NEWSROUND STARK UK to tackle modern slavery in construction


STARK Building Materials UK, parent company of Jewson, Jewson Major Building Solutions, Jewson Partnership Solutions, Frazer, Minster, JP Corry, Normans and International Timber, has become a sponsor of Stronger Together, an organisation which campaigns to reduce modern slavery in supply chains.


According to Stronger Together,


the construction sector is identified as high-risk for modern slavery by various bodies, including the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and the Office of the Director of Labour


Market Enforcement. Due to its related activities and overlapping workforce, the broader property


sector is considered equally high-risk. Stronger Together’s recently updated


Construction and Property Programme helps


businesses to identify the signs of modern slavery in the construction and property supply chain with sector-specific tools, training and resources.


BMF takes its message to Parliament


The BMF raised its concerns about the impact of impending changes to Inheritance Tax and National Insurance contributions at their annual Parliamentary Reception on 5 February.


Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords attended the event, including Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State for Employment. They were told about the BMF’s initiatives to boost recruitment, skills and apprenticeships within the Building Materials sector. They also heard about the £862 million investment plans of BMF supplier members to scale up the manufacture and supply of the materials needed to meet the


Government’s ambitious housing targets.


This positive news, however, came with a warning from BMF CEO, John Newcomb.


He said: “The BMF is investing half a million pounds in a major programme to promote Building Materials Careers, and we have


just exceeded our target of 15,000 new apprenticeships by 2030, with members having already pledged 15,028. These initiatives will help to ensure that we have the best people in place to supply the materials required for a new generation of homes. “At the moment, however,


Construction growth to accelerate slowly


There was a third consecutive quarter of growth in construction product manufacturers’ sales, according to the Construction Products Association’s State of Trade Survey for the fourth quarter of 2024. This was accompanied by broad expectations of continued growth over the next 12 months as the construction recovery accelerates. In 2024 Q4, a balance of 25% of heavy side manufacturers reported that sales of construction products increased compared to Q3, marking the third straight quarter of growth. Alongside this,


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31% of light side manufacturers reported a rise in product sales. The heavy side also recorded the first annual growth since 2022 Q3, although this was largely expected due to comparison with the nadir of the downturn in housebuilding and repair, maintenance, and improvement (RM&I) at the end of 2023. Both heavy and light side manufacturers anticipate continued growth in 2025. However, they are currently facing rising wage and raw material costs, which are expected to continue in the near-term.


many of our members have put a halt to recruitment and deferred planned training. At a time when we should be investing in our people, this is a regrettable consequence of the substantial increase in National Insurance announced in the Budget and highlights the financial impact it will have on their business.” Newcomb continued: “In addition, changes to inheritance tax, specifically Business Property Relief, could significantly impact the many private and family- owned businesses across our membership, which may now struggle to justify the long-term investments required to scale up the manufacture and supply of the materials needed to build 1.5 million new homes.”


TP secures Dudley premises


All heavy side manufacturers reported an increase in wages & salaries and raw materials costs in Q4, whilst all heavy side manufacturers reported and 93% of those on the light side expected costs to increase over the next 12 months.


Travis Perkins has acquired the freehold of its Peartree Lane premises in Dudley in a £1.3m deal, securing its long-term presence in the area. Previously leasing the site from Birmingham-based Wesleyan Assurance Society, Travis Perkins opted to purchase the roadside warehouse. The site spans one acre and includes a 15,953 sq ft warehouse alongside a 13,993 sq ft yard.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net February 2025


Nim Cassidy, General Counsel and Company Secretary at STARK UK, said: “We are committed to supporting ethical practices across the construction sector, so by sponsoring Stronger Together’s UK Construction and Property Programme, we’re taking an important step to help tackle the risks of modern slavery in our industry and supply chains.”


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