BMF welcomes the new Prime Minister's commitment to Get Britain Building Again

 

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has welcomed the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister and called on the new Government to make housing delivery an immediate priority.

BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “The confirmation today of Andy Burnham MP as the Prime Minister should provide fresh impetus into reviving the housing market to Get Britain Building Again.

"It has been widely reported that the Prime Minister wants to see the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period.

“This is welcome news for BMF members and, if delivered, will help begin to narrow the gap between housing demand and supply.

“But coupled with that must be urgent action to support private housebuilders who face rising costs, higher taxes and increasing regulatory pressures. Involvement of smaller firms is critically important to get anywhere near the 1.5 million new homes target that Labour set just two years ago.

“Ministers should use all available powers to foster a viable, functioning house-building market.

“Encouraging SMEs back into the market to do what they do best - build a few homes, in many locations, to a high standard, in keeping with local surroundings, that people want to buy - ought to be a top priority for the Burnham Government.

“Only last Friday, the latest official figures showed that an estimated 392,400 homes have been delivered since July 2024. This means it has taken two years to exceed what was intended to be an annual target of 300,000 homes.

“There remains significant work to do if the Government is to meet its housing ambitions, and we look forward to working with the Housing Minister to help deliver the new homes the country so desperately needs.”

The BMF has consistently called for measures to stimulate housebuilding, warning that continued policy, tax and regulatory pressures have contributed to weaker demand across the construction supply chain.

The Federation's Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) for May 2026 reinforces the need for urgent action.

National sales volumes of building materials were down 5.8% in May 2026 over May 2025, and down by 1.4% in April 2026.

The figures underline the continuing slowdown in construction activity and demonstrate why renewed confidence and investment in both public and private housebuilding are essential to restore growth across the sector.

Representing more than 1,020 merchant, supplier and service companies with combined sales of around £52 billion and employing almost 209,000 people, the BMF says the industry is ready to manufacture, distribute and supply the materials needed to support a significant increase in housing delivery, provided the right policy framework is in place. 

2027 BMF All Industry Conference fully booked

The 2027 BMF All Industry Conference in Marrakech has sold out completely, just five weeks after details of the event were announced.


With 475 delegate places already reserved, including a record number of merchant bookings, the conference has reached maximum capacity. Reservations have officially closed. However, the BMF has opened a waiting list for those who have not yet secured a place.


BMF CEO John Newcomb said:


“It comes as no surprise that next year’s conference has attracted such strong early support. Regardless of how the market is performing, the conference provides a vital platform for industry connection, insight and shared direction.”


The BMF All Industry Conference takes place in Marrakech from 10-13 June 2027, under the theme Connecting Ideas, Creating Tomorrow. BBC TV presenter Gethin Jones returns to host the conference for the third time, having previously overseen proceedings at two of the BMF’s most successful conferences: Budapest 2017 and Dubrovnik 2019.


Merchants or suppliers who haven’t yet secured a place at the 2027 BMF All Industry Conference should email [email protected] to be added to the waiting list.


The BMF thanks its headline sponsor, Marshalls, and key sponsors ACO Technologies, BMN, ForgeFix, GenetiQ, Keystone Group, Klipboard, Knauf, Knauf Insulation, Marsh Industries, Polypipe Building Products, Siniat and Velux. For full information on the Conference, please visit www.bmfconference2027.co.uk

BMF shortlisted for Best Trade Association Award

The BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) has been shortlisted for the Best Trade Association Award for the second consecutive year in the prestigious Memcom Excellence Awards, which recognise innovation and creativity in UK Trade Associations and Professional Membership Organisations.


Best Trade Association is one of two Memcom category nominations the BMF achieved this year. The 2025 BMF All Industry Conference in Barcelona was also shortlisted for the Best Non-Celebratory Event Award.


This is a significant achievement as the Memcom Awards attract a huge number of entries from a diverse range of membership organisations, from professional bodies and trade associations to learned societies and charities.

BMF CEO John Newcomb said:


“We are once again honoured to see our efforts recognised by our peers in the membership community. Our goal is to ensure that our members gain real value from their membership, and I am proud that the dedication of the entire BMF team has been acknowledged with our nomination as the Best Trade Association.


“I am also delighted that the impact of the BMF All Industry Conference has been recognised in these Awards. It exemplifies the BMF’s role at the heart of the industry, creating a platform for collaboration that extends beyond day-to-day business interactions.”


The Award winners will be announced on 24 September 2026 at a ceremony in London.

Six shortlisted for BMF Training Company of the Year

The BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) has announced the six companies nominated for the BMF Training Company of the Year 2026 title. They are Lawsons (Whetstone), MD O’Shea & Sons, MGM Timber (Scotland), Pagets Builders Merchants, Robert Price Builders Merchants and Tippers.


The shortlisted companies were nominated by the BMF’s Regional Managers, who work closely with members in their regions to satisfy training and other service requirements


Lawsons has demonstrated a strong commitment to staff development by creating a training plan that includes both online and face-to-face components, including External Sales, Key Account Management and an in-company IoBM Diploma in Merchant Management group. This programme is an ongoing initiative to ensure branch staff are equipped with the skills, tools, and knowledge needed to perform at optimal levels. While the training spans various areas, it places a strong emphasis on aligning with business objectives, Lawsons’ company values, and the needs of its people.


MD O'Shea & Sons has made an outstanding commitment to developing its team this year. They have used the Essential Sales programme to improve sales capability across the business, and enrolled colleagues from all three branches on Stock Management and Excellence in Customer Service training programmes. Their investment in learning and development is helping to build a more knowledgeable, customer-focused, and commercially successful workforce.


MGM Timber (Scotland) has been nominated for the second year, continuing to demonstrate a strong commitment to learning and development by providing training opportunities to the majority of its workforce. From counter to yard staff, and through to developing the next generation of leaders within the business, MGM Timber invests in its people to ensure they have the skills, knowledge and opportunities to succeed. The company values both the high standard of BMF courses and the results achieved in its branches through the training.


Pagets Builders Merchants’ Learning & Development programme has been driven by their Director of Finance and Commercial, Richard Poole, who has worked with the BMF to

deliver a programme of relevant courses for teams across the business drawn from the BMF Training Prospectus. These include Sales, Margin, Customer Service and Managing Stock & Controlling Shrink, amongst others. Having already seen an improvement on their bottom line as a result, Pagets is stepping up its programme with a cohort of colleagues starting on the IoBM Diploma in Merchant Management in September.


Robert Price Builders Merchants, last year’s winner, continues to invest in its people to ensure colleagues are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in an evolving marketplace. Following recent acquisitions, the importance of a structured and scalable training strategy has become even more critical. Over the past 12 months, this has included bespoke programmes covering Internal Sales Management and Sales Excellence in Plumbing & Heating, as well as How a House is Built, AI for the Building Materials Sector and Using Social Media.


Tippers has worked closely with the BMF to develop its bespoke “Tippers Way” training programme, which has already been rolled out to 50% of its sales team. The in-depth programme encompasses both sales and leadership training, aligned with the company's operations. In addition, Tippers uses the Cortexa online platform along with regional courses such as the Warehouse Supervisor Toolkit, People Management and Stock Control, to upskill its teams. The company also actively seeks new talent and uses apprenticeships to nurture newcomers to the industry.


Commenting on the nominations, BMF CEO John Newcomb said:


“Training plays a crucial role in helping merchants develop colleagues at every stage of their careers. The six companies nominated by BMF Regional Managers have each demonstrated a strong focus on learning and development, with positive results evident throughout their businesses. All are highly deserving contenders for this Award, and I wish them the very best of luck.”


The overall winner will be announced at the BMF Members’ Day Awards Dinner, which takes place on 17 September 2026, after the BMF Members’ Day Annual Conference.

The BMF Annual Members Conference and Awards will be held at the Belfry Hotel and Resort in Sutton Coldfield on 16 and 17 September. Members can find more information and book their place at https://tinyurl.com/yvtmvpmc