NEWSROUND MKM open relocated branch


Builders merchant group MKM has opened a branch in Skelton- in-Cleveland, having moved from a Redcar-based facility. The upgrade provides customers in the North East and North Yorkshire with a larger service offering that now includes timber cutting, a comprehensive building and trade product line and a landscaping portfolio.


Former Middlesbrough and Premier League footballer Colin Cooper helped officially open the branch alongside charity Zoë’s Place Middlesbrough, with the latter


receiving an initial donation of £1,000 to celebrate the launch of a new ongoing partnership with the branch, strengthening its ties to the local community.


“Moving to our new facility better helps us serve our customer base and its diverse needs,” said Scott McCabe, Director, MKM Skelton. “The additional services we’re able to offer in timber cutting, landscaping and more, really helps tradespeople in the area secure all the tools for multiple jobs from a single trusted partner. Furthermore, I’m happy to launch


Sustainable cement secures £500K grant


A Scottish-based manufacturing facility which will enable the production of lower carbon cement products has secured a £500,000 award from Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Investment Fund.


The Innovative Ash Solutions site is a 50/50 joint venture between Levenseat Limited, a leading player in the Scottish waste and resource management sector, and Organic Innovative Solutions Limited. The funding award will support the development of a facility, capable of processing up to 20,000 tonnes of incineration fly, cyclone and boiler ash into a sustainable form of pulverised fuel ash (PFA). The production facility, which


will be located on Levenseat’s site in South Lanarkshire, is due to be commissioned by the end of 2022. When fully functional, the new facility will enable carbon savings of up to 6,104 tonnes of CO2e per year, the equivalent of 2,847 commercial flights or 3,260 cars on the road.


Over the next five years, IAS intends to build three full scale industrial plants which will produce up to 54,000 tonnes of PFA replacement annually.


our call and collect service, being one of the first MKM branches to do so, whereby customers can call up and order stock over the phone, then collect it and drive away in seconds to save precious time during ongoing jobs.” “The relocation of our Redcar branch to Skelton-in-Cleveland was vital to ensure MKM was best serving its customers in the North East,” said, Kate Tinsley, CEO of MKM Building Supplies. “As the largest independent builders’ merchant in the country, we place real value on outstanding service and pride ourselves on the excellent knowledge of the local areas that


surround each of our branches.” Tinsley concluded, “This example is no different and is why timber and landscaping services especially needed to be upgraded at a larger site to facilitate this growth in offering. I wish MKM Skelton all the best going forward and am confident they will provide the best quality service to their evolving community.”


BMF Apprenticeships LEAP forward


The Builders Merchants Federation has appointed LEAP, the Apprenticeship delivery team to the Travis Perkins Group, as new full-service providers of the BMF Apprenticeships Plus service with effect from 1 January 2022. LEAP stands for Learn as you


Earn Apprenticeship Programmes and will provide a seamless end- to-end recruitment and training service that will significantly enhance the BMF Apprenticeship Plus offer.


LEAP will be delivering 12


Apprenticeship programmes for the BMF from Level 2 to Level 5 including Trade Supplier, Hire Controller, Fitted Furniture Design Technician (Kitchens and Bathrooms), Sales and Management. The quality of training is evident with 85%


Builders merchant gets HSE fine for worker injuries


A waste management and skip hire company has been fined after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he was struck by a reversing vehicle.


Mold Magistrates’ Court was told that on 6 June 2019, a skip lorry driver was injured in the waste management yard area of Thorncliffe Building Supplies’ Abergele site when a loading


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shovel reversed into him, trapping him between his vehicle and the loading shovel. He sustained life changing injuries including fractures to his pelvis and a crushed bowel.


An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the system of work to control risks from transport was not fully adequate and not monitored;


and as a result, was not being followed therefore exposing workers to risks.


At the time of the incident the inner banksman, who is responsible for managing traffic at the site, was not present at his station and there were no measures in place to prevent new vehicles from accessing the site. Thorncliffe Building Supplies, of


Rhyl, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and have been fined £180,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,856. HSE inspector Sarah Baldwin- Jones said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply following correct control measures and safe working practices.”


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2021


of learners achieving a Merit or Distinction. As well as their apprenticeship programmes, LEAP will be working with BMF to develop a suite of early career programmes to help education leavers and career changers to join the sector. To coincide with LEAP’s appointment, the BMF is recruiting a full-time Learning and Development Manager to champion and manage the improved Apprenticeship Plus offer.


John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said:


“We are delighted to be working with LEAP from next year. LEAP will significantly expand and enrich our service offer to all merchant members, helping us to promote and support apprenticeship growth for the long-term benefit of our sector.”


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