Renewables Centre celebrates 500 installers trained


Toolstation launches gift card offering


Huws Gray


opens new Brick Specialist Centre in Gloucester


UK Plumbing Supplies and Beggs buy


Fayers’ branches


Plumbers merchant UK Plumbing Supplies has bought the Enfield branch of


North London-based 140-year old building and plumbing merchant Fayers Plumbing & Building Supplies after the latter entered administration.


At the same time, independent family- run plumbing and heating merchant Beggs & Partners, headquartered in Northern Ireland, has bought the Just Add Water bathroom showrooms in Barnet and Buckhurst Hill, along with the former Fayers Plumbing & Building Supplies operations at both locations.


The plumbing, heating,


sanitaryware, and building supplies merchant was founded in 1884 and has branches in Enfield, New Barnet, Buckhurst Hill, and on the Caledonian Road in King’s Cross. The Barnet and Buckhurst Hill branches also operated “Just Add Water” bathroom showrooms. The appointment of


administrators followed a strategic review after challenging trading conditions meant the business was not sustainable in its existing form. Joint administrators are Sarah Cook and Andy John of FRP Advisory Trading Limited. On its LinkedIn page, Beggs stated: “The Just Add Water brand brings a strong reputation for premium design, product expertise and customer service, values that align perfectly with ours. Customers can expect the same high-quality experience, now enhanced by Beggs and Partners’ wider resources, logistics and buying power. We’re also investing significantly in refurbishing trade counters and store environments, with a particular focus on showcasing the Instinct brand.”


Howarth Timber named amongst Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026


Howarth Timber & Building Supplies has been named as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026, in partnership with WorkL. The annual awards celebrate organisations that excel in employee experience, highlighting businesses that have demonstrate high levels of workplace satisfaction, inclusivity, professional development, and leadership. The award follows a period of continued growth for the company, which employs colleagues across its network of timber and builders’ merchant branches, manufacturing facilities, and support functions throughout the UK.


Gavin Knowles, head of marketing and digital at Howarth Timber, said: “Being recognised as one of The


July 2026 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


Minister for Energy Consumers visits Daikin training facility


Daikin UK has welcomed Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers, to its new Manchester training facility to see first-hand how the government’s Heat Training Grant is helping to accelerate workforce development across the low-carbon heating sector.


The visit provided an opportunity for the Minister to meet installers currently undertaking heat pump training, hear directly from trainers and trainees about the impact of grant-funded support, and explore how industry and government can continue to build the workforce needed to deliver the UK’s clean energy ambitions.


McCluskey commented: “Meeting the next generation of


heat pump installers at Daikin’s cutting-edge training academy in Manchester has brought home that the clean energy jobs of the future are happening right now. “The trainees and instructors here, and across the country, are on the frontline of getting Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster, with over 11,300 heat pump training courses already delivered to upskill engineers and installers.


NEWS IN BRIEF


BRCK Group acquires H.S. Jackson & Son Construction materials distributor BRCK Group PLC, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of H.S. Jackson & Son fencing. Jacksons, headquartered in Ashford, Kent, is a designer, manufacturer and installer of timber and steel fencing, gates and security systems.


The Initial Consideration of £15.0 million will be split between £14.5 million payable in cash and £0.5 million to be satisfied by the issue of 1,024,414 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company.


AQUA boosts


Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the culture we’ve built across the business. Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do, and this award reflects the commitment, dedication, and values demonstrated by our teams every day.” “We’re proud to create an


environment where people feel supported, valued, and able to develop their careers. This recognition reinforces our commitment to continuing to invest in our people and ensuring Howarth Timber remains a great place to work.”


Frontline Bathrooms Frontline Bathrooms has reported a 52% rise in new trade accounts, as investment into its AQUA brand continues to gain traction. The uplift in new accounts sits alongside wider momentum for the AQUA brand, with Frontline also reporting a nearly a £500,000 year-on-year sales increase in the three months following the launch of the new AQUA brochure. Sales from those new accounts has also grown by 28%.


Selco pledges to help young apprentices Builders’ merchant Selco Builders Warehouse has become the first business to take the ‘Future Talent Employer’ pledge under training provider Realise.


Realise is working to tackle the growing youth unemployment challenge by searching for in excess of 500 organisations to become a ‘Future Talent Employer’ by committing to hiring at least one Level 2 Administration Support apprentice over the next year.


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