcomed a new Executive Board member and three new Regional Chairs, as well as extending the terms of two other Board members for 2021. Rachel Fryers, director of Merritt & Fryers Ltd, has joined the NBG Executive Board in place of …

Builders merchants trade association the Builders Merchants Federation  has praised the widespread endorsement of the Construction Leadership Council’s National Retrofit Strategy consultation document. 50 organisations including representatives of the energy and water sectors are backing the CLC National Retrofit Strategy which sets out a twenty-year blueprint to transform the nation’s …

Cement manufacturer Tarmac has moved to using 50% recycled plastic in its packaging, with the roll out of new all-weather, fully recyclable hybrid bags. Products manufactured at the company’s cement plant packaging facilities in Scotland and Wales are all now in production with the new bag, which continues to offer …

North Lincolnshire-based timber importer and timber products manufacturer Arbor Forest Products has begun production on its new sawmill planing line. The company is investing £6 million in the new facility which features unique timber scanning technology, allowing the company to eliminate defects in lengths of timber – reducing waste and …

Selco Builders Warehouse, part of the Grafton Group, has committed to a £5 million branch refurbishment programme in 2021, modernising 18 of its longest-standing branches throughout this year. Three of the branches – Catford, Ruislip and Barking – will undergo major improvements to customer and colleague facing areas, while a …

Kingfisher is to open 40 more stores at its Screwfix business this year, creating up to 500 new jobs. Screwfix currently has 711 stores in the UK and 12 stores in Ireland employing 11,643 people. It’s target is to have 900 in the UK and ROI. The rapid growth of …

The boss of Archwood Group, the North Wales-based parent of Richard Burbidge and Atkinson & Kirby has told the BBC of the pressures companies are facing from long delays and extra costs due to Brexit and urges a more ‘streamlined’ approach to paperwork. Josh Burbidge, managing director of Archwood Group, told …

The UFEMAT Congress scheduled to take place in London from 14-17 October 2021 has been postponed for six months due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. The conference, which brings together builders merchants, building material suppliers and trade bodies from across Europe, will now be held from 28-30 April 2022. The …

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published the first sector-wide skills plan for construction, developed by industry. The Industry Skills Plan for the UK Construction Sector 2021-25, sets out the key skills challenges facing construction and how they will be tackled and has been welcomed by the Builders Merchants Federation. …

Sussex-based builders merchant Parkers Building Supplies, has launched its online 24 hour trade shop in response to customers’ growing need to be able to order and buy materials at their own convenience day or night, 365 days a year. The new online platform provides builders with a paperwork portal which …