By John Newcomb, BMF CEO
10 December 2019

As I write, we are in the midst of electioneering for the country’s first December general election in almost 100 years. While Brexit will, of course, play a large role in people’s voting preferences, there are many other areas where we would like to see our next Government take action.

The BMF’s Parliamentary Innovation Reception took place just before parliament was dissolved. Meeting with MPs across the political spectrum, we were able to shine a spotlight on the building materials sector’s investment in innovation and the contribution this makes to the country’s economy.  And we will continue to represent our members’ interests no matter which party the country elects.

We will work with the next Government to harness the current investment in innovation within the building materials sector, to help to deliver the jobs and growth that we will need in a post-Brexit economy.  

For example, action is needed to narrow the gap between housing demand and supply, including encouraging SME’s back into the new build market through improved availability for finance on decent terms.  Bold steps are also needed to simplify and speed up planning approvals.

Action is also needed to improve thermal performance and reduce energy demand in existing homes. Household energy efficiency should be a national infrastructure priority, with improvement incentives paid for from general taxation. 

However, we are concerned that current policies promote a move away from UK manufactured materials to offsite and modular homes where the raw materials are almost all imported.If not managed carefully this could result in the long-term demise of a very important UK based industry and the loss of the multiplier effect to the circular economy.

Going Digital

With more business being carried out online, the BMF has teamed up with the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA) to support and promote an initiative to provide a standard digitised format for technical product data, so it can be easily used within any digital sales platform.

The ETIM Classification Model is a tried and tested model that has been adopted by manufacturers and wholesalers in 13 major countries in continental Europe and by the USA and Canada.The UK has lagged behind other leading markets in its recognition of the importance of structured data in the supply chain. However, the ETIM model was adopted by the EDA two years ago as a ‘must’ for the digitisation of the UK electrical installation market and they are well down the route to full implementation. 

In addition to the electro-technical sector, the ETIM model encompasses Plumbing & Heating products and Building Materials. These three sectors will be operated by ETIM-UK, a joint-venture between the BMF and the EDA, with the BMF acting as sector lead for Building Materials and Plumbing and Heating. 

The BMF will begin the process of implementation from January 2020 and has engaged David Bate, who performed a similar role for EDA, as Project Manager. He will lead a number of ETIM Standardisation Working Groups where product specialists will pool their expertise to refine and anglicise the ETIM Standard for the UK market.

If you would like to know more about ETIM, or to be involved in one of the working groups, please get in touch with me directly at [email protected]


This article appeared in the November/December 2019 edition of Builders Merchants News