NEWS


DIY Week Awards 2023 - Finalists announced and change of venue


After an incredible response from the industry, we are delighted to announce the 2023 finalists who are in the running to win a coveted DIY Week Award, see page 10. The winners will be revealed on Friday 19th May at a special lunchtime ceremony to be held at the prestigious Royal Horseguards Hotel in London. A massive congratulations to all of the 2023 finalists!


The event also has a change of venue for 2023. Our new venue is the five star luxury Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, with the awards taking place within the Gladstone


Library. Visit the following website to find out more: https://www.guoman.com/the- royal-horseguards/meetings- and-events/gladstone-library Our host this year will be comedian, Jimmy McGhie. Jimmy has performed stand up all over the world and appeared on numerous television and radio programmes including the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Comedy Central, ABC Australia, THREE New Zealand, Absolute Radio and many more. He is now a top circuit act in the UK, as well as a highly sought after corporate awards host and TV warm up artist. To be part of what promises


to be one of the biggest events on the DIY trade calendar this year, book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. To


find out more information and book your tickets, visit: https:// diyweekawards.co.uk/book- tickets


Thanks to the sponsors:


Avron/Dekton, Benchmark Retail Services, BHETA, Bira, DK Tools, and Home Hardware.


Radical rethink needed if Britain is to meet annual 300,000 new homes target


Britain does not have the labour force to meet the Government’s target of building 300,000 homes a year by 2025. The traditional housebuilding sector needs to recruit 137,000 more workers just to hit the new homes 300,000 target by 2030 – this means 17,000 new recruits every year, triple the present rate. The current training system saw just 11,000 construction apprenticeships completed last year.


But that isn’t the end of the shortage story. Some 360,000 construction workers due to retire by 2030 must be replaced along with a further 24,000 to complete essential Government


initiatives like remediating unsafe cladding on high rise buildings across the country. The wider construction industry’s labour force also needs to find a way to retrofit homes to meet the government’s net zero targets, which will require 220,000 new workers by 2030.


Modular homes can deliver factory-built houses with 50% fewer workers from a different pool of employees – and are 40% more productive than


traditional builds, according to Make UK Modular, the voice of the modular housing sector. Factory-made houses target


a different pool of workers with the skills to work in precision manufacturing. The skills needed are easy to learn on the job with in-house training, and efficient assembly line processes mean modular house builders use 50% fewer workers to construct the same number of homes. Steve Cole, Director Make


UK Modular said: “To address the issue of labour shortages which is now at critical point, Government must help modular to grow at speed and take advantage of the fact modular can build homes quickly but also homes which are efficient to heat and run.”


Read the full report here https://


www.makeuk.org/home/insights/ reports/2023/03/23/who-will-be- the-builders-modulars-role-in- solving-the-housing-labour-crisis


Thierry Garnier, Group CEO of Kingfisher, Elected President of EDRA/GHIN


The European DIY Retail Association (EDRA) and Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN) have announced that Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher, has been elected as the President of EDRA/GHIN. Erwin van Osta, owner and CEO of the Belgian DIY store chain Hubo, has been voted


OBITUARY: Richard Block


Richard Block, co-founder of B&Q, died on February 19 2023, he was 80.


His involvement in the DIY trade came about in the late 1960s, because he was unhappy working in market research for the pharmaceuticals company Warner Lambert. “Every year they seemed to make 10% of the staff redundant,” he recalled years later. “I was 27, and I thought I needed something else to do.” His brother-in-law David Quayle was also restless in his job with Marley Tiles, which owned a chain of traditional town-centre


4 DIY WEEK APRIL 2023


DIY shops. He had seen the new out-of-town self-service DIY stores which had opened on the continent, and he was keen to try the concept in Britain. He asked Richard to join him in the new venture; “and I didn’t need much persuading.”


The first Block & Quayle store opened in a former cinema in Southampton in March 1969, and was an instant success. Although the initial trading style was Block & Quayle, the business quickly became known solely by the initials. B&Q also pioneered seven-day trading, despite the


Sunday trading law.


Former B&Q chairman and CEO Jim Hodkinson, who joined the business as a store manager in 1972, remembered Richard Block as “a lovely guy – very supportive. He listened to people, didn’t try to push his own ideas. He always made time for you, and was very happy to help others.” Block is survived by a daughter and two sons.


to take the position of Deputy Speaker of the Board. Garnier, who joined Kingfisher in September 2019, is an experienced, international retailer having spent 20 years in senior roles at Carrefour. During his time at Kingfisher, he has driven the development of the retailer’s digital and omnichannel


capabilities, accelerated the Group’s responsible business and sustainability agenda; and, continued to develop and expand its banners’ store portfolio, including the recent opening of Screwfix stores in France.


Commenting on his appointment, Thierry Garnier said: “EDRA/ GHIN is a great


international network, bringing together home improvement retailers from all over the world. I am honoured to have the opportunity to represent this fantastic industry, which plays a unique role in helping our customers improve their homes and their lives. We share a common passion about the positive difference we can make.”


BHETA to partner Glee show with BHETA / Bira village


BHETA is to partner with Glee and Bira to create a BHETA / Bira Village at Glee 2023 (NEC, 27th-29th June), which will include DIY suppliers alongside garden brands. The Village will contain a variety of stand sizes and will provide an ideal way for Glee exhibitors old and new to access this leading trade exhibition. BHETA members can enjoy discounts on the regular cost of space at the show. BHETA’s Sector Manager for DIY and Garden, Keeley Vernon explained: “I am delighted to see an opportunity for DIY suppliers to join their garden counterparts exhibiting at Glee this year. “DIY Home brands will have a great opportunity to meet with


retailers from independents to the likes of Homebase, B&Q and Wickes.”


Bookings can be made via the BHETA website or by contacting Reena, rc@bheta.co.uk, from the BHETA Member Services team.


www.diyweek.net


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