NEWS


DIY Week Awards 2026 finalists announced


After an incredible response from the industry, we are delighted to announce the 2026 finalists that are in the running to win a coveted DIY Week Award, see page 10. The winners will be revealed on Friday 22nd May at a special lunchtime ceremony to be held at the prestigious De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Huge congratulations to all of the 2026 finalists!


Back by popular demand, our host this year will once again 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


New B&Q Tradepoint Barking store now open


B&Q TradePoint has opened its first standalone flagship trade store on Ripple Road in Barking, creating over 30 local jobs.


The 32,000 sq ft store has been designed exclusively for trade professionals and offers 6am opening, 15 minute click and collect, load and go collection, same day delivery in as little as two hours and next day bulk delivery. TradePoint Barking stocks


more than 5,500 products to take away, with a further 25,000 available for collection or delivery, including trusted trade brands such as Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita and Johnstone’s


Fix Radio secures


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


Thank you to this year’s sponsors: Avron/Dekton, BHETA, Bira Direct, Burg- Wächter, Daley Hub, Draper, and Home Hardware.


AWARDS 2026 DIY


Trade, alongside B&Q’s Erbauer and Site ranges. The store also features two cutting saws for timber and plasterboard cutting, paint mixing, Speedy Tool Hire and dedicated trade business development managers to support customers in store and online.


Leading builders merchant Jewson will launch a brand- new purpose-built branch in Alnwick this May, creating new jobs and offering thousands of extra products and materials for local builders and tradespeople. The new site at Lionheart Enterprise Park South opens on Monday 4th May, where a larger team with expertise across all areas of the trade will be ready to welcome and help local builders and tradespeople source all the products they need for their projects, and all available under one roof.


The new Jewson Alnwick branch has a brew station serving free tea and coffee for customers,


seven ARIAS nominations


Fix Radio, the Builders Station, has secured seven nominations at the 2026 ARIAS, including Radio Station of the Year and Radio Times Moment of the Year. The national commercial station continues to build momentum in the UK radio industry, with recognition spanning programming, social impact and live event coverage. The Bald Builders Breakfast has been nominated for Best Music Breakfast Radio Show for the second consecutive year, following a silver award in 2025.


4 DIY WEEK APRIL 2026


Kingfisher appoints Non- Executive Director to board


Kingfisher has announced the appointment of Eve Henrikson to its Board of Directors as a Non- Executive Director, effective 1 September 2026. Henrikson is currently Senior


Vice President of Trips at Booking.com, responsible for the expansion and growth of travel beyond accommodations, overseeing global teams including strategy, commercial, product and technology. She was previously Regional General Manager for Uber Eats, leading the Uber Delivery business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and prior to that, held various roles at Tesco, including Managing Director, Online.


Henrikson is also Non- Executive Director at Sonae, a Euronext listed portfolio business, and holds an MBA from London Business School. Commenting on Eve’s appointment, Claudia Arney, Chair of Kingfisher’s Board, said: “Eve brings significant expertise in managing consumer-facing digital enterprises across the retail and technology sectors. Given the strategic importance of e-commerce to our business, we are delighted to welcome someone of Eve’s calibre and experience to the Board. “We look forward to her contributions to the work of the Board as we execute our strategic priorities.”


New jobs and expanded product range at purpose-built Jewson Alnwick


as well as a drive-in loading bay, extended range of timber products stored undercover, a dedicated bathroom selection centre, paint-mixing facilities and a bigger product range.


Customers will also be able to benefit from Project Estimator, an estimating service from Jewson that is available at the branch. It helps builders and tradespeople save time in the planning stages of their projects, to win more work and save money on materials.


WEEK


Fleetwood paints joins BHETA


Fleetwood Paints has joined BHETA, further strengthening the association’s supplier community and expanding its network of manufacturers serving the home improvement sector. Fleetwood Paints is an independent, family-owned coatings manufacturer with a legacy dating back to the 1950s. Originally established in brush and painting accessory manufacturing, Fleetwood expanded into paint production in 1979 and has since developed into one of Ireland’s best-known paint and decorating supply businesses.


Serving the needs of the decorating trade and specialist retailers, Fleetwood supplies a broad range of interior and exterior paint systems, water- based trim finishes, primers and problem-solving coatings, alongside an extensive portfolio of decorating accessories. Fleetwood also supports professional colour specification and accurate in-store matching through the Colour Perfect tinting system, helping merchants and paint stockists deliver repeatable results at scale. The company’s approach is built around long-term relationships with the trade: practical innovation, responsive service, and products designed to perform in real-world conditions.


Crown Paints and XPO Logistics deepen strategic partnership


Crown Paints, part of The Hempel Group, is accelerating its logistics and supply chain transformation in partnership with XPO Logistics, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable end-to-end supply chain solutions across Europe. In the first year of this collaboration, XPO Logistics and Crown Paints have delivered measurable operational improvements, cost efficiencies, and a significantly enhanced customer experience across Crown’s key warehousing UK hubs in Darwen, Lancashire, and Hull, Yorkshire.


This partnership has already delivered tangible innovations,


including the modernisation of picking and packing processes and a dynamic labour planning tool that enables smarter scheduling. These advances support greater responsiveness during seasonal peaks and improved service reliability for Crown Paints’ customers. The operational warehouse footprint has also been optimised through collaboration across XPO Logistics’ broader network.


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