48,000


The potential number of proposed homes that could be built on the Government’s 14 garden city sites across the UK .


needed to overturn the long- term under-supply of new homes. Central to this must be getting small and medium- sized builders delivering more new homes.


“For instance, the announcement of 14 ‘garden villages’ and more garden towns needs to be backed up by implementation plans which provide opportunities to SME builders as well as the large companies.” Berry added: “These are positive messages to start the year with and they show that the Government is putting house building at the front and centre of its ambitions for 2017. With a Housing White Paper expected in the next few weeks this will be an important year for housing policy and its success or failure will be a key part of the new Prime Minister’s legacy.”


Herne Bay joins the IPG


Herne Bay Plumbing and Bathroom Supplies Ltd has become a member of buying group the IPG.


The company is looking to


develop its current offering and feels The IPG can help realise these growth plans. “The thing that is most important to me is service as this is what separates us from the internet and the nationals,” the company’s Adam Baker says. “Membership of The IPG will help us to work with the right supply partners as we expand.”


JANUARY www.buildersmerchantjournal.net


Norbord investment powers ahead in Inverness


Equipment for Norbord Europe’s £95 million mill expansion at Inverness is being shipped to Scotland over the next few months as work gathers pace on the construction of the new plant. The equipment includes the


forming line; the screening, blending and resin system; the heat-energy system, dryer and Wesp stack – which have been purchased from Germany and Italy – and the finishing end, which has been ordered from the USA.


Construction of the ‘lay


down’ area for the equipment to be stored before installation has been completed, along with the future logging yard. At present, the foundations


– stretching over 200 metres – are underway for the press, together with the main building and dryer. A ‘new’ continuous press has also arrived in Scotland and is awaiting delivery once the site is prepared. The press was


decommissioned from Norbord’s Grande Prairie mill in Alberta, where it was deconstructed and packed into 80 shipping containers. These were trucked across Canada and shipped from Thunder Bay, Ontario, across


WCoBM supports training and development with new Bursary


The Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM) is


introducing a new Bursary to support individuals in small builders’ merchants in training and education. The Livery company is looking for high achievers in small merchants, or those keen to further their careers but are unable to do so due to their limited finances.


WCoBM is providing financial support from its charitable


fund to help individuals enlist for the BMF Diploma (for trainee managers) and Foundation Degree in Merchanting, awarded by the University of the West of England. WCoBM Master Stephen Turner said: “One of the key


objectives of our Livery is to support training and education in our industry. We provide financial support for young students and at our annual City & Awards luncheon we present prizes to recognise their achievements. We’re now taking it a step further with a bursary for individuals in small merchant businesses that potentially don’t have the financial resources.” If you are interested go to www.wcobm.co.uk.


RGB makes Hot 100 growth list


RGB Building Supplies has been named on Real Business magazine's Hot 100 list which reveals the fastest growing private businesses in the UK. The list is based on turnover and profit growth over a four-year period. To make the Hot 100, a company had to achieve sales of more than £10m and post an EBITDA of more than £1m. RGB has a turnover of £54.3m and EBITDA of £2.1m. The builders merchant completed a family and management buyout deal at the end of 2015 to


secure stability and enable future growth. This year, it has opened new branches in Torquay and Wellington and relocated its Okehampton branch to larger premises. Kevin Fenlon, CEO, said: "We strongly believe our history is one of our biggest strengths.


We were established in 1850 as a timber importing business and have since grown to be one of the most successful independent builders merchants in the region, employing over 300 staff operating across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.”


BMJ January 2017 5


the Atlantic to the port of Nigg, near Inverness. When the new continuous


press is operational, it will significantly increase the capacity of OSB production at Inverness and will have the potential for further expansion in the future.


Wavin hosts new BMF Centre


Wavin is providing the BMF’s latest Regional Centre of Excellence, the first in Yorkshire, at their Doncaster manufacturing and distribution centre of Hep2O Plumbing & Heating Systems. The BMF plans to open over 20 such centres, each designed to give members in the local area access to BMF training and events much closer to home. The Yorkshire Centre will


hit the ground running in the New Year, with three one day sales training courses already scheduled for January, February and March. The next Yorkshire Regional meeting will also be held there in May.


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