INDUSTRY VOICE
BMF confirms interactive workshop topics at All Industry Conference
The BMF has finalised the second tranche of interactive workshops at the All-Industry Conference in Istanbul in June.
The format enables delegates to discuss some of the most pertinent issues facing our industry today, and the latest to be announced will focus on two very different areas – Digitalisation & Technology and Recruiting and Retaining new talent.
If Cybercrime was a nation,
it would have the third largest economy on earth – the digitalisation and technology workshop explores the risks that must be managed by merchants and suppliers faced with the choice of trading online or becoming irrelevant. The session will discuss how to meet new challenges and defend against the fastest-growing threat to business, and perhaps to modern civilisation.
Led by Brian Winters, Chief
Technology Officer at ECI Software Solutions, who are sponsoring this workshop, Andy Scothern, Chairman of the BMF Digital and Technology Forum and Paddy Donnelly, Founder of ES Tech Group, with insights from Conference speaker, James Freedman, an expert on combatting scams and scammers, the workshop will offer an informative, entertaining, and only slightly terrifying insight into cyber security and how you must protect your business from attack.
The final workshop, Recruit, Retain, Revive - introducing a new generation to a well-hidden gem, will take a closer look at the challenges faced by the industry in recruiting young, ambitious, career hungry individuals, along with opportunities that will help them retain the excellent talent we currently have, and how we can revive a sector built on traditional values.
BMF completes industry forum speaker line-up for All Industry Conference
The BMF has confirmed that David Berry, Chairman of the Fortis Merchant Group and MD of C&W Berry, and Mike Ward, Territory Director UK and Ireland at Wavin will take part in the Industry Forum, one of the most popular sessions at the BMF All Industry Conference, in Istanbul in June.
An accountant by profession, David Berry, started his career in the aerospace industry with Rolls Royce, before joining C & W Berry as Finance Director in 1990. He took over as MD in 1996. Berry’s is the UK’s largest
38
single site builders’ merchant, employing 250 and serving the North West from its 40 acre site in Lancashire.
David is also the Chairman of the Fortis Merchant Group, which has 40 members with a combined turnover of £2.2bn. He has had a 20 year association with merchant groups previously undertaking Category, Trading and Operations Director roles.
Mike Ward’s career in construction products manufacturing spans more than 26 years. In his current role he is responsible for the UK, Ireland and
export markets for Wavin, a leading manufacturer of plastic piping and drainage systems. Before joining Wavin in 2018 he held senior positions in timber building products and engineer wood solutions as MD of both Metsä Wood UK and of JELD-WEN. Mike is passionate about driving diversity, making manufacturing a more attractive career, and mentoring the next generation of construction leaders. He also serves on the BMF Board as the Elected Director – Suppliers. The Industry Forum brings together four influential leaders
Above: David Berry and Mike Ward
from different sectors to debate key business issues of the day. David and Mike complete the line up alongside Howard Luft, CEO of Selco and David Craddock, Founder of the VerdeGO group.
The sold-out BMF All Industry Conference takes place in Istanbul from 15-17 June 2023. Further details are available on the Conference website, www.
bmfconference.co.uk.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2023
This is an opportunity to find out more about the BMF Young Merchant Group, how it benefits businesses, and how forward thinking and new talent can breathe life into merchant and manufacturing operations. The session will be led by Jo Callow, Head of Digital and Communications at Knauf UK, and the current Chair of the BMF Young Merchant Group, and Marianna Peet from LEAP, the apprenticeship specialists. Jim Parlato, director of Browns Builders Merchants in Derby, will join them to discuss the benefits of having someone in the Young Merchant Group within the business.
Two 45-minute workshops will be held each day – the others focusing on Sustainability and Energy Efficiency - and delegates will be invited to select which they would like to attend in advance of the event.
The sold-out BMF All Industry Conference takes place in Istanbul, Turkey from 15-17 June 2023.
Further details are available on the Conference website, www.
bmfconference.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
