NEWSROUND Continued recovery for builders’ merchants’ sales


Builders merchants in the UK continued to report strong growth in Q1 2021, according to the latest Builders Merchant Building Index, with total value sales up 8.6% compared to the previous quarter and 15.1% up on Q1 2020. Removing the effects of Covid, results are still positive, with merchants reporting an increase of 6.0% on Q1 2019.


Landscaping and Timber & Joinery Products saw exceptional growth year-on-year and when compared to 2019. First quarter Landscaping sales were 41.4% up on Q1 2020 and an astonishing 32.3% up on Q1 2019. Over the same periods, Timber & Joinery Products was up 30.5% and 15.8% respectively. Heavy Building Materials also did well, with sales growth of 10.3% and 1.3%.


Total sales grew 47.4% compared to March 2020 and by a no less extraordinary 23.0% compared to the same month in 2019. There are a few exceptions, particularly for indoor trades, where Covid restrictions has impacted the rate of recovery in these sectors. Sales for Kitchens & Bathrooms were down -2.1% in Q1 2021 compared to the previous quarter, and -1.8% on Q1 2020. However, month-on-month there are signs of improvement across the board. Sales for Kitchens & Bathrooms was up 12.3% in March compared to February.


Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research, who compile the Index, said: “Considering where the industry was this time last year, the rate and strength of recovery has


BMF Young Merchants to get a taste of adventure


Oli France, an adventurer and professional expedition leader, will share some of his experienes at this year’s BMF Young Merchants Conference in October. France has travelled alone and led teams through some of the world’s most dangerous and least visited countries on adventures that have taken him through deserts, jungles, mountains, and war-torn regions. He has faced spies, interrogators, minefields and arrest, along with avalanches, earthquakes, killer snakes and severe dehydration, all while attempting to complete challenging journeys in remote corners of the world.


John Newcomb, BMF CEO said: “Oli has chosen a completely different path to his dad, Tony, a BMF Board Advisor for many years, who recently retired as sales director at Ibstock. Oli’s incredible experiences clearly demonstrate that he knows what it takes to succeed, and I’m sure he will inspire everyone at our flagship event for Young Merchants.”


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With the theme, “Building the Next Generation”, the BMF Young Merchant Conference is designed to encourage, inspire and enthuse. Taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 6 October 2021, the event is being held in connection with UK Construction Week and will include a visit to the Build Show on site. In addition to a full day’s business programme the BMF Young Merchants Conference features an evening social event at the Sky Loft within the Park Regis Hotel, and enjoy unparalleled views over the City of Birmingham. Registration of the BMF Young


Merchant Conference is now open at www.bmf.org.uk/events


been phenomenal, and it caught forecasters, including the OBR, flat footed. Recovery has been fuelled by strong growth in new house building and RMI amplified by homeowners – synchronised by lockdowns - getting the idea and desire for home improvement at the same time. The latest ONS figures confirm that construction output recovered to 2.4% above its pre- pandemic February 2020 level, with RMI 7.7% above February 2020. “However, the pace of recovery varies between product sectors, with Landscaping and Timber & Joinery the strongest. Lead times are extending and prices rising as demand for building materials exceeds supply...We expect differences across sectors to start to even out over the coming months.”


TP relocates Reading branch


NEWS IN BRIEF


The Timber Trade Federation has become a Registered Signatory to the Building a Safer Future Charter. The BSF Charter is a proactive response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future Review in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The Charter is administered by a not-for-profit independent organisation, set up to encourage collaboration, drive change, and ultimately to transform the culture around building safety. The community of Charter signatories is committed to putting people’s safety first through a series of five Charter Commitments.


Wolseley UK has


announced a partnership with Workday®, a world leader in cloud- based human resources technology. The partnership will see all of Wolseley’s people systems brought right up to date, providing the company with a unified way to manage its people data.


Travis Perkins is set to relocate its Reading branch from the site at Church Road to Headley Park East in Reading on Monday, 19th July. The new site has easier access for customers and is bigger than before at 1.2 acres and occupies the same space as almost 15 tennis courts. It will feature a new plumbing and heating showroom and a tools and plant hire section. Branch manager Samantha Nice said “We can’t wait to open the doors of our bigger, brand new branch at Reading Woodley. We’ve recruited an extra four colleagues to join our team of 12. The branch will offer its full range of Bricks, Lintels, Drainage, Carcassing and Tool Hire and customers can choose to shop online, in branch or by using the new Travis Perkins app.


New legal duties on water companies and government will be included in the Environment Bill to reduce sewage discharged into waterways, a move that has been welcomed by Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation. The additions to the Environment Bill, which were announced on May 11, include duties on the government to publish a plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows by September 2022 and to report to Parliament on the progress of implementing the plan. Water companies will also have a duty to publish data on storm overflow operation on an annual basis.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2021


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