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COMMENT


Wanted: bright, young, things for industry’s future


Fiona Russell-Horne Editor - BMJ


P “


Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success


Henry Ford INFO PANEL


Builders Merchants Journal Datateam Business Media London Road


Maidstone Kent ME15 8LY Tel: 01622 687031 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: Fiona Russell Horne 01622 699101


frussell-horne@datateam.co.uk


Assistant editor Elizabeth Jordan 01622 699186


ejordan@datateam.co.uk


Production Controller: Kirsty Hood


khood@datateam.co.uk


Publisher: Paul Ryder 01622 699105


pryder@datateam.co.uk


North & midlands sales: David Harman 01772 462596


david.harman@talktalk.net ”


rint deadlines being what they are, there’s no point my saying anything about Brexit or government, on the grounds that what is true at the time of writing will be out of date by the time you read this a week later.


So, I’m going for a topic that is, arguably, of more importance than the machinations of the politicians here and over the water. It’s also an issue that isn’t going to go away, no matter what happens pre- and post-Brexit.


If this industry is to survive and thrive, it needs an influx of younger people who want to build careers. Of course, that could be said about any industry but some others seem to find it easier to attract those all- important school and college leavers. Why? Maybe because they have a more glamorous image, are more easily accessible or because they don’t sound ‘grubby’.


We may never get school leavers to aspire to be builders’ merchants, but it’s important that we get to the point where it isn’t being dismissed out of hand as an option. There’s a marketing job to be done, both with youngsters themselves and their teachers. Also, more importantly, with parents. Someone who runs a marketing company with a big interest in the construction industry was telling me the other day that they attended a careers fair at a local secondary school. One girl stopped at their stand and was really engaged in the idea of the design, research and marketing work they do. The mother then asked what sort of industries the company deals with. When she was told ‘construction mainly’ she immediately said to her daughter ‘oh you don’t want to bother with that’ and dragged the girl off.


There’s a lot of effort being put into getting over this attitude by the BMF and the Worshipful Company


among others, but we still have a big PR job to do. This is a fantastic industry with a huge variety of roles. It’s the sort of industry where hard work can get you to the top, no matter whether you are a Saturday boy with two O levels or a graduate with an MBA. And gender doesn’t matter either; there are plenty of other industries where the ceiling is made of far tougher glass. Finance, marketing, design, sales, logistics, management, website design, and ecommerce: these are all career paths within merchanting, just as much as yard sweeper and trade counter manager. We need that message to get out. There is hope though. The number of people who have been nominated for a BMJ Industry Awards Rising Star category shows that there is a mass of dedicated talent in the industry, working its way to the top. That’s why we launched our Rising Stars feature. Every issue we will highlight two people from merchant companies who, in the opinions of their managers, directors and peers, are the ones to watch as they have that something special that will get them to the top. If you know anyone that you want to put in the spotlight, then get in touch.


I’ll leave you with a quote from Michael Tomlinson, one of the two rising stars we feature this month. Sorry, Michael, I couldn’t fit this bit into the page but it’s a message that deserves a wider audience: “This may not be the most glamorous industry to work in, but the building industry is fundamental to the world and every economy. Anyone thinking of joining the industry should leap at the chance if the opportunity presents itself. The merchanting industry is a fantastic one to be involved with, especially at a time when we see a lot of uncertainty in many others.”


I reckon that says it all.


ADVERTISING


Advertising Manager: Dawn Tucker 01622 699148


dtucker@datateam.co.uk


Senior Account Manager: Burim Osmani 01622 699174


mobile 07934865418 bosmani@datateam.co.uk


CIRCULATION


ABC audited average circulation July 2016-June 2017: 7,803


SUBSCRIPTIONS


UK one year: £97 UK, two years: £164 Outside UK: one year £113/$204; two years: £196/$353


© Datateam Business Media Ltd 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photo-copying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The title Builders Merchants Journal is registered at Stationers’ Hall. Suppliers have contributed towards production costs of some photographs in this issue.


February 2019 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


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