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Shortlists announced for BMF Young Achievers & Marketing Awards


The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has announced the shortlists for its 10th annual Young Achiever Awards, and for a new award for Marketing Excellence, which is presented in association with the Worshipful Company of Marketors.


The BMF Young Achiever Awards are open to anyone under 35 working in either a merchant or supplier business who has excelled in their role and made a recognised contribution to the success of their organisation. Six people have been shortlisted for the Young Merchant Achiever


Award: Nathan Arthur, IBMG Zoe Harvey, Bradfords Building Supplies Lauren Penney, Chandler Material Supplies Cameron Smith, Mathewson & Rosemond Charlie Smith, NMBS Joe Smith, Haldane Group (GE Robinson) Four people have been


shortlisted for the Young Supplier Achiever Award: Ben Farrington, Bostik Anneka Helgesen, ACO Technologies Ryan Lockwood, Fernco Laura Perrett, Wrekin The new BMF Marketing Excellence Award is open to merchant, supplier or service members and recognises


individuals whose marketing ideas and implementation have enhanced their business. Four people have been shortlisted for this Award: Claire Briars, E Tupling Elaine Gilligan, Kilwaughter Minerals Rebecca Range, Terratruck Group George Wright, Ox Tools.


BMF CEO, John Newcomb said: “Congratulations to all those who have earned a place on these shortlists. I wish them all good luck in the Awards, and I’m sure every one of them will go on to even greater success in their careers.”


Building Materials Price Growth is Slowing


Figures released by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) in its latest Plumbing and Heating Merchants Index (PHMI) confirms that price growth remains a factor


in driving the rise in annual sales value, as year-on-year volumes are down.


There are, however, signs that price growth is slowing. Quarter 2 2023 v Quarter 2 2022 Overall Q2 2023 saw a +3.9% increase in sales values compared to the same period last year, with no difference in trading days. However, growth stemmed entirely from higher prices (+7.2%) as volume was -3.0% lower than Q2 2022.


Quarter 2 2023 v Quarter 1 2023 Total value sales in Q2 2023 were -12.0% lower than in the previous quarter. This was a combination in reduction in volume sales, down by -8.9%, and prices falling by -3.4%. It should be noted that there were four less trading days in the most recent quarter, therefore like-for-like value sales, which take


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trading day differences into account, were only -6.1% lower in Q2. Last 12


months Volumes have held steady over the last 12 months, Plumbing & Heating


Merchants value sales in the period from July 2022 to June 2023 increased by +8.4% compared with the previous 12 months. The result is a combination of prices increasing by +9.1% and volume falling by just -0.7%. Taking account of one less trading day in the most recent 12 month period, like-for- like value sales were +8.8% higher. The data for the PHMI is taken solely from P&H specialists, including City Plumbing Supplies, James Hargreaves Plumbing Depot, Plumbfix, PTS, Williams & Co, and Wolseley, who form part ofGfK’s Plumbing & Heating Merchants Panel, and there is no overlap or double counting between the PHMI and the BMF’s established Builders Merchants Building Index which analyses sales at generalist merchants.


The winners will be announced at the BMF Annual Conference and Awards Dinner on 21 September 2023.


The BMF thanks our Award Sponsors: Mannok (Young Merchant Winner), E Tupling (Young Merchant Runner Up), The Encon Group (Young Merchant Bronze Award) and Epicor (Young Supplier Winner) and The Worshipful Company of Marketors (Marketing Excellence Winner).


Energy Performance Certificates in Scotland


The Scottish Government has begun a consultation on reforming Energy Performance Certificates to seek views prior to new regulations and legislation. The proposals cover residential and non- residential buildings where the content, metrics & methodology are different and not comparable.


Scottish ministers believe the existing ratings and metrics used to compile EPCs are no longer appropriate to (a) encourage improvements in the fabric of buildings and


BMF DIARY DATES


Please check the BMF website at www.bmf. org.uk for all the latest news and events updates in this ever-changing environment.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2023


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