The new industry-led charity has been unveiled with more than 200 industry professionals coming together to support future talent in the building materials sector.

The launch of the new foundation coincided with the fifth annual Maddie Rose Golf Day, which welcomed 110 golfers to the Brabazon Course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, before 190 guests gathered for the evening's Yellow Tie Dinner. Together, the events raised an impressive £25,000 to support the Foundation's mission of creating opportunities for young people seeking careers within merchanting, manufacturing and the wider building materials sector.

Established by the industry, for the industry, the Maddie Rose Foundation, presented by the organisers as the next stage in the evolution of the Maddie Rose Campaign, which was established as a lasting legacy to Maddie Rose Hollamby in partnership with Construction Youth Trust, aims to nurture talent, remove barriers to opportunity and provide practical support to young people looking to build rewarding, long-term careers within the sector.

Building on the success of the Maddie Rose Campaign, which has raised more than £160,000 over the past four years, the Foundation plans to expand its reach and impact across the UK, helping young people access education, training and employment opportunities while supporting businesses in developing future talent pipelines.

The Foundation will work closely with merchants, manufacturers, suppliers and industry organisations to deliver a range of initiatives, including:

  • Funding for training courses and professional qualifications
  • Grants, bursaries and scholarships
  • Mentoring and employability support
  • Work experience opportunities
  • Career insight programmes and confidence-building initiatives
  • Connections with employers across the building materials and construction sectors

A key objective of the Foundation is to raise awareness of the diverse range of careers available within the building materials sector, helping young people discover opportunities that offer stability, progression and long-term career development.

The Maddie Rose Golf Day saw participants embrace the event's yellow theme, sporting bright yellow shirts, shorts and Maddie Rose Foundation bucket hats, sponsored by T King Associates.

Golfers competed across a range of challenges including Best Team, Best Individual, Nearest the Pin, Longest Drive, Beat the Pro, Best Dressed Golfer and the ever-popular Yellow Ball Challenge.

Competition winners included:

Best Team

  • Winner: Lords
  • Second Place: Team Knauf
  • Third Place: Minster Insulation

Best Individual

  • Winner: Ricky Coakley (47 points)
  • Second Place: Jamie Herd (46 points)
  • Joint Third Place: Dean Hayward and Craig Egan (42 points)

Longest Drive

  • Huw Wilkes, Team Knauf

Nearest the Pin

  • Tom Drage, Team Holcim

Chris Hemmington-Green was named overall winner of the Beat the Pro challenge, Team Scott Parnell won Best Dressed Golfer, and Team Knauf triumphed in the Yellow Ball Challenge, one of only four teams to retain their designated ball throughout all 18 holes.

Following the golf, guests attended the inaugural Yellow Tie Dinner, where attendees heard from Maddie Rose Foundation trustee Steve Durdant-Hollamby, who shared the story behind both the Foundation and the Golf Day.

The evening was hosted by television presenter Mark Durden-Smith and featured prize presentations, fundraising activities, entertainment, a raffle and auction.

Jamie Pierce, Chair of the Maddie Rose Foundation, said: "The Maddie Rose Foundation began life as the Maddie Rose Campaign, created to honour Maddie's life and legacy, and her passion for promoting careers within the building materials sector and the wider built environment.

"Over the past four years, supported by an incredible steering group, partners and fundraisers, the campaign has raised more than £160,000 and inspired young people to explore careers within our industry.

"The launch of the Foundation marks an exciting new chapter. We are now in a position to expand our activities and develop meaningful programmes that will support the next generation of talent entering our sector. We want to help young people gain new skills, build confidence and access clear pathways into stable, rewarding careers.

"For employers, that means a stronger talent pipeline and improved recruitment and retention. For the industry, it means greater resilience, innovation and a workforce equipped for the future.

"I would like to thank every individual, sponsor and business that supported the Golf Day and Yellow Tie Dinner. The £25,000 raised will help us create opportunities that genuinely change lives while helping to shape the future of our sector."