NEWS EXTRA
BMF PUTS THE FOCUS ON THE FUTURE WITH YOUNG MERCHANT FIRST Builders merchants trade association the Builders Merchants Federation held its first
Young Merchants Conference last month, aimed at discussing the future of the industry and the role of younger people in it.
TAKING PLACE DURING UK Construction Week at the NEC, Birmingham, the event highlighted the need to bring a wider, more diverse range of people into the industry in order to host of expert speakers joined senior BMF members to discuss the future of the industry and share insights into taking businesses to the next level. BMF CEO, John Newcomb gave the event a presentation outlining the BMF’s new strategy moving forward, while regional manager James Spillane outlined the options available for young people moving into the industry in terms of training.
Sheri Hughes, UK Diversity & Inclusion Director at recruitment specialists Page Group talked about the importance of workplace diversity, bringing in, not just more women and younger people, but those from a wider range of cultures and experiences. “It’s important to ask ourselves and our organisations how we can challenge stereotypes and bias,”
she told delegates. “Within our organisation we accept people as humans, without exception. In fact that is our strapline, acceptance without exception and that underpins everything about our diversity strategy.”
John Cremer, business speaker, gave a presentation on the art of reading people, by using his theories of personalities and how different personalities react to others. “All our relationships are with human beings, with people and everyone is different, which can be quite bewildering at times.” His theories about the categories of personalities is based on Greek gods, and Cremer believes everyone fits into one or other of those categories, sometimes more than one. He asked delegates to think of a particular person that they have regular dealings with that they would like to understand a little bit better, whether that is a boss, a colleague, a spouse or a family member. He also gave celebrity examples of the character
types. Donald Trump, for example, is a Mars, God of War type, cookery writer Nigella Lawson is a Venus, goddess of love, type. An Industry Forum panel, comprising Peter Hindle MBE, BMF Chairman, Andrew Harrison, Deputy CEO of the Plumbing and Heating Division, David Kilburn, Executive Chairman of MKM Building Supplies and Steve Durdant-Hollamby, managing director of Alumasc Water Management Solutions, each told their stories of how they developed through the industry and then took part in a discussion with the audience.
This was followed by a Young Merchants Panel discussion, featuring former young merchants: Andy Gamble, RGB & John Sinfield, Knauf Insulation managing director and current young merchants: Bart Murphy, MP Moran & David Grace, Keystone Lintels. The panel members all emphasised how much the young Merchants forum had helped them to develop by
giving them a networking arena that they might have struggled to access otherwise. The day’s two Keynote Speakers were Olympic medallist Steve Backley OBE and TV presenter and architect George Clarke. Backley talked about his career as a javelin thrower and his tips for success and empowering people. “You are the Olympians of your industry,” he told delegates. Clarke talked about the need to bring more innovation in to housebuilding. “I believe there is a cultural shift happening where we are starting to understand the value of better quality housing. I don’t know any family that doesn’t want houses to be built for their kids, for their kids’ future,” he said.
After the conference speakers and presentations, the mantle of Young Merchant’s chairman was handed over from Catnic’s Victoria Fiddies to MKM branch director Glenn Paddison, with Knauf Insuation’s Jo Callow voted in as Paddison’s deputy. BMJ
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www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net November
2018www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2018
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