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Training that tackles the skills challenges
facing building materials businesses For building materials businesses, training is most valuable when it solves a problem.
Whether that means helping a new manager lead with confidence, giving sales teams the skills to win and retain customers, or developing the next generation of talent, effective training should deliver more than a certificate. It should help people perform better and businesses to achieve better results.
That is the thinking behind the BMF’s approach to training – focusing on the skills challenges members face and showing how targeted development can help address them.
For example, businesses looking to strengthen their sales performance can draw on a range of BMF programmes covering the skills needed to build stronger customer relationships, improve communication, negotiate effectively and develop commercial confidence.
issue of nutrient neutrality - caused by nitrate & phosphate pollution - that holds up rural housebuilding. Lee Pitcher MP spoke of educating household consumers about network resilience and water conservation. Julia Buckley MP made a case to lobby ministers prior to The Budget to include water efficiency & reuse as tax-deductible under the Capital Allowances Act 2001. George Warren of Anglian Water outlined some early findings from a joint project called “Enabling Water Smart Communities”. The focus is to identify behavioural change and lobby for a change in the law. Current regulations do not allow for greywater or rainwater to be used indoors for non-potable purposes - notably flushing toilets.
This event was timely - coming so soon after this summer’s heatwaves, but there is more work to do as we face further water scarcity.
For managers and team leaders, the focus is different. Developing leadership, communication and people-management skills can help businesses support new managers as they move into positions of greater responsibility, while giving experienced leaders the tools to get the best from their teams.
Whilst for businesses facing skills gaps or planning for the future, structured development can provide a way to grow talent from within; helping employees see a clear career path while building the capabilities the business needs.
The BMF’s training offer spans technical, commercial and management skills, with programmes designed specifically around the needs of the building materials sector.
That sector focus matters. Training is most effective when people can immediately apply what they learn to the customers,
products, challenges and working environment they understand. It also means development does not have to be viewed simply as another cost. The right training can support wider business priorities, from improving customer service and sales performance to strengthening management capability, retaining people and preparing the next generation of leaders. There is also financial
support available to help make development more accessible. The Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants offers grants of up to £2,000 towards the training and education of individuals within the building materials sector. Grants are available to people entering the sector for the first time, as well as those already working in the industry who want to develop their skills and careers. School leavers, graduates, students and apprentices can also apply, subject to eligibility criteria.
Members can speak to their BMF regional manager for more information about the grants and whether they or their employees may qualify.
The BMF’s learning and development team works with members to identify the right approach, whether that means developing an individual, addressing a team-wide skills gap or building a longer-term development pathway. The starting point, therefore, is not necessarily which course should we book?
It is a more fundamental question: what challenge are we trying to solve?
That shift in perspective can make training a much more strategic investment – one that develops people while directly supporting the performance and resilience of the business. For BMF members, the full training programme offers a range of ways to tackle those challenges, with expert guidance and funding support available to help turn skills development into a practical investment in people and the future of the business.
Underfloor Heating and Towel Rail Proposals Prior to his promotion
to Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband MP conducted a
consultation relating to the current
ecodesign regulations for electrically
powered, gas and liquid fuelled local space heater products, 2015/1188 under EU Regulation. The Department of Energy Security & Net Zero sought views on repealing these 11-year old regulations to improve local space heating product standards through updated legislation. The proposals are aimed at:
• Harmonising with newer EU ecodesign regulations, which have applied since July 1 2025
October 2026
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
• Enhancing the efficiency of new products, to ensure that energy is consumed effectively, via minimum product efficiency standards • Promoting the circular
economy concept and a new right to repair to increase product lifespan. Commentators jumped to conclusions about Mr Miliband wanting to ban the sale of underfloor heating systems that use too much energy, along with electric towel rails, gas fires and storage heaters.
The belief is that new energy efficiency requirements will result in more than a third of space heating systems becoming illegal to sell.
Almost half (48%) of all electric underfloor heating currently on the market could be banned, with more than half of electric towel rails likely to be affected. Some towel rails could only be allowed to operate for six hours a day. The Department insisted the ban applies to new sales only. It said the restrictions will force companies to innovate and come up with more efficient designs. But the consultation documents admitted this increased cost to manufacturers will be passed directly on to the consumer in full. The BMF awaits the formal DESNZ response. It looks like officials failed to consider how the proposals would be interpreted outside Whitehall.
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