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COMMENT


The Apprentices - You’re Hired!


I


wrote this in the middle of National Apprenticeship Week; my email inbox is chock-a-block with news stories about it. There are opportunities galore to interview apprentices, providers and companies. Many of them are even relevant.


I have also been sent a letter from Robert Halfon, the Minister for Apprenticeships – he’s not singling me out, it’s been sent to all parents of current year 11 pupils, highlighting the benefits of apprenticeships as a viable alternative to further or higher mainstream education. “Apprenticeships transform lives: you can earn while you learn, there’s no need to pay fees or take out a loan, and at the same time your child gains brilliant hands-on experience in their chosen industry. Apprenticeships provide the first step on the ladder of opportunity to really great prospects – enabling people to climb, rung by rung, towards greater earning potential and future prosperity.” The number of apprentices in the industry has grown hugely since the introduction of the Apprenticeship levy, and it’s really helped to open up the sector to more young people. The government helps out with funding, how much depends on whether the company providing the apprenticeship is big enough to pay the apprenticeship levy or not, so it’s a way to be able to offer an in to your business, help to bring the next generation along, and get some help for it. There are also plenty of case-studies out there highlighting some of the apprentices in this sector. Travis Perkins, for example, have featured their 1,000th, MKM have 70, and there are many, many more across merchanting, in companies of all sizes: independents, regional operations and national chains.


So now NMBS have announced that, in conjunction with the BMF and LEAP, they want to recruit 60 more apprentices across their membership, 15 every quarter, to celebrate the 60th anniversary, something


CONTACTS Builders Merchants Journal


Datateam Business Media London Road Maidstone Kent ME15 8LY Tel: 01622 687031 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


EDITORIAL Group Managing Editor: Fiona Russell Horne 01622 699101 07721 841382 frussell-horne@datateam.co.uk


Assistant editor Anjali Sooknanan 01622 699106


asooknanan@datateam.co.uk


Production Controller: Nic Mandeville


ADVERTISING Group Sales Manager: Dawn Tucker 01622 699148 07934 731232 dtucker@datateam.co.uk


Publisher: Paul Ryder


pryder@datateam.co.uk CIRCULATION


ABC audited average circulation July 2018-June 2019: 7,801


SUBSCRIPTIONS


UK 1 year: £97 UK, 2 years: £164 Outside UK: one year £113/$204; two years: £196/$353


they also pledged to do 10 years ago for the 50th anniversary. It’s a great ambition and, hopefully, one that will be relatively easy to meet, as long as there is sufficient buy-in from merchant businesses. Why wouldn’t there be? This is a great industry to be in. We all know that. It’s why so many of us have found ourselves here and somehow never left. Even those who haven’t grown up in a family-owned merchants, and therefore don’t really have skin-in- the-game know that there’s something about it. Is it the people we meet along our industry path? Yes, of course it is. People like to buy from people they like, sell to people they like, work with people they like. But it’s about more than that. Take a step back and think what it is this industry does. Building material manufacturers make products so they can sell them to merchants, who in turn sell those products to builders who use those materials to build houses, allowing people to build lives, to put down roots, to bring up their families, to set out their futures. I think that is really cool, and it’s an industry that really needs new people entering. Not just at the school-leaver level either, apprenticeships can be across a range of ages.


Building materials really matter. Building the future of the building materials supply sector really matters. If you’re passionate about developing the next generation into this great industry then think about apprenticeships. Get involved, talk to NMBS, the BMF. Alternatively, - massive personal plug here, but you all know how important this is to me - have a look at the information from the Maddie Rose Campaign and the Construction Youth Trust where there are resources to help you get started on the journey. BMJ


Fiona Russell-Horne Group Managing Editor - BMJ





My way in life lay stretched out straight before me through the newly- entered road of apprenticeship to Joe..


Charles Dickens


CONTENTS 4 Newsround





The latest round-up of industry news


8 People


Who’s moved where and 10 minutes with…


10 In Person


Interviewing Laker Builders Merchant’s new chairman


12 News Extra The most common workplace injuries to watch out for.


14 BMJ Industry Awards


This year’s awards are open for entry. Get your nominations in.


16 Business Helpdesk The BMF on why external reviews are important


17 Viewpoint 22 Timber


Looking at a more sustainable future


20 Merchant Focus Boilers and much, much more


What’s what with wood


26 Training Focus How one supplier is tackling the skills shortage


28 Plumbing & Drainage


33 Sealants & Adhesives


© Datateam Business Media Ltd 2023


All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic or mechanical including photo-copying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the 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.


Looking at the main issues with how we manage water in and around us.


The latest news from the sector


34 Sustainability Does insulation really save households money


36 IT


AI and ChatGPT are the latest things: what do merchants need to know?


38 BMF Industry Voice The news and views from the


BMF 40 And Finally


News and the BMJ Prize Crossword February 2023 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 3


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