News

The Government has announced its decision to delay the implementation of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM), which was due to start next month. It has said it will reconsider the scheme in April 2025, which is after the next general election, according to a statement issued by the Department …

CCF has opened a new branch in Norwich to serve customers across the East Anglia region with both interior building materials and technical support. Headed up by branch manager Adam Newton, its new CCF Norwich team is on hand to provide specialist product guidance and technical advice such as ways …

Travis Perkins has teamed up with The AF Group (Formerly Anglia Farmers) to provide farmers and other rural businesses with access to its range of building materials, tools and accessories at highly competitive prices with minimal hassle. The partnership means that The AF Group can procure key construction materials for …

Independent builders merchant buying group National Buying Group has announced its new managing director. Mark Hughes joins the group with more than 35 years’ experience in a number of senior positions with building products manufacturers. During that time, he has worked closely with independent merchants and buying groups, developing a …

Haldane Fisher has been fined £380,000 after one of its staff members fell and suffered a brain injury while working at its Walsall site; pleading guilty to breaching Sections 2 (1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The incident occurred when Timothy Bates was …

Revenue at brick maker Ibstock fell 21% to £406m for the year ending December 31 2023, taking pre-tax profits down 71% to £30m, on the back of the slowdown in the new housebuilding market, and  an exceptional charge of £31 million,   following the restructuring programme undertaken during the year. The …

Independent, family-owned builders merchant Beesley & Fildes has invested £300,000 in a new timber treatment plant at its Chester branch. Replacing an existing facility, the fully-automated plant can operate all year round and for the first time, enables the merchant to treat timbers in green and brown from its Chester …

The Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report showed that Q4 2023 total value sales through specialist Plumbing & Heating merchants were flat (+0.4%), compared with Q4 2022, with falling volumes (-5.0%) and higher prices (+5.7%). With one more trading day in Q4 2023, like-for-like sales were -1.3% down. It …

Radiator maker Stelrad reported a resilient performance for the year ending December 31 2023, with revenue slightly down by 2.6% at £308.2m, due to headwinds in new build and RMI activity. There was a 17.9% improvement in operating profit to £26.7m, driven by 13% increase in contribution per radiator thanks …

Brick and block maker Forterra chose International Women’s day 2024 to celebrate Charlotte Wood, plant manager at its Measham Brickworks in Leicestershire. Nottingham-born Wood has moved through diverse sectors such as food production, beverages, and healthcare, where she honed her skills in management, lean process improvement, and cultural change, before …