NEWSROUND BMF scores World Cup winner as Keynote Speaker


Maggie Alphonsi MBE, who helped England win a record- breaking seven consecutive Six Nations crowns and the 2014 World Cup, has been announced as the Keynote Speaker at the BMF Annual Members Conference and Awards in September. During her England rugby


career, Alphonsi became the face of international women’s rugby, representing her country seventy- four times and scoring twenty- eight tries.


Alphonsi was named the Sunday Times Sports Woman of the Year, won the title of Six Nations Grand Slam Winner six times, and was the first woman to


win the Rugby Union Writers Club Player of the Year. Since retiring, she has commentated on live rugby matches for ITV, BBC and Sky and featured in a wide array of media outlets. She is also one of just six female members of the Rugby Football Union’s 56-strong Council. Alphonsi’s presentation,


sponsored by Pimberly, will share her experience as an athlete and team member, performing under pressure, overcoming adversity and working in a male-dominated environment.


BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “Maggie’s achievements, both as a rugby player and beyond, provide valuable lessons in developing resilience, encouraging collaboration, and nurturing a winning attitude.”


The BMF Annual Members


Conference and Awards will be held at the Belfry Hotel and Resort in Sutton Coldfield on September 16 and 17 .


Registrations are open now.


wienerberger to build world’s first electric tunnel kiln


Roof tile manufacturer wienerberger has begun construction on the world’s first fully electric tunnel kiln at its Broomfleet manufacturing site in East Yorkshire. The, ‘Factory e’ project represents a £37m investment in UK manufacturing, with £4.3m funded through the UK Government’s Industrial Energy


Transformation Fund. (IETF). It is die to be completed in 2027. Once operational, the new kiln is expected to reduce Scope 1 carbon emissions from the factory production line by 75%, saving 4,700 tonnes of CO₂ per year, supporting wienerberger’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.


Chief operating officer at wienerberger UK & Ireland, Keith Barker, commented: “The start of construction at Broomfleet represents a pivotal step in our


Russell Roof Tiles invests in Construction College Midlands


Russell Roof Tiles has donated over £6,000 of roof tiles and accessories to Construction College Midlands in King’s Norton, Birmingham. The college offers various construction training courses and qualifications to a defined and industry-agreed standard, from bricklaying to scaffolding and roofing. It currently supports apprentices from across the UK into the roofing contractor businesses,


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many of which work with Russell Roof Tiles.


The donation included Russell Roof Tiles’ Bute3 tile and accessories range, natural range tiles, underlay and ridge tiles. Daniel Hancox, corporate sustainability & development director at Russell Roof Tiles, said: “We want to make a difference to today’s roofing workforce and the future generations. When visiting


the site, the team highlighted their need for roofing materials and full roof compatible systems to demonstrate to the apprentices the importance of getting product choice right first time, and the correct way to use and install these products together.”


journey to decarbonise heavy clay manufacturing. “Factory e demonstrates how electrification can deliver substantial carbon emission reductions while maintaining product quality, operational resilience and long term competitiveness. Alongside our hydrogen brick kiln project at Denton, it underlines our multi technology approach to achieving net zero and our commitment to building for what’s next.”


JELD-WEN to relocate Sheffield operations Timber door manufacturer JELD-


WEN is set to relocate its Sheffield operations to a new purpose-built facility at Bessemer Park.


The move will bring the Sheffield site in line with the Company’s Penrith facility, where targeted investment has already delivered measurable improvements in energy use, waste and water efficiency.


The new site boasts a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating, as well as achieving EPC grade A, helping embed sustainability in the entire manufacturing process.


The building has been designed to reduce energy demand at source, with a supertight building envelope and enhanced glazing to minimise heat loss and air leakage. Resource efficiency will be managed through an air source heating and cooling system to reduce energy demand, while an 8,000-litre underground rainwater storage tank will provide water for the main building’s sanitary use, lowering potable water consumption.


Following suit from the Penrith factory, all forklift trucks at Bessmer Park will be electric, and the new JELD-WEN facility also includes a 100% EVCP ready carpark, along with bike shelters and storage for employees.


JELD-WEN has also opened a third production line at its Penrith factory, increasing capacity by 50%.


Dom Gaffey, vice president and general manager UK, France & Export, explained: “Sustainability was a key focus when looking to relocate our Sheffield facility. At Penrith, we’ve demonstrated how targeted changes to energy use, materials, and processes can deliver measurable results. Bessemer Park, Sheffield allows us to build on this from the outset, embedding greater efficiency across our UK portfolio.”


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2026


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