Gideon Amos OBE, MP, was shown round his local Bradfords branch by CEO David Young.
PMI for March shows sustained downturn
The sharpest pace of job losses since October 2020, drops in new orders and lower volumes of construction output for three consecutive months took the headline S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®) to 46.4 in March. Although this was up from a 57-month low of 44.6 in February, it was well below the neutral 50.0 threshold, indicating a solid pace of contraction. Civil engineering (index at 38.8) was the weakest-performing area, thanks to a subdued
pipeline of major infrastructure work. Residential construction activity fell at a slower pace than in February, but still in negative territory (44.7). Commercial building (47.4) saw a rate of contraction that was the fastest since January 2021. Confidence across the
construction sector slipped to its lowest since October 2023. Some firms nonetheless noted positive sentiment regarding the outlook for demand across the renewable energy sector and hopes of a turnaround in infrastructure
Labour’s housing goal of 1.5m homes is predicted to exceed industry capacity by 23%
workloads. Mirroring the trends for output and new work, latest survey data indicated a reduction in staffing numbers for the third consecutive month, the steepest since October 2020. Tim Moore, Economics
Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “March data highlighted a challenging month for UK construction companies as sharply reduced order volumes continued to weigh on overall workloads. Construction companies remain cautious about growth prospects, as fewer sales conversions and a third successive monthly reduction in total new work hit confidence levels. Overall business optimism slipped to its lowest since October 2023.”
Chandlers marks retirement with MP visit
An award celebrating 44 years in the industry was presented to Julie Chandler, managing director of Chandler Material Supplies by Marie Goldman, the MP for Chelmsford, when she visited the builders merchant to see how it helps her constituents to build new homes and improve existing properties.
Goldman MP, former Deputy Leader of Chelmsford City Council, was welcomed by Chandler and finance director Ben Chandler. She said: “It was a pleasure to visit Chandler Material Supplies who have been serving the Chelmsford
community so well for decades. I was keen to learn about how they are supporting new apprentices to learn the vital skills that we need in the building industry. I wish the apprentices every success for the future.” Chandler, who retired at the
Guernsey merchant joins NBG
Guernsey-based plumbing and heating specialist, Duquemin & Ozanne has joined independent builders merchant buying group NBG, the first new partner for the group this year.
Servicing the Bailiwick of
Guernsey, Duquemin & Ozanne offers design services – working with architects, plumbing engineers and homeowners to
provide bespoke heating systems.
Duquemin & Ozanne managing director Martyn Duquemin said: “Knowing other NBG Partners meant we could get a more objective view of how NBG works and how it has helped them.”
April 2025
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
end of March, said: “We were pleased to welcome Marie today and show her how Chandler Materials has evolved since we began in the 1950’s. It is great to have our MP take an interest in local firms like ours and offering her insight and support to help Essex businesses to keep going. Running a successful business is far harder than it was back then. The burden of regulation and taxation on today’s owners makes it more difficult and time- consuming to be a financially stable business, offering good jobs, and paying our way as a good local employer”
NBG has updated its online Hub to Version 3, making business-critical data more accessible for its Partners.
NEWS INBRIEF
Elkins rejoins BMF Board
Frank Elkins, CEO of Selco and GB Distribution at Grafton Group plc, has been elected to the Board of the Builders Merchants Federation for a second term, starting on April 1 2025. Elkins has already served as a BMF Board member for two years, from April 2021 to April 2023 and was formerly COO of Travis Perkins.
Hilton Banks buys paint business
Hilton Banks Group, the family- owned company behind the HB42®
brand of adhesives, fillers, sealants and coatings has bought specialist paint manufacturer Flag Paints Ltd, based in Burnham on Crouch, Essex.
Cemex plans new plant
Cemex has announced plans for a new plant in Swindon, Wiltshire, opening in the latter part of 2025, and dedicated to lower carbon dry mortar and sprayed concrete production. The new facility will produce Cemex’s Vertua lower carbon mortar which embodies 30% less carbon than industry standard products.
BMF CEO takes up FEST role
John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF, has been elected as the first Treasurer of FEST, the European Federation of the Sanitary and Heating Wholesale Trade, which represents national trade associations and major merchant groups across Europe. The new role underscores the growing size and influence of the pan-European trade body.
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