Apprenticeships blaze a new trail  

by James Spillane, BMF Training and Development Manager
16 January 2018
BMF Apprenticeships

The BMF starts the year on a high note, with the launch of a brand new, industry specific Trade Supplier Apprenticeship Standard that is set to become the sector’s primary Level 2 qualification.  

This is the first apprenticeship to be designed by the industry, for the industry.  It was developed as part of the government’s Trailblazer initiative, which encourages groups of employers to work together to create apprenticeships for their own sector. This will ensure that people have up-to-date workplace skills that are fully relevant to their business. In this case, the employers were mainly drawn from members of the BMF and the Electrical Distributors Association, who require similar workplace skills.   

Trade Supplier Apprentices may work on the trade counter, or specialise in other roles in the merchant trade, including sales, purchasing account management, logistics and administration. 

Some fifteen training providers have been signed up to deliver the new apprenticeship across the UK. It will be offered to builders’, timber and plumbing merchants through BMF Apprenticeships Plus, the BMF’s Apprenticeship Training Agency. It will also be eligible for funding under the new Levy system.  

John Henry, Director of BMF Apprenticeships Plus said: “This employer-led qualification will give young people entering the industry an excellent grounding in merchanting and will raise the bar in terms of skills and knowledge at an early point in their careers.  Having been in close communication with many businesses it is clear that the merchanting sector has been waiting for this new apprenticeship and I am confident of a significant take up by employers wishing to recruit and train new entrants and existing colleagues.”  

To find out more about the Trade Supplier Level 2 Apprenticeship standard please contact me at [email protected] or on 02456 854980.    

Championing skills and service

The BMF actively promotes merchanting as an excellent career choice for young people, but we recognise that our sector is often overlooked in this digital age. Which is why we were delighted to support the Travis Perkins Apprenticeship Skills to Service Challenge last November.  

For three days, the company took over the F1 pits at Silverstone, used by both the British F1 and MotoGP Grands Prix, to put 135 of their apprentices through a series of practical business simulations that tested their technical knowledge, customer handling ability and sales skills.  

Louise Powell, Head of Education & Learning at Travis Perkins plc explained: “Holding ‘customer world’ practical simulations helps our apprentices to increase their knowledge and skills in a safe and controlled environment.  Having the chance to hold this exercise at the Silverstone F1 pits was a unique opportunity, that gave our apprentices the perfect setting – that champions precision, attention to detail and efficiency – to learn in.”  

John Stephenson, BMF Regional Manager, who advised Travis Perkins and presented the winners’ prizes said: “This was a great event that generated a lot of interest across local and social media. Not only is it a fantastic way for apprentices to demonstrate their skills and develop team working, it also showcases the breadth of career opportunities available within our industry.” 

The BMF would like to hear about other innovative training initiatives planned for 2018. Please contact me at [email protected] or on 02456 854980. 


This article appeared in the January 2018 edition of Professional Builders' Merchant (PBM)