RISING STARS


THE NEXT GENERATION


BMJ meets some of the younger members of the sector, those ensuring that the industry will thrive in the future. This month, winner of the BMJ Independent Rising Star Award, Bradfords’ Millie Carter.


What is your current role?


I am a pricing supervisor for Bradfords Building Supplies.


What does your day to day look like? I handle any price changes from our suppliers, creating updates and then importing the new costs. I also investigate any price queries that have come in either from our Purchase Ledger team or from colleagues in the branches.


What inspired you to enter the industry? I wasn’t intentionally looking to enter the industry; I was looking for an apprenticeship and noticed that there were lots offered by construction companies and builder’s merchants.


Coming from a completely different background after studying and working in the beauty industry for a few years, I was hesitant to apply for a role within the merchant sector as I knew very little about anything building related! However, I am very glad that I went for the interview and ended up at Bradfords as it has helped me to build my career to where I am today.


What was your entry point?


I first joined Bradfords as a finance apprentice working in the Purchase Ledger team and completing a Level 3 AAT course. It was a really enjoyable experience and the role expanded my knowledge of products and suppliers, which I then brought with me when I transferred to the commercial department almost 2 years ago.


What training have you undertaken? I completed my Level 3 AAT apprenticeship and am on the final sprint to complete the Level 4 course. Completing 2 apprenticeships


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has been hard work but the skills that I’ve gained from them are crucial to the work I do every day.


Has your career gone in the direction you planned?


Yes and no. As I mentioned previously, I joined Bradfords as part of the finance team and initially thought that is where I would stay for a few years. However, due to a re- working of the departments within Bradfords, an opportunity came to join the commercial department.


Almost a year later, I was promoted to pricing supervisor and consequently had the added responsibility of training a new apprentice. This was a definitely a of change of pace but I have found it to be a very rewarding role.


“I think the abundance of apprenticeships already being offered in this industry is the biggest incentive for young people to join.”


What would you say are the biggest challenges young merchants face? I would say knowing what direction you want your career to go in. There are so many opportunities and areas that it can be overwhelming to young people who have just started out.


Where do you want to be in 10 years? I always struggle with these kinds of questions as I don’t tend to look that far ahead. I never really know what the next step will be, but I know it’ll be upwards. Although I haven’t been in a supervisor role for long, it is something that I can see myself doing on a larger scale in the future.


What could be done to encourage more young people into the industry? I think the abundance of apprenticeships already being offered in this industry is the biggest incentive for young people to join. However I do think that there could be more information on how to progress after the apprenticeship. It would be really beneficial to present the many different careers that can be achieved.


What advice would you give to people looking to enter the industry? I would say don’t be afraid to ask questions whenever you can, wherever you can. I know a lot of people – young people specifically – who struggle to ask questions for the fear of being seen as incompetent, but I view it as an opportunity to improve.


More often than not, in this industry especially, people are always pleasant and happy to help, and I’ve never had anyone complain that I ask too many questions – although my manager may disagree. BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2025


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