INDUSTRY VOICE
The BMF has announced that its All Industry Conference 2027 will take place in the vibrant city of Marrakech, marking the first time the event has been hosted in North Africa.
The conference will be held from 10–13 June 2027 at the Savoy Le Grand Hotel, hosted by TV and radio presenter Gethin Jones, currently a presenter on BBC One’s Morning Live and a regular guest host on The One Show.
The conference will bring together merchants, suppliers and industry leaders for three days of business-focused content, keynote presentations, seminars and networking opportunities.
Marrakech, known as the Red City for its distinctive sandstone architecture, provides an ideal backdrop for the conference theme, “Connecting Ideas, Creating Tomorrow.” The city offers tranquil gardens and modern amenities, creating a unique blend of tradition and innovation.
Raising the standard: BMF Campus achieves CPD accreditation milestone
The BMF, in partnership with learning technology specialist Cortexa, has reached a significant milestone in the development of its online learning platform, BMF Campus, with the majority of its flagship Building Blocks training programme now achieving Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation. Ten Building Blocks courses have successfully completed the independent assessment process required for CPD accreditation.
The accredited courses are:
• Introduction to Residential Construction
• Heating & Hot Water Comfort • Building Insulation • Working Safely & Securely • Timber as a Building Material • Introduction to Bathrooms • Landscaping • An Introduction to Drylining • Domestic Showering • Above Ground Drainage For merchants, CPD accreditation provides confidence that training
BMF downgrades Industry Forecast
The BMF has revised its baseline forecast for 2026, downgrading expected growth from +2.3% to -1.8% as economic uncertainty continues to weigh on construction activity and demand for materials. BMF CEO John Newcomb says: “Weaker workloads, delayed project starts and ongoing concerns about
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future demand have created a challenging trading environment for the building materials sector. “Markets with greater exposure to housebuilding and commercial development, particularly London, have generally experienced the toughest conditions, while areas with stronger levels of infrastructure,
Commenting on the choice of venue, BMF Chief Executive Officer John Newcomb said: “Marrakech is a fantastic conference destination, offering a striking contrast between ancient and modern. As well as being a sought-after location for major film productions, it has also been selected as one of the host destinations for the FIFA World Cup 2030.”
“Delivering a sustainable event remains a priority for the BMF. Wherever possible, we will minimise the conference’s environmental impact through the use of local suppliers, recyclable materials and a reduction in single-use items.
has been independently assessed against recognised standards, and for suppliers, it adds further credibility to the educational content they support, helping to position technical and product knowledge within a recognised framework of professional development.
The Building Blocks programme has become a key component of BMF Campus, offering accessible, industry-relevant learning that helps merchant teams strengthen product knowledge, improve customer engagement and support career progression across a broad range of categories.
repair and maintenance activity have shown greater resilience.” The forecast also highlights ongoing challenges facing the wider construction industry, with elevated levels of business distress and insolvencies reflecting the difficult operating environment.
While activity remains subdued across several key product categories, particularly those linked
BMF DIARY DATES
Please check the BMF website at
www.bmf.org.uk for all the latest news and events updates in this ever-changing environment.
BMF announces Marrakech as host city for All Industry Conference 2027
Our conference hotel shares that commitment to sustainability.” We extend our thanks to headline sponsor, Marshalls, and key sponsors ACO Technologies, BMN, ForgeFix, GenetiQ, Keystone Group, Klipboard, Knauf, Knauf Insulation, Marsh Industries, Polypipe Building Products, Siniat and Velux for their support of the 2027 event. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to register early. Merchants should contact their BMF regional manager, events manager Stacey Lock at stacey.lock@bmf.
org.uk, or supplier engagement director Oz Bham at
oz.bham@
bmf.org.uk, or visit www.
bmfconference2027.co.uk.
The accreditation programme is continuing, with work already underway to secure CPD accreditation for the remaining two Building Blocks courses. Looking forward, the BMF is also planning to pursue accreditation for its flagship Diploma
programme over the coming year. As BMF Campus continues to expand, this latest accreditation milestone demonstrates the growing importance of professionally recognised training in supporting both individual career development and the wider professionalisation of the merchanting profession.
to new housing, the BMF believes the sector retains the potential for a gradual recovery once economic confidence begins to improve. Newcomb added: “Trading conditions are expected to remain challenging in the short term, but there is still optimism that the market will return to growth, with potential expansion of around +1.7% forecast for 2027.”
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net July 2026
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