Tim Wood, Editor of Builders' Merchants News, highlights what the industry's leading trade magazine has offered over the past 12 months and looks forward to a very exciting 2026 for Team BMN – a year that will be like no other.

On behalf of the entire Builders' Merchants News team, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our thousands of readers, our advertisers and our sponsors for their unwavering support during the past 12 months.

Your magnificent backing has contributed to 11 issues of Builders Merchants News, three supplements on roofing, AI and a focus on the Institute of Builders Merchants, two Builders' Merchants Awards brochures – launching the event and displaying the winners – the Builders Merchants Federation’s All Industry Conference guide - and a souvenir brochure highlighting the Top 100 Young Achievers.

The coming year is primed to be even bigger and better. A joint round table with the BMF focusing on skills, training, and raising awareness and attractiveness of the building materials industry is already in the diary, and three more in-depth discussions on renewables, AI, and water management in the pipeline. And as always MRA Research has chosen to partner with BMN with myself chairing its annual BMBI round table towards the end of the year.

It doesn’t stop there! BMN will once again be offering unrivalled coverage of every BMF event in 2026 and publishing full reports on NMBS events – such as the Exhibition in April, the All-Industry Conference in Alicante in June and the Dinner Dance in October.

In addition to the above, BMN will be reaching two significant milestones in 2026 – celebrating its golden anniversary as a publication, while the Builders Merchants Awards turns 25. In light of this, the latest in the Top 100 series, our joint initiative with BMF, will see Top 100 Presents - 50 companies over 50, rewarded for their longevity at The Belfry on 14 May 2026. Nominations are still being sought before the 31 December deadline, and all the details can be found at www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/nomination/top100presents 

The Builders' Merchants Awards at the Park Plaza Westminster on Friday 27 November, will also be commemorating its quarter of a century, but this year’s lunch will continue with an after party until 8pm. Sponsorship opportunities are available and details on how to get involved are at: www.merchants-awards.co.uk/sponsorship/sponsorship-opportunities/ 

Details of the many events throughout 2026 feature in the BMN Year Planner that was posted out with the November issue. Again, thank you to all companies that supported this; all slots were snapped up straight away. BMN is extremely excited about the next 12 months and looking forward to once again providing the best coverage possible across every platform to remain the leading trade magazine in this wonderful building materials industry. On behalf of the whole team, may I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2026.