NEWS EXTRA: NMBS CONFERENCE 2026 INTRAPRENEURSHIP:
SHE EXPLAINED THAT sustainable business success comes not just from strategy at the top, but from enabling people at every level of the organisation to take ownership, make decisions, and actively contribute to growth. “We spend a lot of time in business focusing on the things that we can’t control. But there’s one thing that you can control, and that’s you and your people, how you lead those people to go beyond expectations,” she said. Through her research into high-performing organisations, Edgar explained that she had identified a consistent pattern: top performers behave as though they are running their own business, even when part of a larger company. “This mindset drives accountability, initiative, and better results. However, many organisations unintentionally suppress this behaviour through rigid hierarchies, excessive sign- off processes, and department
silos. The result is disengagement, lack of ownership, and ultimately poorer customer outcomes.” Edgar stressed that the most valuable business intelligence often sits with frontline em- ployees, those interacting with customers daily. She talked through some research that she had conducted with two builders, the ultimate customers of the people in the room. “We sat down with two real tradespeople from rural towns, one in his thirties, one with decades on the tools, and asked them the same questions.
“Both the builders we talked to quote at 8 pm and struggle to get trade prices when they need them. Xavier ends up a day behind; Tony resorts to Googling retail prices. They’ve stopped expecting better,” she said. “The there’s stock. Neither trusts what the system says. One had half an order go missing; the other phones up and asks someone to
physically walk and check for it. They’ve built workarounds rather than complain.”
Crucially, one wouldn’t hesitate to switch to a merchant with a better website but no trade counter and would avoid independents if it meant not having to deal with paperwork. The other builder still values the relationship aspect, but is running out of patience. She said: “The generational split is the warning. The same builders handed us the win: make it easy for the customer.”
Edgar defined intrapreneurship as more than just innovation, it is about creating a culture where employees not only think independently and take responsibility for decisions, but also act in the best interests of the business, and crucially, feel empowered to challenge the sta- tus quo.
“This requires leaders to trust their teams and reduce
UNLOCKING INNER POTENTIAL
At the NMBS Conference, Dr Alison Edgar MBE introduced the idea of intrapreneurship, which she described as the concept of empowering employees to think and act like business owners.
unnecessary barriers to action,” she said, emphasising that, unlike large corporations, smaller and independent organisations have the advantage of agility. She asked: “ Are you choosing not to be agile, or do you not know how to be?”, and finished with three questions that she said every business leader should ask themselves: “What would you do if it was your first day in the job, what would you say if it was your best friend? and what would you do if it was your business?” BMJ
DRIVING DATA CHANGE THROUGH THE YARD
At the NMBS Conference, Gareth Thomas, managing director of industry data platform Data Yard, described the platform as a “game changer” for both suppliers and merchants.
THOMAS HIGHLIGHTED THE rapid adoption of the platform, with over 70% of the room signed up within just six months. What started with a handful of early adopters has quickly grown, with 118 suppliers joining the platform. This momentum, he explained, reflects a wider shift in mindset across the sector, as businesses embrace better way of working with data.
Thomas made it clear that those not yet engaged risk falling behind: “Your competitors are in.
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The question I have is, when they start looking for product data, is what’s going to happen?” he said, adding that feedback from
workshops suggests a growing preference among merchants to prioritise suppliers using the platform, with some already adopting a “Data Yard first” approach to trading decisions. At its core, Data Yard is designed to simplify and standardise product information across the industry, and it is built to support users at every stage. “It doesn’t matter what you have today, we’ll bring you on the journey,” he said.
The Data Yard enables suppliers
to upload comprehensive product data, from basic descriptions to detailed specifications, images, and even sustainability metrics such as carbon reporting, waste packaging and standardised data. Suppliers retain control over their information, choosing who can access it while benefiting from a system that validates and scores data quality to ensure consistency and trust.
For merchants, he said, the benefits are immediate and practical. Through integrations
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net July 2026
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