COMMENT Building young futures D
on’t you just love it when a plan comes together? After a lot of hard work and commitment, some of it from me, and a lot of it from other people, the Maddie Rose Foundation has launched onto the world stage. Well, the building materials world stage, at least. Which, from my point of view, is a pretty damn good stage to be on. Like many other industries, the building materials industry is beset by a common problem, that of an aging workforce, nearing retirement, and in desperate need of younger people to come through.
It is, as most of us are only too aware, a fabulous sector, full of potential career development, and some of the best people you could ever wish to meet - I am slightly biased having just come back from a weekend at the NMBS Conference, but it would be true nevertheless.
One of the sector’s greatest strengths - apart from the people - is the sheer variety of career paths it offers, from sales and logistics to product development and marketing, digital technology and sustainability, finance and management.
I am very proud to be a trustee of The Maddie Rose Foundation. This, a development of the Maddie Rose Campaign, which developed initially under the wing of the Construction Youth Trust, aims to help any young person with a passion for building a career in any of the disciplines our sector has to offer. That support will come in many forms, from grants and bursaries to mentoring, work experience and business partnerships. And we’ll be working closely with others across the industry to make it all happen. There will also be opportunities to continue the fantastic fundraising efforts of recent years, as
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EDITORIAL
Group Managing Editor: Fiona Russell Horne 01622 699101 07721 841382
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Production Controller: Nic Mandeville
well as ways to work alongside the Foundation in promoting its aims.
The Maddie Rose Golf Day and Yellow Tie Dinner, with which we launched this second stage of the Foundation’s journey, was a fantastic way to kick-start it all. Magnificent efforts across both the golf and the evening’s entertainment saw so many people digging deep to raise a huge amount which the Foundation can use to fund a range of ways to help young people develop careers in the sector. I’ve written this before, at the launch of the Foundation a couple of weeks ago, in fact, but it deserves saying again. We are only at the beginning of what I hope will be a long, exciting and rewarding journey as we continue to promote, showcase and champion the vibrant, dynamic sector that we all love so much. A sector that is filled with opportunity, where young people can realise their potential and build their futures.
This industry has been very good to me, and it’s a privilege to be able to give something back. I am immensely proud of what has been achieved so far, and I’m so thrilled to be able to play a part in the Foundation’s continuing development. If anyone would like to support us, raise money or use the fabulous logo on anything, please contact the Foundation first. There are some important hoops to jump through, and it all has to be done right, in the right way.
You can check-out what’s happened so far on the website, which also has a handy donation button, should you feel so inclined.
www.maddierosefoundation.org.uk Let’s build this industry’s future, together. BMJ
Fiona Russell-Horne Group Managing Editor - BMJ
8 People Movers and shakers
10 Business Focus Delivery services for the 21st centuary
12 Maddie Rose Foundation The next stage in the industry charity’s evolution
14 BMJ Industry Awards Voting is now open. Have you made the list?
18 Viewpoint
Our guest columnists share their points of view
24 Merchant Focus
How two smaller merchants are developing with the help of NMBS, and NBG
28 Landscaping
A view from the sharp end. BMJ talks landscaping with Travis Perkins
30 Heavyside
The latest developments from fibo UK 32 Timber
Talking all things timber 37 IT
BSS changed systems. We find out why and how
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CIRCULATION
ABC audited average circulation
July 2018-June 2019: 7,801 SUBSCRIPTIONS
UK 1 year: £97 UK, 2 years: £164 Outside UK: one year £113/$204; two years: £196/$353
39 Plumbing and drainage Trends and developments in how we deal with water
42 BMF Industry Voice News and views from the BMF
44 Product News
What’s new on the shelves and in the yard 46 And Finally
BMJ’s Prize Crossword and some news from round and about
June 2026
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 3 “
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. William Butler Yeats
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CONTENTS 4 Newsround
What’s occuring around the sector, from finances to branch development
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