News

Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) has announced it has raised additional capital investment from investment firms Ares Management Corporation and Farallon Capital Europe LLP. The Group has also said that it will be launching new customer proposition covering Renewables and Sustainability; the business will look to expand its independent brand …

MGM Timber has launched its new online service for trade customers, giving them access to their agreed rates, invoicing and full product range. Its new platform will have the same functionality as a standard e-commerce site, with its full selection of products on offer, but it will also have individual …

It is with great sadness that BMJ has to announce the unexpected death of Carole Green on March 20th. Carole had worked for the Builders Merchants Federation for 22 years, and following that joined the independent buying group h&b in January 2013. At the time she announced that she was …

Alpesh Paleja, lead economist in the CBI’s economics team, has been confirmed to speak at the BMF Members’ Annual Conference on September 19. Paleja’s role at the CBI focuses on the UK economy and leading its work on the economic forecast.  She oversees analytical work across the team – including …

Plaster and plasterboard supplier British Gypsum will be the first UK building materials manufacturer to partner up with circular economy pallet supplier The Pallet LOOP in a bid to significantly reduce pallet waste. British Gypsum will roll out The Pallet LOOP scheme in two stages, with the instantly identifiable, green-coloured …

Following six months of contraction, the UK construction industry returned to growth in March, according to the latest purchasing managers survey from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and S&P Global. The latest index for construction rose to 50.2 in March from 49.7 in the previous month, above the …

Selco’s York branch has donated £5,000 worth of materials to assist with the redevelopment of Osbaldwick Village Hall. The building, which dates back to 1871, is undergoing renovation works, with internal structural repairs, new toilets and kitchen facilities and updates to the building’s insulation, electrics and plumbing. In addition, the …

Leyland has partnered with Barnardo’s and its Building Hope Academy to offer six young people 30 hours of work experience at its Streatham and Dulwich stores. The Building Hope Academy is for young people aged between 16 and 24 with an Educational Health Care Plan, who are not in education, …

The latest Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report showed total value sales for January through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were up +1.5% in 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. But volumes decreased -3.7% as prices increased +5.4%. Taking trading day differences into account, like-for-like sales for …

Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales were down -2.1% in January compared to the same month in 2023, with volume sales falling -3.2% and prices creeping up +1.1%; with one more trading day this year, like-for-like sales were down -6.5%. Year-on-year, nine of the twelve …