Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has teamed up with JCB to help make training courses more accessible to the Federation’s members in Staffordshire.
The BMF has traditionally held training programmes at its Coventry headquarters. Now the courses are being rolled out across the UK to locations known as ‘BMF Regional Centres of Excellence’ – and JCB has just become the latest such centre.
The first meeting was held at JCB Compact Products, in Cheadle, Staffs and now the company will host further regional meetings and training sessions throughout the year as part of its commitment to the Federation. Courses focus on anything from estimating building quantities to maximising margins.
JCB Industrial Business Development Manager Darren Brookes said: “We are delighted to host the BMF members for training and regional meetings. They are doing a great job of bringing together different elements of the supply chain and we are looking forward to playing our part in the West Midlands area.”
The BMF is the only trade association representing builders’ merchants and suppliers to the merchant industry, protecting the interests of more than 578 merchant and supplier companies, with combined sales in excess of £25bn. The BMF’s 316 merchant members operate from more than 4,800 branches across the UK and the membership employs over 117,000 staff.
BMF Regional Manager Matt Haines said: “This is a fantastic centre and we look forward to holding our West Midlands meetings here, along with training courses for local members. Last year JCB won the inaugural BMF Supplier Engagement Award, given to the member that has most consistently or innovatively engaged with BMF members. Hosting the BMF’s West Midland Centre of Excellence demonstrates its commitment to continuing as one of the BMF’s most active supporters.”
