COMMENT
Survive until ‘25... or ‘26
T
his time last year, there was one phrase on a great many lips in this sector: Survive ‘till ’25. The tail-end of 2023 was looking so dire, that 2024 could only ever be something of holding pattern. All everyone needed to do was sit tight, pull in their belts another notch, and hang on until 2025 when things were bound to get better.
For a while, it looked like it was working. After all, we had a General Election in July. That meant that the shiny new Labour administration would be able to put all its ideas into practice. It would be able to kick start the building sector properly, by shaking up the outdated, overly bureaucratic planning system, building 1.5m new homes, in particular “the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation”. It would prioritise the development of previously used land wherever possible, and fast-track approval of urban brownfield sites, and even build on the more unlovely parts of the green belt. It also promised to implement a new Warm Homes Plan, investing an extra £6.6bn over the next Parliament, doubling the existing planned government investment, to upgrade 5m homes.
So, it all looked really quite swell, and hopeful. Then we had the Budget. Although there may have been a glimmer of help with the continued freeze in fuel duty, employers National Insurance rises, plus the increase in Minimum Wage and Living Wage are going to impact businesses big time, before they even open the doors in the morning. It means that prices are going to rise. Not necessarily in this sector – at least not just on the back of this – as merchant customers who can get their heads around price increases from manufacturers being passed on are not always so understanding when it comes to the merchants’ own business costs, but in others. Sainsburys and M&S have already warned of food prices increasing
CONTACTS Builders Merchants Journal
Datateam Business Media London Road Maidstone Kent ME15 8LY Tel: 01622 687031
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
EDITORIAL
Group Managing Editor: Fiona Russell Horne 01622 699101 07721 841382
frussell-horne@datateam.co.uk
Assistant editor Will McGill 01622 699185
wmcgill@datateam.co.uk
Production Controller: Nic Mandeville
again. Rises in the general cost of living have an impact on household budgets and consumer confidence. As we know, it’s that consumer confidence that gets people spending. So, how’s that Survive ‘till 25 working out then? That said, house prices are at a record high again, which is good for making some people feel richer, and bad for those trying to get onto or move up from, the first rung pf the property ladder. But the BoE cut interest rates last week (November 7th), and that always helps.
Then of course, there are global issues at play which could well cause all sorts of problems. Look how the cost of living here rocketed when Russia invaded Ukraine. Think how much of the UK’s exports go to the USA. If President-elect Donald Trump (it hurts to type that) does add at least 10% tariffs on all imported items to the States, that will have repercussions. It’s too soon for me to even contemplate what might happen if his promised ending of the war in Ukraine ‘in 24 hours’ happens in Putin’s favour.
Rampant inflation and the economy is behind the Republican victory. People voted with their pockets, in sufficient numbers - just over 50% of the popular vote - to swing it. Trump has promised to sort out the economy, reduce domestic taxes, to deport undocumented migrants, and cut climate change regulation.
Yet one of the biggest issues affecting the US is one that’s not really been mentioned. Last year deaths from the opioid fentanyl outranked those from traffic accidents and gunshots in the United States. If Trump can sort that crisis, then he could end up in the history books as the Redeemed One, rather than the Blustering Orange One. We can but hope. And it is only four years. BMJ
Fiona Russell-Horne Group Managing Editor - BMJ
“
I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. Maya Angelou
”
CONTENTS 4 Newsround
What’s happening around the industry this month
8 News Extra
Baxi expands its training options to tackle the skill shortage.
10 Meet the Future
Our latest Rising Star talks to BMJ about their journey so far
11 People
Who’s moved to which company, and 10 Minutes With…
12 Business Helpdesk Looking at energy options with the BMF’s providers.
14 Viewpoint
Our regular and guest columnists look at the latest issues.
18 Merchant Focus
Plumbers merchant Duftons is expanding out of Yorkshire
20 Kitchens
What’s trending and new in the heart of the home
24 Heavyside Focus Drainage, Insulation and Roofing issues tackled
32 Heating ADVERTISING
Group Sales Manager: Dawn Tucker 01622 699148 07934 731232
dtucker@datateam.co.uk
Media Account Executive Morgan Borthwick-Hunter mborthwick-hunter@datateam.
co.uk
01622 699126
Publisher: Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk © Datateam Business Media Ltd 2024
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic or mechanical including photo-copying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written consent of the publisher. The title Builders Merchants Journal is registered at Stationers’ Hall. Suppliers have contributed towards production costs of some photographs in this issue.
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
Electric heating is on the rise 33 Hardware
In ironmongery terms, apparantly black is the new black
34 BMF Industry Voice News and views from the BMF
36 Product news
The latest launches and products from suppliers
38 And Finally News and our Prize Crossword
November 2024
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
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