BMF Burns Night raises record sum for charity INDUSTRY
VOICE
The BMF raised £13,000 for its charity of the year Band of Builders, at its annual Burns Supper held in Edinburgh in January. This was a record sum for the event, and the largest single contribution to a fantastic total of £32,500 raised by the BMF for the charity over the last 12 months.
The BMF’s Burns
Night celebration, which commemorates the life and
works of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, is its biggest annual event in Scotland with
BMF forecasts downturn in material sales in 2023
With continuing uncertainty affecting the UK economy, the latest Forecast Report from the Builders Merchants Federation (Winter 2023) highlights the expected impact on building material sales.
The BMF correctly forecast annual builders’ merchants’ sales growth in the region of 6.7% in 2022, but price inflation was the main driver here, with sales volumes falling back to pre-Covid (2019) levels.
There are signs of the market worsening during the coming year as the Chancellor’s measures to counteract recession may further
reduce consumer spending power. Price inflation is set to continue through the first half of 2023 before gradually slowing, while sales volumes are likely to drop below 2019 levels.
Given this scenario, the BMF’s baseline forecast predicts negative growth of -1.6% in 2023 over 2022.
As the pressures of inflation begin to settle in the latter half of 2023, the market is expected to return to growth, with average growth forecast at 2.1% in 2024. Thomas Lowe, BMF Industry Analyst/Economist said: “Persistent price inflation throughout 2022
over 300 people attending this year.
Guests enjoyed the traditional piping in and and addressing of the haggis, by piper Rob Tait, before Nick Boyle, Sales Director of Jewson Civils and Frazer, gave the address to the Lassies and Lucia Di Stazio, Group Marketing Strategy & Communications Director, Encon Group, replied for the Lassies. Nick also did sterling work compering the
caused a roller coaster of monthly growth for builders merchants. Unfortunately, that growth was a by-product of price hikes rather than units sold. The cost of living crisis is expected to last through 2023 and the pressure of inflation is still evident. Providing that the Spring Statement from the Chancellor does not drastically change the picture, we anticipate dipping into negative growth in 2023 before the market begins to recover in 2024.”
John Newcomb, BMF CEO added: “With so much volatility surrounding the general economic picture there is considerable uncertainty forecasting demand for core markets such as domestic repair, maintenance and improvement work and housing, where higher mortgage rates
night’s live auction to boost the funds raised for charity.
John Newcomb, BMF CEO said: “Once again the BMF’s Scottish region has organised a fantastic event. Our thanks go to sponsors Velux, Talasey, Northstone, Stonemarket, Clark Drain, West Fraser, Aliaxis and Fakro for their generous support, and to everyone who helped to raise such fantastic sum for the Band of Builders.”
and the end of the Help to Buy scheme are expected to slow new sales. Other areas of construction, however, continue to see strong demand, particularly for industrial, commercial, infrastructure and government projects.” The BMF Forecast Report combines a comprehensive analysis of merchant market performance from July 2014 to November 2022, taken from the Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI), coupled with analysis of key factors affecting builders’ merchants’ sales to project future sales in 2023. It is supplied free to BMF members and priced at £250 for non-members. Contact Thomas Lowe, BMF Industry Analyst/Economist at thomas.
lowe@bmf.org.uk to request a copy or if you have any questions.
BMF meets MPs in National Apprenticeship Week
The BMF was in Parliament again last month to attend a ministerial meeting arranged to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. Kevin Hollinrake MP (Minister for Enterprise & Small Businesses) spoke for the Government - with Brett Amphlett and Kerry Wilson representing the BMF.
Unused Apprenticeship Levy payments was a recurring theme from both employers and training
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providers. Such contributions had gone straight back into HM Treasury and were therefore lost for taking on new staff. The Minister acknowledged this was unhelpful in today’s tight labour market, and noted calls to turn the Levy into a more flexible, broad- based training & skill levy. The BMF had the first question and we asked about the stigma towards technical education or
educational failures, not their own children. Mr Hollinrake agreed this was a common belief among parents, and said all MPs have a role to play to bust this myth and to encourage more young people to take an apprentice to ‘earn and learn’.
vocational training perpetuated by parents who see apprenticeships as being for kids who are
APPGs are a good way for us to reach politicians. We spoke to MPs from North London, Suffolk and North & South Yorkshire.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2023
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