NEWS


Builders’ merchants urged to invest in skills and digital in 2022


Investment in recruitment


and digital capabilities will be needed to tackle mounting challenges in the year ahead, according to a poll of builders’ merchants.


Continuing price fluctuations, materials availability and labour shortages were all highlighted as some of the top concerns for suppliers and the construction industry. Cost pressures are already being felt across the supply chain, from stock purchasing and shipping, to fuel and wages – at a time when firms are under growing pressure to become more sustainable.


The findings have been published in a new report, Builders Merchants Share Top


Predictions for 2022 by ECI, a software specialist for building trade suppliers.


Stefano Lebban, director of Herts Tool Company, said firms would need to invest in recruitment and salaries: “As


construction workers


reach retirement age, fewer people are entering the industry to replace them. The growing difficulty of sourcing labour and attracting younger talent is a pressing issue and may impact supply and demand in 2022. Businesses will need to increase their spending on recruitment as well as the salaries of existing staff to secure skills that are in short supply.” Builders’ merchants were also urged to invest in their


at Paving Direct, said: “All businesses need to fully adopt digital strategies that allow them to provide consumers with the products and services they need remotely and in a joined- up omnichannel way.” Andy Scothern, eCommonSense founder at ECI echoed his comments, saying: “While there are always factors outside a business’ control, the past two years have clearly been challenging. “However, there are plenty of examples of forward-thinking builders’ merchants who’ve used e-commerce to tap into high demand for materials from both the trade and public. Using digital tools to develop robust back-office processes is also important since it helps businesses to reduce costs and uncertainty.” To


view the


digital capabilities to reflect changing customer habits, as more merchants invest in their


Draper Tools advent calendar raises £7,000 for Tools for Self Reliance


Family run tool firm, Draper Tools’ 2021 tool advent calendar featured 24 doors of tools to open in the countdown to Christmas. With Christmas being the season of goodwill, the company pledged to donate £1 from the sale of every calendar to the charity Tools for Self Reliance. The calendar was so popular that it raised £7,000, which


was recently presented to the charity alongside an additional donation of £500, made in lieu of sending Christmas cards. Draper Tools has a long- standing relationship with its charity partner Tools for Self Reliance. The charity collects and refurbishes hand tools and sewing machines for training projects in Africa, enabling people to learn a trade and earn a sustainable income. Since


becoming an


official charity partner earlier this year, Draper Tools has been giving its support with fundraisers and tool donations. Fran Weeks, PR Manager at Draper Tools, said the limited- edition tool advent calendar sold out in a matter of weeks. She added: “Recent times have been tough for so many organisations


but especially charities, who’ve faced numerous challenges throughout the pandemic. When the time came to launch our 2021 advent calendar, we all felt it made sense to donate some of the proceeds to our charity partner Tools for Self Reliance, in recognition of the incredible, life- changing work they do. It seems our customers felt the same way – the calendar was snapped up in record time. We’ve been so happy to see the reaction to it and how it’s been helping people countdown to Christmas. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who bought one this year.”


Calendar


The Draper Tools Advent 2021


received


widespread media attention and was named one of the best in the national press.


AkzoNobel marks impressive decade as UK Top Employer


Leading paints and coatings business, AkzoNobel, has maintained its official status as a champion of people by the Top Employers Institute for the tenth consecutive year. Officially recognised as a Top Employer in the UK today, AkzoNobel - home to leading brands, including Dulux, Cuprinol, Sikkens and International - is one of the few business to have retained the title for ten years. The certification showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work, exhibited through outstanding HR practices and people policies. The Top Employers Institute programme certifies companies based on the participation and results of its HR Best Practices Survey. The survey covers areas, including people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, wellbeing and diversity and inclusion.


4 DIY WEEK JANUARY 2022


This year, AkzoNobel in the UK scored particularly well in the areas of business strategy, ethics and integrity, work environment and leadership. Top Employers also recognised AkzoNobel’s diversity and inclusion initiatives as an area of strength. Edward Elliott, HR Director UK, Ireland and the


Nordics at AkzoNobel, commented: “To have been recognised for our focus on colleague development, engagement and wellbeing for ten years in a row is an outstanding achievement that we are incredibly proud of. It shows our continued dedication to making AkzoNobel a brilliant place to work and creating a culture that supports people in their work and wellbeing. This means making every effort to further improve our organisational health and to ensure everyone feels listened to.”


own e-commerce stores, as we have seen in other sectors. Cass Heaphy, digital director


full report,


Builders Merchants Share Top Predictions for


www.ecisolutions.com/en-gb/ blog/builders-merchants-share- top-predictions-for-2022


The Future for International Trade Conference agenda announced


The agenda for the Future for International Trade Conference on 17 March at the Stratford Manor Hotel has been confirmed, together with its keynote speaker, Shelley Boyle, Head of Business Development at online retailer, ManoMano. This popular event


is sponsored by three of the leading trade associations in the garden and leisure, pet product and home enhancement sectors and this year special measures are being put in place to ensure the venue and the day’s activities are Covid-safe. BHETA’s Chief Operating Officer, Will Jones commented: “There is


already significant industry interest in this top-level export conference thanks to the quality of the agenda and the insights, inspiration and practical advice that the speakers will give delegates. As joint organisers and sponsors, BHETA, Gardenex and Petquip are working with the venue to ensure that all necessary safeguards are put in place vis a vis Covid to ensure that the conference is secure and both speakers and delegates can enjoy it with confidence.” Places at the conference can be obtained by contacting any of the organisers, visit www.gardenex.com or www.bheta.co.uk. Members of Gardenex, PetQuip, CHA and BHETA can secure a preferential delegate rate of £69 + VAT per person at the conference. The event is also open to non-members at £149 + VAT per person.


Bira launches new trading platform Neartoo to help indies recover from pandemic


The British calling on


Retailers Association (Bira) is


Independent independent


retailers to sign up to its new online trading site to help them recover from the pandemic. The UK-wide platform, called is open to all


Neartoo, types


of retail and will be owned by indies, exclusively for indies, and will operate at significantly lower sales commission than its competitors. Developed in the wake of the pandemic, which resulted in at least one in five independents closing for good, the nationally advertised platform will be offering indies


the chance to rebuild and grow their business on an easy to use platform designed for them. This platform, Neartoo.co.uk, will complement their physical store and help indies move to a ‘hybrid’ model of retailing. Neartoo also maximizes consumers’ growing thirst to shop locally and independently, guaranteeing that money spent within a community remains there.


www.diyweek.net 2022, visit:


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36