News

The House of Commons’ Public Accounts Committee has released a report addressing the UK’s ongoing pothole crisis, recommending that the Department for Transport (DfT) prioritise long-term, preventative solutions over temporary fixes. This report has been welcomed by Wrekin Products, a leading provider of civil engineering and ironwork solutions. Paul Thompson, …

Travis Perkins has been fined £2 million after a timber load fell from one of its lorries, resulting in the tragic death of a father of three. The company admitted to three safety offences, and the sentence was handed down at Hove Crown Court on Thursday. The incident occurred on …

Ibstock Plc, the UK manufacturer of building products and solutions, is expecting full year revenues to have decreased by 10% to around £365 m (from £406 m in 2023), according to a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2024. Lower sales volumes across the core business are principally …

Independent builders merchant buying group NBG took on 14 new Partners and Associates in 2024, finishing up with M.A. Grigg, a specialist agricultural merchant in Cornwall. The family-run business has been in operation since 1970, on Pendennis Farm, St. Austell, growing from a small farm shop in a converted pig …

Trades United is once again organising a van rally in Westminster (Parliament Square) to draw attention to the pervasive issue of tool theft and the resale of stolen goods. Starting from Brent Cross, tradespeople from across the UK will unite in London to demand stricter enforcement of existing theft laws, …

A Birmingham DIY skate park is expanding thanks to the help of builders merchant Selco. Bournbrook DIY Skate Park  in Selly Oak was the first facility of its kind to be officially opened by a council in the UK and is now set to increase its number of ramps and features …

Marshalls, the landscaping and building products manufacturer, saw revenue drop to £619 million (2023: £671 million), alongside a reduction in debt from £173m to £134m, for the year to December 31 2024. The trading update revealed that  adjusted profit before tax for 2024 is likely to be “within the range …

Grants are available from the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants, the City Livery Company and charitable organisation, to support training and skills development in the building materials industry. The financial support, worth up to £2,000 per person, is open to anyone who wishes to develop new skills, as well as …

Shower and tapware manufacturer Methven has renewed its Carbon Neutral Status for the third year in a row. The renewal reflects Methven’s sustained efforts to minimise Scope 1 and 2 emissions through a comprehensive carbon management plan. Key measures include transitioning to renewable energy sources, optimising vehicle use, and offsetting …

The Builders Merchants Federation has written to the Construction Minister, Sarah Jones MP, calling for a  “fresh impetus” from Government to ensure it can deliver its target of 1.5 million new homes. In the letter the BMF set out the ways in which its members are preparing to support housebuilding …