The merchant industry has been thrown around since the start of this roller-coaster recession. Just when the ground has stopped shaking and the industry congratulated itself on emerging from dark days in better shape than expected, TP’s bid for BSS had the market entering the half-year with a lurch. Lisa Arcangeli talks to some key players about what the future holds.

The way merchants can train from apprentice to senior management is getting a make-over. Lisa Arcangeli reports.

WARWICKSHIRE: The IBMF, now in its 7th year, is organised by brick manufacturer Ibstock. The event brought independent builders' merchants from across the UK together to discuss industry issues and share concerns to change the future of the sector for the better.

RUNCORN/READING: Progressive Solutions' customer events provided an opportunity for its users to share their views. Main merchant strategies were all about surviving the downturn and gearing up for the period after the recession. IT was cited as a key enabler of that aim.

UK: The traditional North/ South divide is creeping further south as the impact of the recession widens the economic gap in Britain.

When you’re a proactive and pragmatic HR professional with strong strategic and business awareness, stepping into the shoes as president of the Institute of Builders’ Merchants may seem a logical step. Rebecca Mason, the first woman to fill this post, has been preparing for this role most of her working life. Here, she tells Lisa Arcangeli why IoBM is an important conduit between starting out on a career path and progressing to reach fully fledged merchant status

Since Builders' Merchants News published the last edition of Leading Lights in 2009, the market has been through a roller-coaster recession. Here is a snapshot of the aftermath.

After the drama surrounding the hike in the price of MOLs, the IoBM is well placed to set the agenda for the practical training the merchant industry so desperately needs. In the run-up to the organisation’s 41st AGM, Andrew Pine talked to Lisa Arcangeli about why ongoing personal development is vital for the industry.

WEST MIDLANDS: The Institute of Builders' Merchants held its 41st annual general meeting at St John's Hotel, Solihull last month. The event was also an occasion to invest its first lady president Rebecca Mason of Ridgeons Timber & Builders' Merchants. It also elected three new governors...

UK: Now that the General Election is over, the dust has settled on the merchant sector and concerns are starting to emerge. Mike Leonard of Get Britain Building – the UK's biggest coalition of companies and organisations associated with the built environment – is uneasy because he fears that the new Government, like its predecessors, will fail to recognise the building industry for the economic powerhouse it is.

Being part of a national association can be a thankless task. You meet with government minsters and civil servants to champion the cause of your members. If successful, there is nothing to show for it because often it is about stopping government from doing things. Terry Parker talks to Lisa Arcangeli about how the BMF has changed.