Opinion

WernerCo dispels myths around EN131

26 June, 2020

WernerCo helps to ensure tradesmen are equipped with the right information when choosing a ladder

New height restrictions: A potential barrier on the road to net zero targets

The Government's recent consultation on extending the ban on combustible materials to more building types and lowering the height restriction in England from 18m to 11m closed on 25 May. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA) discusses how this ruling if adopted will severely inhibit our ability to decarbonise the UK construction industry.

Ibstock welcomes safe return to work for construction industry

Joe Hudson, CEO of Ibstock Plc, explains why the Government’s latest lockdown announcement signals hope for the construction sector

Mental Health Awareness Week should be cancelled

Lighthouse Club CEO, Bill Hill, believes more companies should engage, accelerate and amplify their efforts to improve workforce wellbeing

How can contractors can plan ahead and work sensibly?

Adrian Buttress, Managing Director at Permaroof, shares his top tips on how traders can continue to work effectively and safely with both suppliers and customers

COVID19 strikes a hammer blow to UK construction sector

Ragene Raithatha Construction & Infrastructure Senior Associate at global legal business, DWF, comments on the CIPS/IHS Markit construction PMI figures for April 2020

Five ways to enhance a garden to add value to the home

Lidget Compton highlights several ways that homeowners can enhance and upgrade outdoor and garden areas to add value to a home

How to keep your business going as a self-employed tradesperson during Coronavirus

City Plumbing Supplies shares a few tips that self-employed builders might want to consider during the Coronavirus pandemic

How do you manage your cash flow in a crisis?

Rick Smith, Managing Director of Forbes Burton, a leading business rescue and recovery consultancy, shares a few key points on how to manage money properly during a crisis such as COVCID-19

Government should use fines money to help construction industry survive

Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, believes the Government should be doing much more to support our construction workforce

2020 will still be a landmark year for Bradfords

As the business marks its 250th year, David Young, CEO of Bradfords Building Supplies, provides his perspective on Covid-19

A new normal for construction sales?

Coronavirus poses an existential threat to construction and merchant businesses like none other in recent history. Addressing ‘old school’ sales strategies is one way for building product manufacturers and distributors to tackle the challenge head on, says Joseph Cox, a construction industry specialist at sales enablement software developer, sales-i.

Practical steps to protect your business and help save lives

Many builders' merchants are leading the fight to carry on trading and protect their staff and customers during this coronavirus pandemic. Digital expert and eCommonSense founder, Andy Scothern, has collected some of the best practical steps that merchants are taking around the UK and Ireland today.

Looming deadline: are you ready for MTD?

Many building and timber merchants are likely to be unprepared for the imminent introduction of the Government's new ‘Making Tax Digital’ initiative for VAT returns, warns Chris Fisher, UK Operations Director at business management software specialist ECI.

The story of a British business – how Marshalls was made in Britain

Chris Harrop OBE is Director of Sustainability and Marketing at Marshalls, traces the proud history of the business and looks at its future.

Specialist composite-decking installers: the benefits for merchants

Indi Sarkaria, Assistant Product Manager at Arbor Forest Products, explores the impacts for merchants of the rising demand for composite decking.

Water! Water everywhere! Flood resistance and resilience made accessible

The increased frequency of extreme rainfall events and consequent flooding means new approaches to flood resistance and flood resilience – namely water entry’ or ‘water exclusion’ strategies – are needed, says Hudson Lambert, Director at Safeguard Europe.

Builders’ merchants face online ticking time bomb

Many builders’ merchants are sleep walking into an e-commerce time bomb, warns digital expert and MD of eCommonSense Andy Scothern.

Winter safety advice for roofers

With temperatures dropping as low as -10 degrees in some parts of the country, Emily-Jane Dix, Marketing Executive for Marley, advises contractors to make sure they are prepared for the freezing conditions.

Tackling the lack of diversity in the merchant sector

Kishor Harsiani, Strategy & Finance Director at the IBC Buying Group, shares his impressions of the recent round-table on diversity in the merchant industry and why he thinks there is a need to consider the issue in the context of wider industry issues.

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