49,000 unfilled vacanies in construction
sites around the UK
25% of homes for sale so far this
year have been new build properties
80% of parents believe apprenticeships are better or equal
value for money compared to university degrees
James Burrell opens new Stockton-on-Tees branch
Independent builders merchant James Burrell opened its biggest depot with the help of design and fitout specialist Filstorage, providing the latter with its biggest single job in its 30-year history. The development – on Whitehouse Innovation Park in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees – sits on a four-acre site and consists of a trade counter and shop, office, warehouse, and yard. It is the biggest depot in James Burrell’s 146-year history and brings the total number of branches operated by the merchant to 11, all in Yorkshire and the North East. Tony Hall, Head of Operations at James Burrell, said: “Filstorage has been our storage partner for
Selco cements jobs boost in Peterborough
More than 30 jobs are set to be created when Selco Builders Warehouse opens its new branch in Peterborough later this year.
The branch will be situated on Padholme Road East and it will be Selco’s 75th in the UK. Recruitment will cover a wide variety of positions, with virtually all the jobs expected to be given to people from the local area. Howard Luft, chief executive of Selco Builders Warehouse, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the unique Selco model to Peterborough, offering tradespeople and businesses the perfect one-stop-shop for all their building materials and products. “Opening a branch in a new
area of the UK is always an exciting project and we look forward to providing a boost to tradespeople in the area. Our recruitment policy has always been to employ people from the branch’s local community and that is continuing here.”
bags, which all now contain a minimum of 30% recycled content.
Rob Richardson, commercial
20 years or so and we always bring them in early on our projects. With this being our biggest project to date, they played an integral part in ensuring it was delivered on time. The plan and timelines
Travis Perkins sets apprentice training target
Travis Perkins has announced plans to train 10,000 apprentices by 2030, to help address a “critical industry skills gap” and develop skills needed to help deliver new homes and infrastructure. CEO Nick Roberts, said: “I am delighted to be announcing this ambitious target to train the next generation of apprentices. Ensuring our country is equipped with the right skills to deliver a greener, more sustainable future for our built environment is essential. “We aim to bring in fresh talent,
improve the diversity of our industry and upskill existing colleagues, at a time when net zero and new safety legislation means the building and construction industry is undergoing its biggest shake-up for more than 30 years.”
Robert Halfon, apprenticeships and higher education minister, said: “This is exactly the kind of initiative which will extend the ladder of opportunity to people from all backgrounds across the country and help them to secure sustainable, fulfilling work. I hope other businesses follow this blueprint for success.”
March 2023
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
they came up with worked very well for us and they delivered on their promises. The project went extremely well.”
The company has also introduced a new design of bulk
Stark choice for Carter
John Carter has joined the STARK Group as CEO of STARK Building Materials,
following its purchase of Saint- Gobain Building Distribution UK. Carter has worked in the building materials merchant and distribution business for more than 40 years. He worked his way from management trainee to Chief Executive Officer of Travis Perkins, a role he retired from in 2019. STARK Group CEO Søren P. Olesen said: “I am pleased to welcome John Carter. He holds significant experience from our industry in the UK. He shares our belief in strengthening the accountability in branches and the business focusing on the professional tradespeople’s needs. These are beliefs that have been powerful in bringing STARK Group back on the growth track. We believe that they will serve STARK in the UK well too. I look forward to working with him and the management team of STARK Building Materials UK to unleash the business’s full potential.”
director said: “Our work with LC Packaging is an ongoing process as we both continue the work to improve and optimise the bulk bags and increase awareness of sustainability, working in a way which doesn’t limit next generations choices or the resources they have available. “Our new bulk bags are just part of our company aim to reduce our carbon footprint. It follows our recent investment of £125k on five new electric forklifts, meaning just under 50% of our fleet has now been converted to electric.”
Final quarter sales slow-down for merchants
Figures for the final quarter of 2022 published in the BMF’s Builders Merchants Building Index found sales through UK builders’ merchants slowing.
Compared with the previous quarter, total sales values in Q4 were -13.9% lower than in Q3 2022. Volume sales dropped by -18.3%, but prices rose 5.4%. With five fewer trading days in Q4, like-for-like sales values, were down by -6.6%. Only three product categories saw an increase in sales value, led by Plumbing, Heating & Electrical which grew by +13.2%. Renewables and Water Saving and Workwear & Safetywear both grew by +7.1%
The largest two product categories both recorded double digit falls, with Heavy Building Materials down by -13.7% and Timber & Joinery down by -16.6%. The seasonal category of Landscaping saw the largest fall as -33.6%.
Across the full year the builders merchants sector saw value growth against 2021 of +6.9%, driven by price growth of +16.2% and a volume decline of -8.0%.
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