NMBS celebrates record year in funky fashion

Independent builders merchants buying group NMBS marked its record year with its ‘best ever’ annual Dinner Dance.

Staged at the five-star Grosvenor House Hotel in the heart of London’s Mayfair on Saturday October 25th, the buying society’s 51st annual Dinner Dance saw over 1000 guests representing NMBS members and suppliers attending.

They were treated to a line-up of dance floor filling entertainment which included house band, Fully Funktional, tribute act, The Conmittments, and chart topping, 70’s soul group, The Real Thing.

NMBS chairman, Tim Allen, officially opened the evening with a speech outlining the buying society’s performance in 2014.

Following its amalgamation with United Merchants (UNIMER), NMBS has accelerated its success with turnover up an impressive 89% on 2013 and set to surpass £1.2 billion by the end of the financial year.

NMBS’s membership now also represents more than 40% of the merchanting sector, totalling in excess of 1000 members with over 3000 branches UK-wide.

Allen’s speech was followed by a rousing performance from Essex-based marching band, the Romford Drums & Trumpet Corps before the evening’s charity draw. This raised over £9000 which was split equally between NMBS’ two chosen charities – The Rainy Day Trust and CRASH.

The winners included:

Prize balloon winner: Hayley Locke (Hanson Cement);

Charity draw: Hayley Locke (as above);

Scratch card winners: Michael Watson (Rudridge), Mr A White (P W Anderson & Woodman Bros Ltd.) and Mrs J Leedham (MPS Builders Merchants Ltd.);

The Rainy Day Trust also made a special recognition award to NMBS in appreciation of the buying society’s on-going support and commitment over the last 15 years. This was presented on the charity’s behalf by Andy Williamson, managing director of IKO PLC.

Chris Hayward, managing director, said: “It’s perhaps befitting that our best ever commercial year in 2014 was marked by our best ever Dinner Dance.”