Bradfords hosts local MP
Independent builders merchant Bradfords Building Supplies gave John Penrose, MP for Weston- Super-Mare a tour of their site. Chris Briar, branch manager set out the key role that builders’ merchants play, both for the local economy and more broadly in meeting housing demand and supply across the UK. He also explained his support for simplifying and speeding up the planning process.
Bradfords also urged Penrose to take matters up in Parliament
to ensure post-Brexit customs arrangements do not hike up the costs of materials, such as bricks and timber, by 20%. They warned this would a significant impact on cashflow, prices, and contract terms and conditions.
Penrose said “It was great to meet the staff and see another example of businesses flourishing in Weston. They’d do even better if we can change the rules to let
Institute AGM vetos BMF merger The Institute of Builders
Merchants, the organisation that represents individuals working in the merchant industry, has decided not to merge with the Builders Merchants Federation. The decision was taken at the IoBM’s Annual General Meeting in November after a proposal had been put to the meeting by President Allan Durning and the board of governers to merge with the BMF in a bid to reinvigorate the image and the purpose of the IOBM.
The result of the vote, taking into account all proxy votes, was 26 For and 18 Against. However, this was below the 75% in favour needed to pass the resolution. As a result, the existing Board of Governors and Durning resigned, and Dave Saunders as installed as President.
The Board had previously organised an emergency meeting about the “Special Resolution” in June 2018 which was unable to come to a conclusion due to insufficient timescales. The current board was in favour of joining with the BMF, believing that the IOBM needed the injection of youth and modern attitude that
people “Build Up Not Out” in urban areas. We would create huge amounts of affordable, green and convenient building sites at a stroke; giving an enormous shot in the arm for construction sector businesses like Bradfords, not just in Weston but across the entire country too.” The visit was arranged by the BMF, as part of its push to raise the profile of the industry with MPs.
the BMF has recently been reaping the benefits of.
However, opposing this was a group of past governors, led by past President Saunders. The Special Resolution’s main points included: “The IOBM’s purpose is to enlarge the pool of excellent individuals available to BMF member companies.” The proposal also included a new IoBM strapline: “Building excellent people in materials supply”. A Counter-Proposal from those opposing began: “We understand that many Members of our present Board no longer see a future as an independent professional Institute… By remaining independent, our Institute will be able to acknowledge all companies’ training and offer all those employed in the builders merchant industry a professional qualification to aim for. “There are capable industry- known members who not only still see a future for this institute but believe in its independence as a professional body and are prepared to spend the next year searching for ideas, industry support and funding.”
December 2018
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
Positive summer sees merchants’ sales increase
After a robust second quarter, sales through UK builders’ merchants continued to deliver value growth in Q3 2018, rising by 4.2% on the same period in 2017. July provided the strongest year on year growth, tailing off slightly as the quarter came to an end. Timber and Joinery showed the highest value growth across the quarter with a year on year increase of 9.6%. This was driven by sheet materials and timber items such as carcassing, battens and trusses.
Landscaping, helped by a warm dry summer, saw sales rise 7.8% year on year with decking, tools and watering showing the strongest growth.
Quarterly sales in the Plumbing Heating and Electrical category were up by 3.4% year on year. Dig deeper and the category showed mixed results, as a positive quarter for boilers was pulled down by a negative one for electrical and lighting.
Heavy Building Materials, the largest category, had a slower quarter than some with sales value
BMF celebrates landmark with Anniversary Dinner
A year of celebration for the Builders Merchants Federation drew to a close with a special Anniversary Dinner to mark 40 years of the BMF itself and 110 years as a Trade Body. Fittingly, the BMF’s guest speaker came from another iconic organisation celebrating its own centenary this year, the RAF.
Squadron Leader John Peters came to international attention in January 1991 when his bruised and battered face flashed onto television screens around the world when he was captured and tortured after his RAF Tornado was shot down over Iraq during the first Gulf War. The dinner was held at the iconic Belfry Hotel and Golf Resort in Wishaw and attended by guests from across the merchanting and bulding material manufacturing sectors.
growth of 2.4% on Q3 2017. The Kitchen and bathroom and Decorating categories both grew by 2.1% year on year.
The figures are taken from the BMF’s Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) that contains data from GfK’s Builders Merchants Panel which analyses 80% of generalist builders’ merchants’ sales throughout Great Britain. While the data confirms a year on year increase in sales performance, the 2018 quarter on quarter comparison found that the market has slowed, with average sales a day in Q3 falling by -3.4% from Q2. However, this is not untypical in the builders’ merchants’ cycle and year to date sales for the nine months January to September 2018 were 4.0% ahead of the same period in 2017.
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