NEWS EXTRA
NBG BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS AT ANNUAL SUMMIT
Partnerships – building new ones, and cementing existing ones – was the theme of the NBG Conference last month.
INDEPENDENT BUILDERS MERCHANT buying group, National Buying Group (NBG), brought Partners and Suppliers together at the Crowne Plaza & SEC in Glasgow for its 2025 Conference in November, with the theme of Building Partnerships. A two-day event, there was a programme of insight, networking and practical sessions designed to strengthen ties between independent merchants and Suppliers. Over the course of the Conference, attendees explored ways to convert collaboration into measurable sales and operational advantages.
Day one’s Supplier Summit included a welcome from NBG managing director Mark Hughes, nearly 18 months into the role, who talked delegates through the thinking behind the decision to form a strategic alliance with IBC. The tie-up, which sees IBC
joining as one single new NBG Partner, strengthens NBG’s offer to heavyside suppliers, and opens up better buying deals to IBC’s 220 members.
The session also featured a Q&A from IBC’s managing director Vick Patel and chief operating officer Ian Murphy who jointly discussed the partnership with NBG, and the benefits both entities can expect. NBG has also been announced as one of the first full supporters of Data Yard, the pan-industry initiative from the BMF and NMBS, Gareth Thomas, managing director of Data Yard, laid out the methods for achieving standardised and complete product data and how merchants and Suppliers stand to benefit.
For the first time, day one included a preview of the following day’s exhibition, allowing Partners to explore the venue, familiarise themselves with the layout of
stands, and put plans in place to maximise their time at the exhibition.
The exhibition itself on day two saw Suppliers presenting exclusive deals, product innovations and core ranges across the exhibition floor. Partners used the face-to-face environment to test new ideas, and identify opportunities to work together to strengthen range and margin at their branches — all central to NBG’s theme of forging closer partnerships between merchants and their supply chain. In keeping with tradition, the Conference concluded with an evening gala dinner and awards
ceremony that celebrated Partner and Supplier achievements from the previous 12 months. The Gala’s silent auction, donations, and the charity football match, raised over £30,000 in support of the Rainy Day Trust and Cancer Research UK.
Hughes said: “This year’s Conference was a powerful demonstration of what we can achieve when Partners and Suppliers work in true partnership. NBG is evolving into a stronger organisation, better equipped to take on the challenges facing the market. The conversations that have taken place over the two days of the NBG Conference have highlighted to us the need to build, maintain and strengthen partnerships with Suppliers and within the NBG network of independent merchants.” Further coverage next month in BMJ’s Special NBG Supplement BMJ
The group rewarded its top suppliers and most engaged merchant Partners at the Awards
The winners and highly commended companies were: Brick & Block Supplier of the Year: Forterra Building Products. Highly Commended: Wienerberger
Civils & Landscaping Supplier of the Year: Pavestone UK, Highly Commended: Growtivation Highy Commended: Long Rake Spar
General Build Supplier of the Year Siniat, Highly Commended: Keystone Lintels, Highly Commended: Cemex UK
Lightside Supplier of the Year: Toolbank, Highly Commendeded: Timco
Plumbing, Heating & Showrooms Supplier of the Year: Methven, Highly Commended: Altecnic,
Highly Commended: Woodstock Trading Co
Roofing Supplier of the Year: Sandtoft Roof Tiles - Wienerberger, Highly Commended: Fakro GB
December 2025
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
Timber Supplier of the Year: Newtech Distribution UK, Highly Commended: Egger (UK), Highly Commended: ATA Timber
NBG Supplier of the Year (more than £5m): Brett Martin Building Products, Highly Commended: Keystone Lintels, Highly Commended: Siniat
NBG Supplier of the Year (£1m to £5m): Toolbank, Highly Commended: Timco
NBG Supplier of the Year (less than £1m): Cheshire Mouldings, Highly Commended: C-TEC N.I
Suppliers voted for the Partners they believe to be most engaged: Most Engaged NBG Partner (more than 5 branches): Kellaway Building Supplies
Most Engaged NBG Partner (2 to 4 branches): Browns Builders Merchants
Most Engaged NBG Partner (1 branch): IBT Building & Timber Merchants
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