INDUSTRY VOICE
Minister attacks ugly buildings
Prime minister’s visit puts the work of builders merchant’s centre stage
PRIME MINISTER BORIS Johnson saw first-hand the crucial role builders’ merchants play in the national economy, and how they can support a more sustainable future, with a fact-finding visit to Travis Perkins in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. The PM was given a tour of the Travis Perkins’ branch in South Ruislip to get a strategic and operational understanding of the industry.
THE BMF WAS pleased to support a manufacturing member at a demonstration to showcase innovation and investment in low- and zero-carbon vehicles. Lord Bamford and senior managers from JCB and Ryse Hydrogen staged an exhibition of the latest in tele-handlers, fork-lifts and other machines at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster.
The aim was to show parliament and government the advances being made in alternatives to fossil fuels - namely battery electric and fuel cell electric (esp. hydrogen). During the day, MPs popped into the exhibition - including the Prime Minister - to be briefed on developments and see a selection of machines parked on the forecourt. We met two International Trade ministers and explained that BMF merchants were customers of JCB. In the drive to ban petrol & diesel vehicles - and to ban gas boilers - the BMF and others are telling ministers not to become fixated on one technology. Government policy shows bias in favour of electricity and ministers must avoid the temptation to pick winners. The sensible approach is to encourage a variety of options on the road to net zero by 2050 and not become reliant on one power source in replacing petrol or diesel.
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Frank Elkins, Chief Operating Officer of Travis Perkins plc introduced the Prime Minister to branch colleagues, among them, some of the nearly 1000 apprentices the Group has enrolled on programmes across the Group. Elkins said, “As the industry’s leading Apprenticeship and Kickstart placements provider we outlined how these placements are supporting both the economic recovery, the development of our talent pipeline but also an opportunity to improve diversity and skills across our industry”. “I was also proud to showcase how we work with our customers to meet their evolving needs. As a ConstructZero Business Champion
perform an essential function in distributing construction materials and home improvement products across the UK. He also explained how the industry is actively embracing a more sustainable focus.
with ambitious carbon reduction targets I explained the role we have in working with customers and suppliers, sharing data and ideas to make progress on the decarbonisation and modernisation of our industry.”
During his visit, the PM sat in the cab of a fully-electric 27 tonne CCF insulation lorry and heard how Travis Perkins is preparing for the ban on the sale of new petrol & diesel LGVs and HGVs.
The visit was organised by the BMF as part of its industry and parliament programme, to highlight the vital role played by builders’ merchants in the construction supply chain.
John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF, gave the Prime Minister an overview of how its members, which include Travis Perkins,
Childcare is part of levelling up
AT THE LAST General Election, the Conservatives made a big deal of their Levelling Up idea aimed at reducing economic disparity to help under- performing regions to catch up with London and the South-East.
The Prime Minister has put Michael Gove MP in charge as the Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. At their Party Conference, he was keen to explain that levelling up comprises: strengthening local leadership; aising living standards; mproving public services; and enhancing a sense of pride in place.
With the UNCOP26 Climate Conference fresh in mind, Newcomb also updated the PM on the Construction Leadership Council’s National Retrofit Strategy. BMF members will play a central role in this 20-year fully-costed plan to improve existing homes. Newcomb said: “We were delighted to show to the Prime Minister how our members can support a more sustainable future. “Low or zero-carbon products are crucial in the building and home improvement industries to drive down emissions. We were able to demonstrate that the building supply chain is the most efficient route-to-market for these products. BMF members provide the materials, products and expertise needed to de-carbonise our homes. Fitting energy-efficient, low emission and water-saving measures in properties will be key to achieving sustainability goals.”
We attended fringe meetings to debate this - notably at Policy Exchange with Neil O’Brien, MP for Market Harborough, and junior minister with day- to-day responsibility for the policy. The BMF argued that childcare provision is integral to levelling up because: • in the short term, increasing the availability and affordability of childcare eases the pressure on family life and household budgets. • in the long term, it encourages social mobility and enables women to return to work - thereby contributing to business success and local productivity & prosperity.
We were pleased that the audience clapped our question. Several guests came up to us afterwards to agree that better childcare is an important component - and we were right to say so.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2021
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