News

The construction industry is expected to see a recession this year after two strong years, according to the latest Construction Products Association’s Construction Industry Forecasts. Construction output is expected to fall by 4.7% in 2023 before recovering slowly in 2024 with growth of just 0.6%. Private housing new build, the …

Independent north-east based builders merchant James Burrell has achieved bronze and silver accreditation under the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and Construction Logistics and Cyclist Safety (CLOCS) Champion at all of its 11 branches. The investment is part of the company’s proactive role in adhering to the accreditation requirements with …

A group of volunteer tradespeople, along with building material suppliers and merchants have completed a project at the home of a Herefordshire builder left paralysed after a fall in a bid to help him gain greater independence. Band of Builders (BoB) finished the first phase of the project in October …

It is with great sadness that BMJ reports that  Howard Broomby, former managing director of Broombys, died last week on January 23, at the age of 81. Howard joined the family business, Broomby’s, in 1961, when it was trading from depots in Sandside and Ulverston. In 1969 he relocated to …

Skin care experts Swarfega have begun their annual hunt for the UK’s toughest trade! It was mechanics who took the crown in 2019, followed by farmers in 2020, fishermen in 2021, and farmers once again in 2022, with agricultural superstar Eleanor Gilbert championing a hard-fought battle on social media against …

On September 6-11, the third Pavestone Rally will raise money for four well deserving charities as well as plant hundreds of trees. To offset the carbon produced by the Rally, Pavestone need to plant 125 trees, however the organisers of the rally have pledged to plant 1500. This is more …

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals that builders’ merchants’ value sales were up +1.4% in November 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. This was inflation-led growth as volume sales tumbled -13.6% while prices climbed +17.3%. Nine of the twelve categories sold more in November compared …

The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report show total value sales for November 2022 through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were +6.9% higher than November 2021. Price inflation (+9.8%) was again the driving factor behind year-on-year growth with volumes falling -2.7%. Month-on-month November value sales …

The local Members of Parliament for the two Swindon constituencies both visited Grant UK’s new Head Quarters in January to tour the facilities and to learn more about what Grant UK is doing in the local community and in the field of sustainable home heating products. In September 2022, Grant …

Independent family-owned and family-run builders merchants Tippers, based in Lichfield, have celebrated raising  £200,000 over the past five years for a local children’s hospice charity. The company has been supporting the charity’s Walsall hospice, Acorns in the Black Country, through donations and fundraising since 2018. All money raised has gone …