NEWSROUND Buying groups make leadership changes


Independent merchant buying groups, NBG and IBC have announced new managing directors, who both took up their roles earlier this year. NBG has appointed Mark Hughes as its new managing director. Hughes has more than 35 years’ experience in a number of senior positions with building products manufacturers, including Polypipe. He takes over from Nick Oates, who stepped down at the end of March.


IBC Buying Group, has announced the appointment of Stuart Stockley as its new managing director.


Stockley joined the company on 1st March, 2024, and has a distinguished 20- year career in the builders’ merchant, distribution and manufacturing sectors. He has held various senior positions across UK builders’ merchants and material suppliers, so he understands the challenges and opportunities that exist across our industry.


Notable positions include five years as commercial director of CCF, part of the Travis Perkins Group, and Stockley was also head of sustainable products at Travis Perkins, as well as holding


OBITUARY: CAROLE GREEN


It is with great sadness that BMJ has to announce the unexpected death of Carole Green on March 20th.


Carole had worked for the BMF for 22 years, and following that joined the independent buying group h&b in January 2013. At the time she announced that she was delighted to take up the role, as it would allow her to continue her involvement with the industry that she had come to love. She took early retirement on 30th July 2020, spending her much valued new free time being great aunt to seven youngsters, and a loving wife to Jimmy. Carole was a much loved and valued colleague at both the BMF, and the h&b group. Nick Lander, h&b chairman said: “During Carole’s time at H&B the group experienced huge growth and her diligence, hard work and approachability helped us keep a family friendly feel to the group and provide great service to members” BMJ Group Managing Editor Fiona Russell Horne said: “I am so sorry to hear of Carole’s passing. She was a great support to me at the various BMF Conferences I attended. Early in my career she made sure that I was introduced to people who were not only useful to know, but also fun and nice to be with. I have very happy memories of down-time chats over a coffee or a drink at those conferences.”


Carole’s funeral will be held on Wednesday April 17th at 10.30am at Luton Vale Cemetery and Crematorium, The Vale, Butterfield Green Road, Luton LU2 8DD.


6


NEWS IN BRIEF


positions as


managing director of Klöber Group


and VEKA Recycling.


Adaptavave in world first low-carbon plasterboard pilot


Adaptavate, the pioneer in developing and industrialising low-carbon and carbon-negative construction materials has commissioned the world’s first pilot


line capable of producing Breathaboard in a continous, integrated, and scalable process.


Breathaboard is a bio-based, carbon sequestering alternative to plasterboard. It is produced, specified and installed in the same way but with carbon and performance benefits, saving around 4 kg of carbon dioxide per square metre over gypsum plasterboard.


Adaptavate’s patented technology uses fibrous and cellulosic by-products from food and fibre crops and binds them with minerals and small amounts of water to form a flat board material. The production process requires no natural gas and absorbs low concentration CO2, potentially from industrial emissions in the industrial curing process. Tom Robinson, founder and CEO at Adaptavate, says: “This milestone is a step forward in our journey to lead the desperately needed carbon change in the construction industry. It has validated our technology and industrial process to produce a revolutionary alternative to plasterboard.


“We are now looking to deploy our unique platform in partnership with world leading production companies looking to produce multiple low-carbon and carbon- negative construction products with different value propositions for global markets.”


Jewson Civils Frazer announces major renovations Jewson Civils Frazer (JCF) has unveiled extensive renovations and upgrades to its Loughborough branch. The renovation sees JCF take over neighbouring space previously occupied by Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS), offering its customers a larger and safer site.


On the improvements, regional sales director, Alan Hargreaves, commented: “This renovation is a signal of our continuing commitment to the area.”


Forterra’s going solar Forterra has installed almost 7,000 solar panels at its new factory in Desford, Leicestershire; it has a projected energy output of 2.6 megawatts, its solar panels will generate approximately 16% of it’s factory’s energy demands. David Manley, Forterra’s head of sustainability, said: “Investments such as this one demonstrate that we are actively committed to this goal. This is crucial in helping to decarbonise the grid.”


Plumbing sales inch upwards


The latest Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report showed total value sales for January through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were up +1.5% in 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. But volumes decreased -3.7% as prices increased +5.4%.


Taking trading day differences into account, like-for-like sales for January – which had one more day in 2024 compared to 2023 were -3.1% lower. benefits.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2024


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