Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Builders merchants trade association the Builders Merchants Federation has revealed further details of its virtual Members Conference in September.
The half-day virtual event will take place on 17 September 2020, sponsored by Marshalls/Stonemarket. Up to 300 delegates can be accommodated by the virtual format and delegates must reserve their place in advance.
The Conference theme is Sustaining Excellence – a topic that takes on even more importance as the industry seeks to reset and recover in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
One of the key elements of the day is an hour-long session on Building a Sustainable Britain, featuring the Rt. Hon. John Gummer, Lord Deben, as the headline speaker. Lord Deben has consistently championed an identity between environmental concerns and business sense. He was the longest serving Secretary of State for the Environment the UK has ever had (1993-97) and now Chairs the Committee on Climate Change as well as running Sancroft a corporate responsibility consultancy working with blue-chip companies around the world.
Lord Deben will be joined by Megan Adlen, Head of Sustainability for Travis Perkins. As well as setting sustainability strategy and targets, Adlen leads the company’s responsible sourcing and anti-slavery agendas and manages the Group Environment team. Travis Perkins will publish its own net zero targets before the end of 2020 and is committed to engaging with others in driving change to optimise carbon reduction across the construction industry value chain.
Other elements of the day include the BMF’s Annual General Meeting, industry and keynote speakers and a choice of training and membership services taster sessions.
The BMF will also use the occasion to announce plans for the All Industry Conference 2021, which is set to bring the building materials industry together in person once more.
BMF CEO, John Newcomb said: “Covid-19 restrictions made it impossible for us to go ahead with a hotel-based Conference at the De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor as planned, but we will now hold our 2021 Members’ event there.
“We were determined that our 2020 Members Conference and AGM should continue and I would encourage as many members as possible to attend. We will be using bespoke Conference technology to facilitate our biggest event of the year online, with 300 places available. It may be a new format, but it will still deliver huge value.
“Delegates will also be the first to hear about the ‘live’ All Industry Conference we are currently planning for 2021.”
To find our more and book your place for the BMF AGM & Business Conference on 17 September 2020, contact June.Upton@bmf.org.uk
