Forterra, is celebrating International Women’s Day (8th March) with HR Director, Shahbaz Idriss, who recently appeared in the Cranfield School of Management Women to Watch list. International Women’s Day recognises the achievements already made and the continued need to support women and underrepresented groups to have fairer opportunities. This year …

The Fareham branch of the independent distributor Encon and Nevill Long, is the latest to become a Fire Protection Centre, adding to the business’s growing network of fire protection branches. This latest development means nearly half of Encon’s nationwide branches are now dedicated centres, supporting customers on projects across the …

Builders reveal a very limited impact of consumer price inflation and rising cost of living on their current and future workload according to a survey by largest group of independent builders merchants in Southern England. The extensive survey by the Independent Builders Merchant Group, IBMG, of small to medium sized  builders reveals continued …

Keylite Roof Windows (Keylite) has appointed John Magee as its new Area Sales Manager for the Northwest of England and North-Mid Wales, to help increase sales for northern builders’ merchants and contractors. With his eyes set firmly on growing what is already one of the most successful regions for Keylite, …

The BMF has confirmed that David Berry, Chairman of the Fortis Merchant Group and MD of C&W Berry, and Mike Ward, Territory Director UK and Ireland at Wavin will take part in the Industry Forum, at the BMF All Industry Conference, in Istanbul in June. An accountant by profession, David …

Bricklaying apprentices gathered recently at Lewisham College to compete in Forterra’s third annual London Apprenticeship Challenge. The contest saw 12 London-based apprentice bricklayers compete in teams of three to show off their newly learned skills through a selection of challenges. Conor Willis for Lee Marley achieved first place for his …

England football legend Stuart Pearce has cut the ribbon on a new decorators’ merchant store in Hammersmith. Pearce, who represented England 78 times including nine as captain, was the star attraction as Leyland SDM opened the store at 137-139 King Street. It is Leyland SDM’s 33rd store. Leyland SDM has …

Building products manufacturer, Forterra, has donated £800 to Ashraf Nayel, a PhD student at Imperial College London to progress his research. Ashraf began his PhD in June 2021 under the supervision of Dr Christian Málaga-Chuquitaype and Dr Lorenzo Macorini in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to create a …

A merchant specialising in suspended ceilings and drylining, Pertonstore, is the latest recruit to the h&b Development Group, to help the business to grow and offer a broader product selection to its customers in Farnworth near Bolton. Pertonstore is a true independent builder’s merchant owned and run by the Wroe …

With continuing uncertainty affecting the UK economy, the latest Forecast Report from the Builders Merchants Federation (Winter 2023) highlights the expected impact on building material sales. The BMF correctly forecast annual builders’ merchants’ sales growth in the region of 6.7% in 2022, but price inflation was the main driver here, …