The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has won the ‘Membership Success of the Year Award’ and the ‘NCFE Skills Development Award’ at the 2015 Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards.

The awards, which aim to reward excellence and promote best practice among UK trade associations, were given at a ceremony hosted at the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre UnderGlobe in London on 9 July, 2015.

In the last two years the BMF has grown its membership by over 45%, an achievement recognised by the first award. The professional development prize was given in view of the Federation’s promotion of a career working with merchants and building materials manufacturers, supported through academic qualifications and skills training.

BMF managing director John Newcomb said: “This is the first time the BMF has competed for a best practice award amongst our trade association peers and to win two of the three awards that we were nominated for came as a wonderful surprise. This is an achievement that the entire team will take pride in as they have all contributed to the BMF’s success.

“[The BMF] will continue to build on this success to support our growing membership with services that help them to succeed in their markets.”

BMF vice chairman Stewart Pierce said: “This is the first time that the BMF has won an award of any kind, and it is a tribute to the professionalism of the whole team. I am delighted their hard work has been recognised.”

More than 250 guests were in attendance at the event, including BMF chairman Peter Hindle MBE, vice chairman Stewart Pierce and the BMF head office team.