RISING STARS
THE NEXT GENERATION
BMJ meets some of the younger members of the sector, those ensuring that the industry will thrive in the future. This month, JTD Building Supplies’ Jack Davenport.
What is your current role /title? My current role is as a trading specialist. My day-to-day responsibilities include serving customers at the trade counter and conducting general phone sales.
What does your day to day look like? My role at JTD Building Supplies is always evolving as I am learning all aspects of the job whilst completing my apprenticeship with the BMF. The one constant is the relationships I have built with customers over the past year, which makes the role enjoyable and enjoyably challenging. This is because no two jobs are the same and requires a constant development of product knowledge to provide excellent service.
What inspired you to enter the industry? My inspiration to join the industry was driven by my desire to gain practical experience and enter the workforce after my A-levels. JTD Building Supplies provided a brilliant opportunity to do so whilst learning on the job, which has been invaluable in helping me develop a comprehensive understanding of the industry.
What was your entry point? My entry point was through a Level 2 BMF apprenticeship, which led to my current role as a trading specialist. This apprenticeship was a great starting point as it provided
me with a solid foundation in the industry and taught me the intricacies of running a builders’ merchant.
What training have you undertaken? The training I have completed since starting at JTD includes excellence in customer service (BMF), essential sales margins (BMF), banksman, manual handling, forklift training and a licence, and a product knowledge and application course at Flex - R to develop my knowledge of EPDM rubber roofing.
Has your career gone in the direction you planned?
After recently finishing my A-levels, I did not have a career plan in place. I was simply eager to enter the workforce, which led me to this opportunity at JTD Building Supplies. This has been invaluable in developing me as a person and a career to build on after the completion of my apprenticeship
What would you say are the biggest challenges young merchants face? Some significant challenges I have personally faced and believe most young merchants will encounter include the need for extensive product knowledge to provide exceptional customer service. My apprenticeship has enabled me to develop this quickly and with great detail. Another challenge is the ever-evolving nature of the industry with
“A key realisation I made upon joining the industry is that my days are always full and I am constantly learning. This keeps me engaged and the people I meet make it a rewarding industry to work in.”
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frequent product changes and technological advancements within branch and yard operations. This necessitates continuous learning to stay abreast of industry developments.
Where do you want to be in ten years? In terms of my long-term career aspirations, I am uncertain about my exact position in ten years. However, my short-term goals that could enable me to achieve my career objectives include joining Young Merchants to enhance my networking opportunities and pursuing any available apprenticeship courses upon completing my current one
What could be done to encourage more young people into the industry? The industry should be marketed more widely, particularly to school leavers, to demonstrate its offerings and the career development opportunities it provides. A key realisation I made upon joining the industry is that my days are always full and I am constantly learning. This keeps me engaged and the people I meet make it a rewarding industry to work in. Whether it is colleagues or customers, I have built strong relationships with many. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity at JTD to work with a great team while also building connections with customers I encounter daily.
What advice would you give to people looking to enter the industry? Go for it! I highly recommend the industry. In a short time, it has helped me develop significantly as a person and I genuinely enjoy my work. I would strongly advise anyone considering joining the industry that they will not regret it as they will make valuable connections and acquire lifelong skills. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2026
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