Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
The NMBS 2026 Conference opened in Spain today (June 12) with the message to independent merchants that navigating today’s challenging market requires leadership, resilience and a willingness to push beyond traditional expectations.
It was hosted by TV preseter and podcast host Jake Humphrey, who introduced NMBS CEO Kevin Williams, to start the proceedings.
Addressing delegates, Williams thanked members, suppliers and industry partners for taking time away from their businesses to attend what he described as “a strong couple of days” for the sector. He acknowledged the pressures facing independent merchants, saying that the trading environment remains tough and unpredictable.
“We have uncertainty, pressure on members, pressure on margin, pressure on cost, and no shortage of disruption,” Williams said. “So going beyond the expected isn’t just a fancy slogan. It’s about how we lead better, build stronger teams, improve performance, use technology properly and build resilience when it matters most.”
This year’s theme, Beyond the Expected, set the tone for a programme focused on practical insight and real‑world application. On the first day, delegates heard from speakers including Professor Damien Hughes, the Construction Products Association’s Noble Francis, and Ken Hughes, a Keynote Speaker on Consumer Behavior & Innovation, as well as Tradeaze’s Jack Hopkins, and AI specialist Jonathan Bein, and Stuart Barker, who brought military leadership perspective to the topic of cyber security.
A major focus for 2026 is the growing importance of technology and data. Williams highlighted the increasing threat of cyber‑attacks as AI adoption accelerates, stressing the need for merchants to stay “sharp, prepped and protected”. He also pointed to the rapid progress of Data Yard, the NMBS and BMF’s data‑management initiative, which he believes has the potential to transform how the sector handles and uses information.
“The momentum behind Data Yard is real,” he said. “I believe it has the potential to change the way we manage data in our sector.”
Williams also paid tribute to the event’s sponsors, notably headline sponsor Makita, and thanked the NMBS team for their work in delivering the conference.
As the two‑day programme gets underway, Williams encouraged delegates to make the most of the opportunity to learn, collaborate and share ideas. “Thank you for being here, thank you for being part of the community,” he said. “I hope you have a really enjoyable and informative couple of days.”
