News

Unimer have added 46 new builders merchant members in the last year, building material suppliers attending the annual lunch were told.

The Modern Masonry Alliance believe that UK jobs in the building industry can be saved if builders switch from timber frame to masonry construction.

Grant and Stone, the builders and plumbers merchants have opened a new plumbers merchants branch in Oxford and have launched a new corporate identity to go with it.

Sales at building materials suppliers Marshalls have fallen by 10% in the last quarter, with demand falling fastest in the housing sector.

Saint-Gobain, the French parent company of builders merchants chain Jewson, has been fined €896m (£738m) for acting in a cartel to illegally fix the price of glass used in cars.

Frank Key, the north Nottingham's independent builders merchant, have bought Parker Severn Builders Merchants out of administration.

There were fewer housing transaction in October than at any time in the past 20 years and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors are blaming the lack of available mortgage finance.

The building of energy efficient homes will be vital in delivering the government's climate change initiatives and the Construction Products Association want to see more investment to make it happen.

The Builders Merchants Federation has welcomed a report by Cranfield School of Management which finds that investment in training is more effective than shopping around for talent and saves employers money.

The worsening economic position of construction manufacturers and contractors is expected to persist throughout 2009 and into 2010, according to the Construction Products Association.