Rewarding Commitment
by Richard Ellithorne, BMF Membership Services Director
29 October 2019
The
BMF continually looks to improve and expand the range of courses on
offer to support members in developing their teams’ skills and
knowledge. Indeed, BMF training is one of the top five reasons members
give for joining. The BMF Awards Dinner in September recognised two
merchants who have shown exceptional commitment to this training in
nurturing the talent that will take the merchant sector forward.
This year’s BMF Training Company of the Year is Howarth Timber and Building Supplies, with Dumfries Timber Company taking the Honorary Achievers Award.
Howarth
Timber and Building Supplies demonstrated their support for team
development with a training programme encompassing both formal and
informal routes. For a company with just over 30 branches, Howarth has
no fewer than 15 team members undertaking the BMF Diploma in MerchantManagement course, which equips candidates with key managerial skills
that they can immediately apply back at work.
Howarth
also has 22 apprentices supported by the BMF Apprenticeships Plus Levy
Management Service and has purchased 100 BMF Building Blocks modules to
introduce them to the intricacies of life in a builders’ merchant. The
online training programme builds into a comprehensive guide both to the
industry and the products stocked and sold.
In
addition, Howarth encourages team members to build knowledge through
informal routes, participating in BMF’s specialist Forums, including
Timber, Plumbing & Heating, Bricks, Blocks &
Landscaping and Marketing, and attending key events including the
recent Conference in Dubrovnik and the first BMF Young Merchants
Conference in 2018.
Their rounded approach makes Howarth well-deserved winners of the 2019 BMF Training Company of the Year Award.
Honorary Achievers Award
Operating from three branches, Dumfries
Timber is one of the BMF’s smaller merchant members but they have
consistently punched above their weight in developing their team. They
are the only BMF member in Scotland to have participated in BMF training
programmes in each of the last six years. Training
extends across every level of the business from Apprenticeships to the
BMF Diploma – with two team members within each of these programmes.
Dumfries Timber also utilised BMF’s two and four day courses,
including the Yard Foreman’s Toolkit, How a House is Built, the Margin Improvement Programme and Management Training. On a pro-rata basis
they have consistently provided more BMF training per employee than any
other member in their region and are extremely worthy winners of the
Honorary Achievers Award.
Young Achievers
The
BMF Awards Dinner also celebrates the achievements of Apprentices and
those taking the next steps up their chosen career ladder.
Nathan Jones of South Coast Building Supplies, BMF Apprentice of the Year Level 2. Nathan
is undertaking a Trade Supplier apprenticeship through the BMF ATA.
After 6 months in the warehouse followed by 6 months on the trade
counter he has shown professionalism in both areas. He has also embraced
independent learning, seeking opportunities to enhance his knowledge
and improve performance, including enhancements to the trade counter
showroom.
Tom Savage of Wyckham Blackwell, BMF Apprentice of the Year Level 3. Tom’s
apprenticeship as a Business Administrator has involved some
challenging tasks but he has retained a positive attitude to his studies
throughout. Described by colleagues as a pleasure to work with, he is
organised, hardworking and embraces every opportunity to learn and meet
targets.
Finally, Jane Axford of Tamar Trading was named Best BMF Diploma Student, while Cameron Clarke of Longwater Supply is the best BMF Building Blocks Learner.
Congratulations to all BMF Award winners.
BMF
training ranges from formal Apprenticeships and sector-specific
Diplomas and a Foundation Degree in Merchant Management, to on-line
product knowledge and other specialist skills training. To find out more
about any aspect of BMF training, contact [email protected] or on 02456 854980, or click here
This article first appeared in the October 2019 edition of Professional Builders Merchant (PBM)