THE MONTH News in brief


MKM makes moves in Manchester


MKM Building Supplies has opened its 46th branch with a depot in Sharston, Manchester. The new branch on Altrincham Road will contain the builders’ merchant’s full portfolio of services and products, catering to the public and trades. MKM has 46 branches and 1,100 staff and like-for-like sales have been increasing about 12 per cent year-on-year since 2011.They are currently looking to raise £220m to bring in funds to underpin further expansion.


Hills Rotary Dryers appoint DF Sales Ltd as their distributor


Hills Rotary Dryers have made DF Sales Ltd as their new Distributor of their Out Door Rotary Dryers. DF Sales have worked with the Hills Product Range for the previous five years Tom Palmer, DF Sales Head of Sales, said: ”With our own Bar Stool range selling so well in those Builders Merchants that have a kitchen show rooms we were delighted to be approached to distribute the Hills Rotary Dryers to the UK’s Builders Merchants”.


Sussex Plumbing Supplies joins PHG


The PHG buying group has announced that Sussex Plumbing Supplies will join the membership from January 1st. PHG Chairman David Pochin said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Glenn and his team to PHG, they will bring commitment, energy and experience to the PHG table and they recognise and value the opportunities membership offers to support the continuing growth of their business”.


BMF YM changes chair The Builders Merchants Federation’s Young Merchants’ Group has elected, Victoria Fiddies, regional sales manager at Catnic - Tata Steel, as Chair and Glenn Paddison, br anch director at MKM Building Supplies, as Vice Chair. Fiddies takes over from Jamie Pierce, Parker Building Supplies, who has just completed his two-year term. Membership is open to merchants and suppliers aged between 21 and 40.


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Starter homes form firm foundation says FMB


The Government’s announcement giving the green light for the construction of thousands of Starter Homes, is welcome but greater challenges lie ahead if we are to solve our housing crisis, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned.


Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “It’s great to see the Housing Minister kick off 2017 by giving the green light to the first Starter Homes. These homes will help some first time buyers get a foot on the housing ladder, and our small house builders are enthusiastic


about delivering on that vision, but starter homes will not be a panacea. A wider


Construction rebound continues


with cost inflation caveat construction output during November, despite the pace of expansion slipping to a three-month low.


The UK construction sector saw increases in business activity and incoming new work in November, although costs rose sharply at their fastest rate since April 2011, according to the Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®). Housebuilding activity


remained the best performing category of


The latest rise in incoming


new business was the strongest since March and contrasted with a sustained decline in sales through the summer. Some workloads were even boosted by the reinstatement of projects


set of measures aimed at increasing the capacity of the house building industry are


that were delayed after the Brexit vote. The rate of cost inflation was the fastest for just over five-and-a-half years. This was overwhelmingly linked to supplier price hikes in response to exchange rate depreciation. Purchasing activity meanwhile increased at the fastest pace since the start of 2016. Though this positive growth


will provide some relief for the economy, continuing cost pressures will be a worry for the sector.


BMF adds new suppliers


The Builders Merchants Federation has welcomed its 200th Supplier member with the addition of heavyside materials supplier Forterra. The trade association has als announced the membership of bathroom manufacturer Ideal Standard, strenghening the Federation’s dynamic Plumbing and Heating Sector. Forterra makes clay bricks,


concrete blocks and bespoke masonry products. The company has annual revenues in excess of £300m. Its industry- recognised brands include


London Brick and Thermalite. Builders merchants are a key customer group and Forterra supports them with both technical and brick matching services. Ideal Standard comprises


three market leading brands – Armitage Shanks, Ideal Standard and Sottini – and employs 1,000 people in the UK and Ireland with flagship production operations located at Hull in East Yorkshire and Armitage in Staffordshire. Jim Moore, Ideal Standard managing director said: “The


activity level of the BMF is really impressive and energetic. “We are looking forward to


taking part in the Plumbing & Heating Forum as well as other groups.” Adam Smith, commercial


director of Forterra, said: “Joining the BMF is a natural step for us, bringing us closer to an important customer group. It is a superb forum for our dedicated sales and marketing team to increase their exposure to the UK’s builder’s merchants and better understand future trends.”


January 2017 BMJ


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