A momentous year 

by John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF
23 January 2018

John Newcomb, BMF CEO
2018 represents a monumental milestone in the BMF’s history as we celebrate three landmark anniversaries: 110 years as a Trade Body; 40 years as the Builders’ Merchants Federation; and 5 years since we relocated the business from London to our current premises in Coventry.  

To celebrate these landmarks we will be arranging three very special events during our anniversary year.  In the Spring, we will be holding our first Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons.  In the Autumn, we will be organising our first Young Merchants’ Conference.  Finally, in late November we will be holding a special Anniversary Members’ Dinner in the Midlands.  Details of all three major events will be announced in the coming weeks, and we do hope you will join us at one of them.  

While our anniversaries provide an opportunity to reflect on our heritage, the BMF’s focus is firmly on the future.  We begin the year working on two major initiatives – establishing the BMF in Ireland, and launching the first trade apprenticeship designed for the merchant industry by people currently working within it.  
Announced at the end of last year, our partnership with Allied Merchants Buying Association, the fastest growing merchant buying group in Ireland, gives the BMF an excellent foundation on which to build. Expanding into the Irish merchant community will undoubtedly strengthen the BMF. Our new Irish members are keen to create a dialogue with like-minded merchants and potential suppliers, opening another market for our supplier members.  

In another first, the BMF, working alongside the Electrical Distributors Association, jointly championed the Trade Supplier Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard.  To be launched later this month and offered to builders’ merchants through BMF Apprenticeships Plus, it set to become the sector’s primary Level 2 qualification.  It is also the first Apprenticeship designed to meet our industry’s specific needs, and I would like to thank all those who gave their time and energy to ensure it delivers the skills and knowledge needed by our new recruits.    

As a trade body for 110 years, the BMF has seen great changes both in the industry and in our own organisation.  One thing that has remained the same is our support for the industry and, our members, who are at the heart of everything we do as an organisation. 

I wish you all health, happiness and every success in 2018.      



This article appeared in the January 2018 edition of BMN