BMF INDUSTRY VOICE


BMF REGIONAL CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE GAIN MOMENTUM


The roll out of the BMF Regional Centres of Excellence gained momentum in October, with more new centres launched. Members around the country have welcomed the move, which will give them access to BMF training and events on their doorstep. The centres will be used as regional hubs, centres for BMF training and will also host regional BMF meetings and forums.


The first Centre of Excellence in England opened at John A Stephens in Nottingham in August and the first centre


opened in Scotland at Norbord in Stirling in September, as part of a localisation programme designed to strengthen the organisation’s regional presence and add to the support it offers members in their geographic area.


In October a further three centres opened:


• Encon Insulation, Chorley • Ridgeons’ Green Light Centre, Cambridge (pictured) • Keystone Group, Cookstown, Northern Ireland


Commenting on the Regional Centres of Excellence, BMF MD,


John Newcomb said: “We have been working with members to identify appropriate spaces as regional hubs where local groups can come together for meetings and training. Further Centres of Excellence will launch during the Autumn, with others following in 2017. We have also increased our team of Regional Managers, with five now covering the UK. Localisation is an important strategy for the BMF going forward. With a network of Regional Centres of Excellence alongside our enhanced Regional


Local Authorities and smaller developers must be mobilised to build more homes


Speaking at the Liberal Democrat annual conference in September, the BMF called for Government to do more to help local authorities and smaller developers build more homes. At a roundtable led by Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrats Leader, the BMF emphasised


DIARY DATES


NOVEMBER 2016 15 BMF London & South East regional meeting, London 15 BMF Search Engine Optimisation Training, BMF, Coventry 15-16 BMF, 2 Day Kitchen Design with Sales and Customer Care, Nottingham


16 Effective Time Management Training, BMF, Coventry 17 Digital Transformation of the Builders Merchant Training, BMF, Coventry


22- 23 BMF Branch Managers’ Forum, BMF, Coventry 24


BMF Young Merchants meeting, London


25 BMN Awards, London 29 BMF Timber Forum, Meyer, Stoke on Trent


DECEMBER 2016 1


BMF Supplier & Service Member Forum, BMF, Coventry


6 BMF Transport and Distribution Forum, BMF, Coventry 7 BMF Yorkshire Region meeting, York 8 BMF HR Forum, BMF, Coventry 13 Measuring Building Quantities Training, BMF, Coventry 14-15 2 Day Essential Sales Skills Training, BMF, Coventry


JANUARY 2017 27 Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh, Glasgow Marriot Hotel


MARCH 2017 7-9 Ecobuild, London 14-18 ISH, Frankfurt


JUNE 2017 15- 18 BMF All-Industry Conference, Budapest


Vado Rally


The BMF and BMF Young Merchants entered the VADO Rally this September (UK to Monte Carlo), raising a fantastic £2561 for the Rainy Day Trust, towards the overall Rally fundraising total of around £65K.


Many thanks to all our sponsors and congratulations to the BMF/First Event team (pictured) for finishing in second place. It’s not too late to support the teams and The Rainy Day Trust - visitwww.justgiving. com/BMFVadoRally. Your support is greatly appreciated.


42 November 2016 BMJ


the important role local builders and developers can play in beating the housing crisis. John Newcomb, BMF MD, said: “Large private developers only build around 150,000 properties a year, and we need around 240,000 to beat the housing crisis. We must


mobilise smaller developers, builders and local authorities to build more, and this requires support from central Government. During the roundtable, the BMF welcomed the contribution made by self and custom building, and the impact of making better use of existing buildings, but argued in favour of the mobilisation of local authorities and private builders to make a real difference in tackling the housing crisis. Tim Farron MP added:


“Housing is a top priority for the Liberal Democrats. Successive Governments and the housing industry have consistently failed to build enough homes to keep


Above: L-R: Maurice Fitzgibbon (Norbord), Graham Bolton (BMF)


Management team we are in an excellent position to engage with our growing membership on their home ground.”


up with demand for the past few decades and we need far more new homes per year just to keep up with demand. Like the BMF, we believe that more should be done to boost house building, including looking at the contribution of smaller builders and developers”.


Above: Tim Farron MP (Lib Dems) and John Newcomb (BMF)


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