Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Gerald Jones, the Labour Party candidate for the seat of Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, saw first-hand how the building materials’ supply chain is evolving to support environmental responsibility in construction, and responding to the net zero carbon challenge, in a visit to Aberfan builders merchant Hughes Forrest.
Jones was welcomed by joint managing director Richard Brian, sales director Stuart James and the BMF’s Brett Amphlett, who arranged the trip as part of the BMF’s industry and parliament programme. He was shown examples of the sustainable materials and products available to Hughes Forrest customers in its six South Wales branches, and heard how merchants have managed in recent times with higher raw material, energy, labour and transport costs and the impact on local SME builders.
Jones said: “I was pleased to visit Hughes Forrest to learn how they are embracing low and zero-carbon initiatives, whilst continuing to serve their traditional house-building and property repair customers. It’s encouraging to find a local family-run business like Hughes Forrest, that passed its 90th anniversary during Covid-19, now looking to the future and embracing not only carbon-neutral suppliers, but carbon-negative ones too. I’d like to thank Richard, Stuart and the team for helping local builders and DIY enthusiasts with their building and home improvement projects, and for giving me the opportunity to see for myself their contribution to not only Aberfan, but also more widely around Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare”.
Brian said: “We were delighted to welcome Gerald Jones and show him how Hughes Forrest has evolved over the ninety-plus years since we began in Newport back in 1931. It is great to have Gerald take an interest in local firms like ours and offering his insight and support to help us to succeed. Merchants ought to be aware that a shift is underway towards a sharper focus on carbon emissions and waste packaging, and the way we use resources in a more efficient manner, knowing that stricter targets and stronger regulation are likely in future.” He also explained that merchants are recognised as trusted, independent sources of advice about products & applications. They are in daily contact with thousands of heating engineers who exert influence over householders on low-carbon choices they could make.
The visit came nine months after a Welsh Government consultation on the next steps for heat decarbonisation in buildings. The BMF contributed to the draft Heat Strategy for Wales and Amphlett briefed Jones on the proposals. Publicly-funded support such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Warm Homes Programme are vital – as is the Welsh Government’s Optimised Retrofit Programme for social housing that BMF members are involved with and support in their merchant branches.
