Architect and television presenter George Clarke will be the Keynote Speaker at the Builders Merchants Federation’s Young Merchants Conference.

The conference will take place on Thursday 11 October during UK Construction Week at the NEC, Birmingham.

Clarke is both a campaigner and an educator and in 2017 founded MOBIE – the Ministry of Building and Innovation and Education –an educational charity working with colleges and universities to train and inspire young people to innovate in the in the design and construction of new homes. Clarke passionately believes that architecture, art and design should be accessible to everyone and has the power to transform and enrich lives.

Whether he is designing a new home, restoring or converting historic buildings or transforming existing houses on television, he recognizes and values the process that enables people to unlock the beauty of where they live. His TV shows have featured everything from brave restorations to new builds on a budget, prefabricated or built from scratch, recycled, vintage or new. If their success has one thing in common it is the value of the team sharing skills and knowledge.

John Newcomb, BMF’s CEO, said: “George Clarke has said that home is the most powerful form of architecture that affects us all, and his MOBIE initiative is designed to encourage more young people to join careers in the built environment and make a difference. His presentation will be a perfect way to close our first Young Merchants’ Conference.”

The BMF Young Merchants Conference, which is one of three special events held to celebrate the BMF’s landmark anniversary year, is free of charge to current members of the BMF Young Merchants group. The conference is also open to anyone aged between 21 and 40 working in the building material supply industry, for a small fee.

For full details and registration information please contact james.spillane@bmf.org.uk