Features

Actis celebrates International Women’s Day

6 March, 2026

Actis will be marking International Women’s Day, on 8 March, by celebrating the achievements of some of the female members of its team across the UK.

EDI: Bridging the confidence gap can help to “Balance the Scales”

The Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC) is using “Balance the Scales”, one of the UN's themes for International Women’s Day 2026, to highlight ways women in building materials can bridge ‘the confidence gap.’

The importance of a regional service for national merchants

Nigel Morris, National Sales Manager of West Fraser, discusses the benefits of merchants choosing suppliers that can deliver in smaller loads.

The truth about Thinner Leading Edge roof tiles

Russell Roof Tiles separates fact from fiction to prevent confusion for customers.

Investing in skills: the power of apprenticeships in securing the future of construction

Permavent highlights the work of Technical Manager Graham Copson whose career has embodied the power of education and apprenticeships in shaping the future of construction.

Ensuring your supply chain is CSR compliant is a commercial necessity

Robert Bennett, Head of Sales and Marketing for Rearo, examines how the commercial procurement landscape as shifted towards more responsible practices.

Cleaning mistakes to avoid to keep hi-vis reflective

The winter months and their wet and cold weather bring many challenges to the construction sector and its workers, with one of these being the need for extra workwear maintenance, says Adam Halewood, Head of Sales at Clothes2order.

Fixing the disconnect between sales and marketing

Practical fixes discussed by senior leaders includes things manufacturers and contractors can apply without big budgets: clearer ownership, faster follow-up expectations, and a simple feedback loop so teams know what’s converting and why.

Data driven fire door safety

Sue Corrick, Product Marketing Manager at Allegion UK, reviews the expanding role of digital information in building safety and how its use is transforming fire door hardware from passive fire protection to an active data source.

Trends for the construction sector in 2026

Zander Muego, Director at consultancy Thomas & Adamson, part of Egis Group, shares his thoughts on what might lie ahead in the short term for construction.

Rising to the challenge of extreme weather

As extreme and unpredictable weather becomes more frequent, Russell Roof Tiles is urging the construction sector to factor the changing climate into roof design from the specification stage.

Powering a new generation of building material resellers

Stephen Jones, Sales Director at NBP, reflects of customers' changing purchasing habits and how a new distribution model is emerging.

Beyond the traffic lights

Luke Brooks, Senior Commercial Manager Specialist for Packed Products at Tarmac, explores what the Government's new ratings reveal about the pressures facing the local road network and why potholes are a symptom of deeper, long-term challenges.

DAB Pumps urges merchants to prioritise compliance when selecting domestic circulating pumps

The company is encouraging all stakeholders in the supply chain to carry out due diligence.

Building careers in the merchant industry

Just over a decade and a half ago, David Harger walked into Harris & Bailey as a 16-year-old on work experience, clueless about the difference between a tee and an elbow. Recently made Sales Director, he reflects on his experience as a newcomer and offers some thoughts on how merchants can make the industry more inviting to young people.

The future for carbon negative building materials

West Fraser discusses the ecological challenges facing the construction industry, and how they can be mitigated by the use of carbon negative materials.

Rodo marks 100 years in business

Rodo has announced the celebration of its centenary as a fourth generation, independently run family business.

What will 2026 look like for UK new build?

Eurocell presents its assessment of the UK new build landscape as we move into 2026, following another year defined by economic pressure, complex regulation and an absence of policy certainty.

The seasonal rise in demand for portable heating

Winter always exposes the weak points in heating systems and this year merchants are seeing installers feel the strain earlier than expected.

Roofing sector remains resilient as market prepares for renewed growth

Paul Duffy, Managing Director of Onduline Building Products, discusses the challenges and opportunities shaping the roofing market over the past year, and where the sector is heading in 2026.

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