News

Builders merchant group Independent Builders Merchant Group, is initiating a financial and operational restructuring programme across 13 of its merchant brands, which will recapitalise the group, compromising certain liabilities, including leases across its branch network, alongside a significant reduction in debt owed to the banks. Assuming court approval of the …

Gavin Slark is to join builders merchant group Travis Perkins from the beginning of next year. He is currently CEO of  SIG, a role he moved to from Grafton Group, where he spent 11 years. Between 2006 and 2011, Slark was chief executive of plumbers’ merchant BSS Group before its …

Independent builders merchant group Lawsons has successfully maintained its Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Silver Accreditation. One of the earliest adopters of the FORS standard, Lawsons has consistently invested in the safety and quality of its extensive fleet and recruitment, training and development of its current team of over 150 …

Rising business uncertainty led UK construction activity to decrease for the fourth consecutive month, according to the latest S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®), which showed further declines in total order books and cutbacks to staffing numbers. At 46.6 in April, activity remained below the 50.0 no-change value, …

Conex Bänninger has undergone a rebrand to coincide with its 115th anniversary as a world-class manufacturer of fittings and valves. The new-look image was unveiled at ISH, staged in Frankfurt. Martin Smith, business unit director – UK & Ireland, said: “It was great to see so many familiar faces at …

A Wigan man has pleaded guilty to stealing £18,000 from the builders’ merchants where he worked. Kieran Calland, 35, of Hardy Street, Wigan, took the cash from M Markovitz Ltd Civils, Builders and Plumbers Merchant in Pemberton on February 27, 2024. He will be sentenced at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ …

Winovate Partners Ltd, the business consultancy specialised in resolving construction related challenges, has won three prestigious industry awards. The accolades, awarded by UK Enterprise Awards – Most Innovative change management consultancy, SME News – Business Growth Consulting MD of the year and International Elite 100 – Change Management Consultancy of …

Builders merchant group Travis Perkins has officially opened a new, larger branch in Rickmansworth.   The branch at the Olds Approach Industrial Estate branch, off Tolpits Lane, will offer building materials, a hire service, and a new state-of-the-art Benchmarx kitchen showroom. Rickmansworth branch manager Ersin Selim said that the new branch …

James Jones & Sons Ltd has announced the acquisitions of Pallet & Bin Pty Ltd in Australia and United Box Ltd in the UK this week to provide an expanded product portfolio for farming and food processing end users.  United Box Ltd was originally formed as a joint venture in …

Mixergy, the hot water solutions provider, has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation. The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the UK.  Only 197 organisations have received the King’s Award for 2025, and out of those, only 46 have received it for …