NEWSROUND


Government to fund £1bn home insulation scheme


The Government is to spend up to £1bn on another scheme to improve the insulation and energy performance of UK homes.


This time, the scheme will run alongside a public information campaign advising people how to cut power usage, and will also target some middle-income homes, and be administered


Covers acquires Wingham Timber


via the energy companies. It is predominantly being targeted at households that do not currently get support to upgrade homes, though a fifth of the funding will be targeted at the most vulnerable.


Energy Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the new Eco+ scheme to extend support for insulating homes as he tries to


get households to reduce energy consumption. Some £18 million will also be spent on a public information campaign giving advice about turning down boiler temperatures and radiators to save energy.


Shapps said: “A new Eco scheme will enable thousands more to insulate their homes, protecting the pounds in their


PaintWell buys Kent Blaxill PaintWell Limited, the North West


Covers Timber and Builders Merchant has acquired Wingham Timber and Mouldings, based near Canterbury in Kent. Wingham Timber is an independent timber merchant supplying construction grade timber, sheet materials, internal mouldings, wooden flooring, garden fencing and decking materials, along with timber for garden structures. It has a range of fencing manufacturing machinery, as well as moulders and a treatment plant.


Wingham Timber’s principal owners and directors, Beau Hart and Nigel Hylands, will continue their involvement with the business, with Hart assisting during a transitional period, and Hylands continuing to operate the business.


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independent paint distributor and decorators merchant, has bought Kent Blaxill Group Limited, the independent decorating, glass and builders merchant, based in Colchester. The acquisition of the 184 year old merchant means the enlarged group will have 46 branches stretching from Cumbria to Kent, with 250 employees and combined revenues of £55m. The acquisition enables the shareholders from the Kent and Blaxill families to exit the business, with some re-investing in the enlarged PaintWell business as shareholders, as it continues to build on their legacy. Kent Blaxill’s management team, led by managing director, James Park,


pockets and creating jobs across the country.


“And in the short term, our new public information campaign will also give people the tools they need to reduce their energy use while keeping warm this winter.”


will remain with the business, working with Stuart Slocombe and the PaintWell executive team to integrate the two businesses and realise the potential that this partnership brings. In addition, Andrew Cope joins PaintWell’s board as a Non-Executive Director, bringing considerable experience of the building supplies sector. Cope was managing director of Chandlers Building Supplies and CEO


of Independent Builders Merchants Group (SE) until he stepped down in 2021. Slocombe said: “I am delighted to welcome James and everybody at Kent Blaxill to PaintWell. Our shared values, vision and commitment to customers make this an obvious partnership and Kent Blaxill, a welcome addition to our company. PaintWell is at a really interesting point in its development. We have ambitious plans to fulfil but we are fortunate to be able to benefit from strong investor support, exceptional products, first-rate employees and a well-deserved reputation for superior service. We are excited about the next phase of growth.”


RGB opens new branch in Truro the South West.


The new Truro site will be supplying a wide range of building materials, landscaping goods, decorating products, and plumbing and heating supplies. The opening of the branch has brought 11 new jobs to the area.


RGB Building Supplies has opened a new branch on Threemilestone Industrial Estate in Truro.


RGB has been operating across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset for over 170 years and has grown to become one of the leading builders merchants in


Wayne Gilbert, branch manager at RGB Truro, said: “RGB is well known for the quality of its products and excellent service, and we are delighted to be bringing these to Truro. Our team has a great deal of knowledge about the industry and the products we stock. We are happy to give advice to local tradespeople and those in the community who are taking on projects in their own homes.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2022


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