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World Mental Health Day: top tips to share image
World Mental Health Day: top tips to share
9 October, 2025
Health and safety consultant Safety Group offers advice for employers across the building materials industry to help employees.
Host named for 2026 NMBS Conference image
Host named for 2026 NMBS Conference
Award winning TV presenter Jake Humphrey will be in charge of the eagerly anticipated event at Spain’s Costa Blanca next June.
NMBS still supporting Troy members six months on from the business’s closure image
NMBS still supporting Troy members six months on from the business’s closure
The buying society has carried out a Net Promoter Score assessment, which shows what the new customers make of the change to NMBS.
Jewson community outreach strategy donates funds, skills and knowledge image
Jewson community outreach strategy donates funds, skills and knowledge
Jewson is supporting local communities across its branch network, helping to train the next generation of construction workers and donating funds and skills to initiatives around the UK.
New BMF report sets the standard for trade customer experience image
New BMF report sets the standard for trade customer experience
The Builders Merchant Branch of the Future, a report sponsored by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), is designed to set new standards for the trade customer experience for the next decade.
P&H merchants July value sales still rising, but volumes are down, finds PHMI image
P&H merchants July value sales still rising, but volumes are down, finds PHMI
The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report show total value sales for July 2025 through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were up +4.1% compared to July 2024. Volume sales dropped -2.1% though, while prices rose +6.3% year-on-year. There was no difference in trading days.
Murdock opens its first Home Centre, in Antrim image
Murdock opens its first Home Centre, in Antrim
Murdock Builders Merchants has opened its first-ever Murdock Home Centre, in Antrim, marking a new chapter for the company.
Forgefix’s Bessemer Park facility becomes BMF Centre of Excellence image
Forgefix’s Bessemer Park facility becomes BMF Centre of Excellence
ForgeFix has announced that its new facility at Bessemer Park in Sheffield has officially been named a Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) Centre of Excellence.
Report finds a quarter of tradespeople plan to retire in next five years image
Report finds a quarter of tradespeople plan to retire in next five years
The UK is facing a growing trade skills shortage, with one in four tradespeople planning to retire within the next five years, according to Screwfix’s 2025 Voice of the Trade report.
Building costs to increase by 15% over next five years, forecasts BCIS image
Building costs to increase by 15% over next five years, forecasts BCIS
Building costs will increase by 15% over the next five years to 3Q2030, while tender prices will rise by 16% over the same period, according to the latest construction forecast data from the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS). New work output is expected to grow by 18% between 2025 and 2030.
Newport builders’ merchant family take on Cardiff half marathon for cancer charity image
Newport builders’ merchant family take on Cardiff half marathon for cancer charity
Family-run builders merchants J&A Phillips, located in Newport, is celebrating the efforts of business owner Michael Birch and his son Jonathan, who completed the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday 5th October.
Alsford cycling team raises over £10,000 for charity image
Alsford cycling team raises over £10,000 for charity
Staff from Alsford Timber & Builder’s Merchant have raised over £10,000 by completing a cycling challenge.
UK construction output falls at slowest pace for three months image
UK construction output falls at slowest pace for three months
The latest Construction PMI report, for September, shows that the downturn in construction activity may be slowing down as it was the least marked since June.
Genuit Group acquires Davidson Holdings image
Genuit Group acquires Davidson Holdings
The purchase complements Genuit Group’s existing portfolio and strengthens its position in the UK Repair, Maintenance and Improvement market.
Stark UK opens its den to building material innovators image
Stark UK opens its den to building material innovators
This October, Stark Building Materials UK (Stark UK) is inviting contacts from businesses and individuals who are developing solutions that could help the trades and the wider building industry.
LBS group welcomes "robust balance sheet" in 2024, despite slashed profit image
LBS group welcomes "robust balance sheet" in 2024, despite slashed profit
LBS group has published its accounts for 2024 that show a significant fall in profit despite sales growth.
City Plumbing reports surge in heat pump training with regional disparities image
City Plumbing reports surge in heat pump training with regional disparities
New research from City Plumbing shows how plumbers and heating installers across the UK are stepping up to meet the demand for low-carbon heating.
City Plumbing to offer low-cost solar training for installers image
City Plumbing to offer low-cost solar training for installers
City Plumbing has announced subsidised solar PV training in conjunction with renewable energy training specialist, GTEC Training.
IBMG goes pink to support Breast Cancer Now image
IBMG goes pink to support Breast Cancer Now
IBMG has announces the launch of ‘Project Pink’, a new initiative aimed at raising funds and awareness for Breast Cancer Now.
Jewson report reflects growth of sustainability market image
Jewson report reflects growth of sustainability market
New research from Jewson suggests more than half (54%) of builders and tradespeople are winning more work by offering services linked to sustainability.
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OCTOBER 2025

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