Lakes, the manufacturer of showering spaces, has appointed Beccy Ashmore as sales admin manager. Based at Lakes’ head office in Tewkesbury, Ashmore will oversee the internal sales team, ensuring smooth and efficient communications between customers, the sales admin office and external sales team. The investment is part of Lakes’ ongoing …

West London-based Lords Builders Merchantshas bought fellow h&b buying group member Kings Langley Building Supplies Limited (KLBS Ltd). KLBS Ltd operates from three sites in the home counties – Kings Langley, Aylesbury and Watford – and has been owned by Jim Rance and his wife Marie since  1978. This acquisition …

South Coast Building Supplies, member of independent builders merchant buying group  h&b, has joined the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF). Formed in August 2008, South Coast Building Supplies is now one of the leading independent merchants operating across Dorset and Hampshire.  With 75 members of staff, the company currently trades from …

The BMJ Industry Awards is returning for 2019 to celebrate the very best brands, merchants and people at the heart of the builders’ merchants sector. This year the Showroom category has been split into two: Merchant Kitchen and Bathroom Showroom of the Year and Merchant Showroom of the Year, while …

Ask me my three main priorities for government, and I tell you: education, education, education. Well it was always a big ask I suppose. The 3 million apprenticeships that the Tories promised in their manifesto. Turns out that the actual number is likely to be somewhat south of that. In …

Radiator manufacturer Stelrad has expanded its low surface temperature range to include a number of extra protection versions – the LST i Plus Xtra Protection – following the success of the Compact Xtra Protection range designed especially for rooms with high humidity. The Xtra Protection radiators benefit from an additional …

Regent Half Tiles  were among a number of  products from roofing manufacturer Redland used on the refurbishment of a block of 30 apartments in Caterham, Surrey. The very low pitch of the roof, just 16o, and the need to match the existing tiles visually was behind the choice of the …

The UK construction market was higher in July 2018 than in June, showing the fastest increase in residential work for just over two-and-a-half years. That’s according to the latest seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®). New business was up, which increased employment levels and confidence, and, …

Construction activity significantly picked up in the second quarter of 2018 as the industry began its catch-up of work lost due to delays related to the Carillion collapse and severe weather conditions in the early part of the year. That’s according to the Construction Products Association’s latest Construction Trade Survey for …

Radiator manufacturer Stelrad has added a number of new radiator products and extended existing ranges. Additions to the Vita Deco and Plan range and the Softline Deco, Plan and Column ranges include the Vita Deco Plan Concept and the Softline Deco Plan Concept which will from now on be available …