Parker Building Supplies has enrolled three senior staff members in the Builders' Merchants Federation Foundation Degree.

The move reinforces the merchant's commitment to staff training, and sees the trio undertake their studies within the impressive 'Red Brick' environs of Birmingham City University.

The three staff members enrolled are Bexhill branch manager Steve Reeves; Bexhill assistant manager Leigh Barnes; and Tim Briance, assistant manager at Parkers' East Grinstead branch.

The BMF Diploma and Foundation Degree in Merchanting, to give the course its full title, offers managers and trainee managers advanced leadership development training that is specifically tailored to the needs of the builders' and timber merchant sector.

The programme consists of nine distance working modules, each with its own one day workshop. The syllabus is arranged around the four areas of Managing People, Managing Yourself, Managing Operations and Managing Resources.