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COMMENT


Yell-ow like you mean it


I


t’s probably a throw-back to school-days, even though mine are way, way behind me, that means September always feels like much more of a new start, a new year, than January 1st ever


does.


It’s a time for fresh, new stationary, for clean, smooth new notebooks, pregnant with possibility, for sharpened pencils yet to be chewed. So much more hopeful than January, with its dark, dank mornings and pointless, last-a-week-if-you’re- lucky resolutions.


September is the time when youngsters of all ages, from the fresh-faced, trepidatious four-year- olds heading for Reception classes to the lanky sixth-formers, lolloping along the road reluctantly, head for school, where their minds will be developed, stretched, tested and engaged. Maybe. Hopefully.


“When I leave school, I’m going to be a builder’s merchant,”. Said very few youngsters ever, apart from the ones with family connections to the sector. “You want to look at the building materials sector if you want a career with great prospects” Said no teacher, careers advisor ever. Not many parents either, if I’m honest, Unless, of course, there’s that family connection again. The industry has an image problem, we know that. In response later this month the BMF is launching its Sector Awareness Campaign, and the Building Materials Careers website, designed to encourage people - young and not so young - looking for an interesting career or career change to consider this industry. It’s been teased for some months now, and will get its full launch on September 19th at BMF Members Day. The following day, September 20th is, of course, Maddie’s Day. You’ll notice that BMJ has once again changed the look of the entire September issue in order to show our support for the Maddie Rose Campaign, using the Campaign’s colours. This


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


Campaign is our industry’s initiative, developed with the support of the Construction Youth Trust, and including people from merchants, suppliers, the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants, buying groups, the BMF, NMBS, everyone who loves this industry, and want to encourage more young people to join it. The Maddie Rose Campaign aims to promote the take-up of apprenticeships schemes, of work experience placements, of attendance at careers fairs, and Hidden Careers sessions. A campaign that, as you know, is particularly important to me, it’s about more than raising awareness, vital though that undoubtedly is. The incredible amount of fundraising on behalf of the Campaign over the past two years is funding real, practical programmes and activities, with schools, colleges and careers departments that bring together companies in the sector and young people, introducing youngsters to the huge variety of roles that this industry can offer. There’s more to come from the Campaign in the next few months, but, for now, the important thing is that we all, once again, on September 20th go all out to support Maddie’s Day. Once again, the campaign is going yellow - Maddie’s favourite colour. Wear whatever yellow you can, as much as you can. Get all your people - employees, friends, families, peers, suppliers and customers - to wear some yellow - preferably a lot of yellow. Plaster pictures of you and your colleagues yellowed-up all over your social media fields. It’s a wonderful initiative, that highlights this amazing industry, and ensures that one of merchanting’s own has a legacy that she would, I hope, be very proud of. For Maddie, with love.


Fiona Russell Horne Group Managing Editor - BMJ www.maddierosecampaign.org.uk





My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite


William Shakespeare


CONTENTS 4 Newsround


The news from around the industry 8 News Extra


The Maddie Rose Campaign enters its next phase.


10 Rising Star


BMJ meets one of the sector’s up-and- coming stars


11 People Who’s moved where and 10 Minutes With…


12 BMJ Industry Awards The finalist listing for this year’ s Awards


14 Business Helpdesk How to deal with sexual harrassment at work 15 Viewpoint


Comment and thought leadership, including a look at wood wool, and packaging legislation.


19 Insulation EWI and retro-fitting insulation issues.


22 Merchant Focus How joining a buying group helped a merchant to expand and develop.


24 Rainwater Management Dealing with wetter Summers and drier Winters


30 Plumbing & Heating The latest trends merchants need to be aware of.


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 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


© 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.


38 BMF Industry Voice The BMF’s own pages bring you all their news


40 Product News


Latest products and developments from suppliers


42 And Finally News and the prize crossword


Special supplement Landscaping


The outdoors is still the in thing. ”


September 2024 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


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