News

The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report show total value sales for August 2025 through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were down -2.6% compared to August 2024. Volume sales dropped -9.2% and prices increased +7.3% year-on-year. With one less trading day this year, like-for-like value …

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in October, shows builders’ merchants’ total value sales in August 2025 were down -5.0% compared to the same month a year before. Year-on-year volume decreased -4.1% while prices were also down -1.0%. With one less trading day in 2025, like-for-like value …

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has announced the proposal to use The Edge and CIC’s “Competence Framework for Sustainability in the Built Environment” as the foundation for a new British Standard on sustainability competence. This standard, formally approved by the BSI Planning and Approval Team October 22, is based on …

The majority of tradespeople prefer their cup of tea to be a golden shade of brown according to a poll by Toolstation. Researchers used a 16-point scale featuring a range of different tea strengths from milky white to almost black. Of the 1,000 tradespeople that participated in the survey 26% …

Civils & Lintels (C&L), part of the Huws Gray group, has been recognised for its fundraising efforts in support of Mates in Mind, which works in partnership with organisations to build positive mental health in and through work. C&L received the ‘Impact through Funds Raised’ award at the recent Impact …

  MKM Building Supplies welcomed Emma Hardy MP to its Anlaby branch on October 17 as part of Flood Action Week. The visit aimed to highlight the vital role builders’ merchants play in improving property-level flood resilience across the UK. The MP visited the branch to learn more about the …

Plumbers merchant City Plumbing, part of the Highbourne Group, has partnered with Virtualstock, in order to add thousands of new products to its online range. City Plumbing initially adopted Virtualstock’s order management system to streamline supplier onboarding and extend its range in existing categories. The success of this initiative has …

   Jewson and Jewson Major Build Solutions (MBS) customers, colleagues and suppliers have come together to support the Great British Beach Clean. Teams from 13 branches took part in the nationwide initiative organised by the Marine Conservation Society, to remove litter, raise awareness, and demonstrate their shared commitment to protect …

Tarmac Blue Circle has sponsored the latest project by volunteers from Band of Builders (BoB), a charity which completes practical projects to help members of the UK construction industry and their families who are battling illness or injury.  Stevie Taylor, a teenager from Rotherham diagnosed with Battens Disease at the …

Manchester-based paint manufacturer HMG Paints has officially opened its new department. known as the “Len Hutton Centre”, a facility dedicated to water-based paint production. The development will increase water-based production capabilities at HMG, with the department being named after former HMG production director, Len Hutton. This substantial capital investment, which …