NEWS IN BRIEF
BMF reassured by TCI Scheme extension
The Builders Merchants Federation has confirmed to members that the government has extended its Trade Credit Insurance Scheme by six months to 30 June 2021. The Scheme ensures that trade credit insurance coverage and credit limits are maintained during the pandemic, helping businesses to trade with confidence. John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said: “We are very pleased that the six-month extension
has been confirmed, providing the reassurance I know many merchants were looking for as trading through pandemic continues.”
Individual businesses do not need to sign up for the scheme as in-scope policies held with a participating insurer will automatically be eligible for inclusion.
The participating insurers are: • American International Group
WCoBM dedicates funding support to BMF courses
The Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM), a charitable organisation, has confirmed bursaries for three courses available via the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF). The courses, which are detailed in the BMF’s Training Prospectus, include Essential Sales Management, Diploma in Merchant Management and Foundation Degree in Merchant Management. Each bursary, worth up to £2,000 per person, will cover a third of the course fees for the Foundation Degree and over half of the cost for the other two courses, payable on successful completion. The funding is subject to applicants meeting certain criteria and is prioritised to businesses or individuals that need financial support for learning and development. Applications will be assessed in accordance to need. Fulfilling one of WCoBM’s key objectives of supporting training and education through its charitable fund, the bursary is open to apprentices, employees working with a stockist or manufacturer of building materials’, those looking to switch careers from other industries, and students coming out of full-time education. Chairman of the WCoBM Training & Education Committee Brian Blanchard says: “We are extremely pleased to be able to
UK Limited
• Atradius UK • Coface UK Branch • Credendo – short-term non-EU risks
• Euler Hermes UK, a branch of Euler Hermes SA (NV) • Markel International Insurance Company Limited
• Nexus Trade Credit • QBE UK Limited and QBE Europe SA/NV • Zurich Insurance plc
BMF announces merchant forum speakers
provide this funding support for BMF courses and for our industry. Our new bursary programme gives individuals and businesses the opportunity to train and develop skills across diverse roles in the building materials sector. “During the first lockdown in April and again during Lockdown 2.0 the Government paid tribute to our sector and recognised its value to the UK’s economy. Our market is an attractive proposition for school- leavers, apprentices and graduates who are entering employment for the first time.”
Nine in ten builders face rising costs, as supply chain disruptions and rising demand are making it hard for Britain to get building. The latest State of Trade survey data from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which represents small and medium- sized construction firms, paints a worrying picture that the Government must address to ensure that builders do not face a cliff-edge in the construction
January 2021
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
The BMF has announced the final lineup of speakers for the popular Industry Forum session at the 2021 All Industry Conference, taking place in Harrogate in June. Nick Roberts, CEO of Travis Perkins plc and Paul Bence, MD of George Bence Group com- plete the four-person panel and will each present their merchant industry view.
The two will join the previously announced duo, Andy Mitchell Chair of the Construction Leader- ship Council and Peter Hallitt, group trading director at Mar- shalls plc.
Supply chain issues hamper recovery
supply chain from January 2021. The latest findings from the FMB State of Trade Survey for Q3 2020 include:
• 9 in 10 builders (87%) said material costs are rising, up from 8 in 10 (78%) in the summer • Only 4 in 10 builders (39%) reported a rise in workloads, down from 5 in 10 (47%) in Q2 • Employment edged into positive territory for the first time since Q4 2019.
engineered joists to double overall capacity from 250,000 metres per year to more than a million. This means National Timber Systems is capable of producing two million metres of engineered joists each year. The system allows operatives to transfer engineered joists from its storage rack to the production line, without the need for a forklift. This significantly reduces handling time and has had an enormous impact on efficiency. The Catterick site will now also fulfil the joist needs of its Hebburn and Sheffield facilities.
Ten-25 rebrands new ERP system
Soft-launched at the start of 2020, software provider Ten-25’s new cloud ERP system for merchants has been given a New Year rebrand to celebrate its first year in the market. Formerly referred to as UT400, the browser-based system will now be known as Merchanter, to better reflect the nature of the software. Merchanter has already been bought by a range of merchants and stockists, including sawmills, timber merchants, builders’ merchants, steel stockholders, plumbing suppliers, agricultural merchants and stone merchants.
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National Timber Group doubles joist capacity National Timber Systems has invested in a new manufacturing system at its Catterick site for its
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