BMF membership

The BMF is the only organisation that represents and protects the interests of builders’ merchants, plumbing, heating, roofing, decorative and timber merchants and their suppliers.  

We are the authoritative voice for the building materials distribution sector, conveying the views and issues that face merchants and suppliers, to the widest possible audience. 

The BMF is the only trade association representing and protecting the interests of builders’ merchants and suppliers to the merchanting industry in the UK. Total membership at 1st September 2019 stands at 701 merchant and supplier companies who together have combined sales of £31.7 bn and employ over 130,300 people in the building materials industry. BMF’s 360 merchant members operate from over 5,057 branches across the UK and Ireland.

Benefits of BMF membership

Become a member


The BMF is the active hub of merchant and supplier activity in the UK working closely with allied industry groups and regulatory bodies such as trading standards and planning departments, to ensure that issues affecting member merchants and suppliers are tackled promptly and effectively. The BMF is an active lobbyist with local and central government in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has an impressive track record of achievements.  

We are totally dedicated to the interests of our members, providing training and professional and knowledgeable support through services such as Credit Insurance Plus, Intelligent Employment Plus, Insurance Plus, Safety Plus, and Transport Plus, as well as organising key events where members can meet and exchange ideas with fellow merchants, suppliers, and leading industry figures. We work continually to ensure that merchants survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive and fast-developing market.  

So whether you are a large or small merchant or a supplier of building materials or services to merchants, then the BMF is the trade association for you.

Benefits of membership


Training and development

The BMF runs a comprehensive range of industry specific and specialist training courses that can be run regionally or “in-company” and are accredited as appropriate to national standards for employees of merchants, distributors and suppliers, from yard staff to company directors. Training ranges from on-line product knowledge to specialist skills training. The BMF also offers apprenticeships through its Apprenticeships Plus Apprentice Training Agency (ATA) and BMF Diploma in Merchant Management for trainee managers. Courses include:

• Apprenticeships and NVQ’s
• BMF Diploma in Merchant Management
• Transport training from CPC driver training to Transport for non Transport Managers
• One to four-day course in general management, staff development, operations, sales and management
• BMF Campus on-line product training
• BMF Building Blocks

The BMF are striving to recruit new talent into the building materials sector in all areas ranging from yard work to sales and from manufacturing to marketing. The BMF has launched a dedicated website www.buildingmaterialscareers.com to promote careers and jobs in building materials and list job vacancies with BMF members. The website is also supported by promotion on social media and the BMF working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus.  


(updated Aug19)

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Membership Types


Select the membership suitable for you from the list below: