The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) concluded an exceptional fundraising year at its Members’ Conference and Awards in September.

The event, which attracted a record number of attendees, saw over 400 attend the Conference and more than 300 at the Awards Dinner, raising £22,500 – the highest amount ever generated at this occasion.

This brings the total amount raised in 2025 to an impressive £91,000, to be shared between two charities: Variety, the Children's Charity and The Educational and Frontier Trust (TEFT), which supports the education of marginalised children in Kenya.

During the gala dinner, the BMF celebrated the achievements of BMF Members and individuals working in member companies with its annual awards. The winners were: 

  • Young Merchant Achiever of the Year
    Winner - Louise Parkes, Collier & Catchpole
    Silver Award – Curtis Wherry, Bradfords Building Supplies
    Bronze Award – Craig Smith, Building & Plumbing Supplies
  • Young Supplier Achiever of the Year
    Declan Taylor, Fernco
  • Young Service Achiever of the Year
    Jamie Pierce, Agency53
  • Marketing Excellence Award
    Helen Kirby, Resapol
  • BMF Apprentice of the Year
    Ja'ul Alam, IBC
  • Best Performing Student, IoBM Diploma in Merchant Management
    Simon Wood, Illingworth Ingham
  • Best Performing Online Student, BMF Building Blocks
    Mark Osborne, BJ Mullen
  • BMF Honorary Achievement Award 2025
    Chris Hayward, NMBS
  • BMF Sustainability Award
    The Pallet Loop
  • BMF Training Company of the Year
    Robert Price (Builders Merchants)
  • BMF Most Engaged Merchant Member of the Year
    Harlow Timber Group
  • BMF Most Engaged Supplier Member of the Year
    Knauf Insulation
  • BMF Most Engaged Service Member of the Year
    Klipboard

The BMF has been raising funds for the two charities at industry events throughout the year, with further donations arising from the BMF/First Event Dragon Boat Race and the BMF's participation in the Pavestone Rally.

The BMF also announced that it will support the Maddie Rose Foundation, in its first year as a Registered Charity, as one of its two charity partners for 2026, and continue to support TEFT.  

BMF CEO, John Newcomb said: "I would like to thank everyone who contributed to an incredible year of fundraising, helping us reach one of our highest totals ever to share between two special charities. In particular, thanks go to the companies that donated the extraordinary live auction items and excellent raffle prizes for our Awards Dinner, as well as to all those whose support at the event demonstrated remarkable generosity.

"Looking ahead to next year, with the Maddie Rose Foundation joining as a new charity partner supporting young people coming into our sector, alongside our ongoing support for TEFT's educational initiatives for vulnerable children in Kenya, we want to build on the momentum of 2025. Our goal is to unite BMF members and industry partners to raise awareness and funds for these two very worthy causes, making a tangible difference in our communities and beyond."