NEWSROUND
NMBS joins BMF
apprenticeship pledge
SBS opens Dundee branch
NMBS has joined the Builders Merchants Federation in making the pledge to achieve 15,000 apprentices across the BMF membership by 2030. The aim of the pledge is to close the skills gap in the building materials industry and to drive the utilisation of Levy funds across the building materials sector. Chris Hayward, NMBS CEO, said: “As we celebrate NMBS’ 60th anniversary, we are proud to announce our commitment to recruiting 60 apprentices into the industry during this milestone year. By collaborating with the BMF and LEAP, we aim to support our members, both large and small, in harnessing the numerous benefits of apprenticeships. “Employing apprentices
is a productive and effective way to cultivate a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. It allows businesses to adapt training according to their specific needs”
NMBS is raising awareness among its members of the benefits of recruiting apprentices, which include: 95% of fees completely covered by Government funding in England and it is a cost-effective way to develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.
6
SBS has opened its 35,000 sq ft unit in Dundee, located within Claverhouse Industrial Park on Charles Bowman Avenue. The Dundee brand is due to open in Q2 2023 and it follows on from the opening of the merchant’s Glasgow branch in 2020. SBS regional manager, Iain Mills, said: “Having two branches in Scotland that are strategically and geographically located will allow us to offer next-day delivery to most part of Scotland.” SBS explained that the success of the Glasgow branch played
a huge role in the company’s decision to open another in Scotland, the Glasgow branch opened during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The new branch manager, Grant Purdom, said: “We aim to provide the North of Scotland with the high level of service
BMBI May report shows sales are down
The May Builders Merchant Building Index report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales down by 6% compared to the same month in 2022. The report found that eight of the 12 categories sold more this year than in May 2022. Renewables and water saving was up by 41.8%, decorating was up 10.2%, workwear and safetywear was up by
5.9%.Total merchant sales in the twelve months from June 2022 to May 2023 were down by 0.3% compared to the same period a year ago, with volumes down 13.6% and a price inflation increase of 15.4%.
ULEZ decision is ‘bad news’ says BMF
The Builders Merchants Federation has said it is disappointed at the recent High Court ruling which supports the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone.
The high court ruled against the challenge brought by the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, and Surrey County Council, it found that the Mayor of London’s plan to expand the scheme is lawful. BMF CEO, John Newcomb, said: “We are disappointed by the High Court’s decision, which is bad news for London’s building
industry. We will continue to press for changes to the scheme to protect jobs and the local economy. In particular, we are campaigning for a targeted commercial vehicle scrappage scheme, and a 12-month delay before the expanded scheme goes live.”
The BMF has written to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, twice to express concern that neighbourhoods in the expanded ULEZ zone could become no-go areas for the building trade, it has suggested a targeted commercial vehicle scrappage scheme instead. “We firmly believe that a 12-month delay to the start of the ULEZ expansion will allow businesses and individuals to prepare – especially in relation to the availability of compliant vehicles,” said Newcomb.
it deserves. We are a team of dedicated professionals who want our customers to enjoy every interaction with the branch. We will offer customers the stock they want when they want it.” The SBS Glasgow branch succeeded despite the pandemic and managed to exceeded its budget for its first trading year by just under 25%. In comparison, their 2022/23 budget is more than double the amount of their year one budget.
In just two years, SBS Glasgow’s staffing numbers have tripled.
PHMI releases May report
The Plumbing and Heating Merchant Index has released its May report, and it shows that total value sales increased by 1.7% compared to last year. The report also showed that
this growth came from price inflation of 7.1% as volumes fell by 5%, this is despite there being one less trading day in May 2023 and like-for-like value sales were 6.8% higher than May 2022. “The effects of rising interest rates, inflation and economic uncertainty on demand continue to dent 2023 merchant sales for Plumbing and Heating specialists,” said CEO of MRA Research, Mike Rigby. Total value sales were 3.7% higher than the same period a year ago. Volume sales were down 3.4% with prices increasing by 7.4%.
Plumbing and Heating
merchants’ value sales in the months between June 2022 to May 2023 were 8.3% higher than the previous 12-month period.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2023
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