Training

Sector focused people and skills development

See all live training courses The building materials industry thrives on skilled, knowledgeable people. Whether you're a busy merchant branch serving trade customers or a supplier developing and promoting products across the supplier chain, attracting talent and supporting professional development is essential to long-term success.

We offer four types of training to support all career stages: courses on key industry topics, the flagship IoBM Diploma, flexible online learning, and structured apprenticeships for new starters and those upskilling.

Core Training

IoBM Diploma

BMF Campus

Apprenticeships

Courses

Our courses/training workshops can be delivered in four flexible formats to suit the needs of your business and your people – Bespoke, In-Company, Regional, or Virtual.

Bespoke

We offer fully bespoke training, tailored specifically to your business. We take the time to understand your needs, design a programme just for you, and deliver it with impact. Led by industry experts, our customised training focuses on what matters most to your team – ensuring they gain the knowledge and skills needed to make your teams thrive. Speak to the team to discuss your bespoke needs.

In-company

The BMF provides in-company training courses customised to your business when multiple employees want to train together. These sessions align with our standard course content but are delivered exclusively for your organisation, ensuring a focused and business relevant learning experience. Speak to the team to discuss your company’s needs!

Regional
For individuals looking to upskill, we offer regional training courses delivered at locations across the country. These courses are taken directly from our training prospectus and open to anyone within BMF membership. With delegates from multiple organisations in the room, they offer not only valuable learning but also the opportunity to connect, share experiences and build your professional network.

Virtual

Most of our courses can also be delivered virtually, offering the same high-quality learning in a more convenient and cost-effective format. Whether you're working from home or based across multiple locations, virtual training allows your team to upskill without the need to travel.

See live training courses Merchant prospectus Supplier prospectus Plumbing & heating prospectus

IoBM Diploma

The IoBM Diploma in Merchant Management helps you build the talent you already have, giving your future & existing, supervisors and managers the skills, confidence, and recognition to drive your business forward.

WHO IS IT FOR?

For those in or aspiring to be in a supervisor or branch manager role.

HOW IS IT DELIVERED?

Delivered face to face at a location near you by an industry trainer.

HOW IS IT STRUCTURED?

9 modules including workshops, coursework, handbooks & support.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

Diploma in Merchant Management and membership of the loBМ.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Speak to your BMF Regional Manager or [email protected]

Diploma overview Register your interest

BMF Campus

BMF Campus, developed in partnership with Cortexa, is the specialist Learning Management System (LMS) designed exclusively for the building materials sector. With a growing library of courses crafted alongside industry experts and product suppliers, BMF Campus equips your workforce to perform with confidence and consistency.

The courses cover a variety of topics including:

Industry specific training
Product knowledge
Compliance and governance
Health and safety
Customer service
Sales and negotiation skills
Management and leadership
Soft Skills
Microsoft Office and IT skills
Cyber Security
Wellbeing

Access from as little as £165 per month per month, you’ll gain access to all supplier-commissioned product training, plus the BMF Building Blocks, the core set of industry-specific courses amounting to 70+ hours of foundational building materials training.

BMF Building Blocks

For organisations looking to elevate their training experience further, we also offer a fully branded company LMS with premium features, easy-to-use controls, and advanced reporting.. Our flexible pricing structure lets you pick and mix course bundles to build a platform that fits your needs.

BMF Campus is an ideal solution for us because it provides industry specific training through the supplier and BMF Building Block courses that our staff can complete flexibly.

Craig Reeves, General Manager
Mid-Sussex Timber

Why choose BMF Campus?

Access to bespoke training tailored to the building materials sector
Faster onboarding for new starters
Support your new and existing managers to make the right decisions
Consolidate all training records in one place
Lower risk of compliance disputes
Structured staff development and succession planning
Reduced turnover and recruitment costs
Stronger, more effective sales teams
Enhanced business performance through continuous learning

Find out more

Ready to transform your team’s skills and performance?

📧 [email protected] 📞 +44 (0) 330 024 2881

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships offer a nationally recognised and accredited qualification that combines practical, on-the-job experience with structured learning. In a sector like ours – where product knowledge, customer service, and leadership skills are critical – apprenticeships play a vital role in supporting career progression and closing the industry’s skills gap. They help employers build a future-ready workforce by providing employees with clear development pathways and the tools they need to thrive in their roles.

At the BMF, we are here to guide both individuals and businesses through the process. We can help you understand how apprenticeships work, connect you with one of our trusted training providers, and support you in enrolling onto the right course. Please note that the information and programmes contained are only relevant and available to the area specified. For information about apprenticeships in Ireland and Northern Ireland please contact us directly.

How to get started

1 Explore

Optional: Book an information call with our L&D Manager to find out how apprenticeships work and explore all the options available to you or your business. Book a call

2 Select

Pick a course – use our prospectuses below to help identify the most suitable apprenticeship for your needs or those of your team. England - prospectus Wales - prospectus Scotland - prospectus Ireland and Northern Ireland - coming soon

3 Sign up

BMF Apprenticeship Pledge

We’ve achieved beyond our milestone of 15,000 apprenticeship pledges across BMF Membership, but our mission doesn’t stop here. Every new pledge strengthens recruitment, development, and education in our industry, helping to secure a skilled workforce for the future.

Sign the pledge below and share it with your BMF Regional Manager or email directly to [email protected].

Sign our pledge Apprenticeship success stories

BMF Apprenticeship Partner Providers

LEAP is the official provider of the BMF Apprenticeship support. LEAP stands for Learn as you Earn Apprenticeship Programmes and they have a unique expertise working exclusively in the building materials supply sector. Each programme is designed around the specialist needs of the sector to help all learners reach their full potential. Programmes are delivered by the award winning training team and every apprentice is supported, from day one, by an Apprentice Coach to build their skills, knowledge and behaviours to help them develop their career. Each apprenticeship uses government approved standards and are delivered by industry competent coaches to deliver the exact knowledge, skills and behaviours required in this ever-changing industry.

Find all of our training providers in the apprenticeship prospectus

Interested in becoming an Apprentice?

Learn some top tips for successfully completing your apprenticeship from BMF Learning & Development and Apprenticeship Manager, Marianna Peet.

Discover the hourly rate for apprentices, respective of your age on the UK Government website. Please be aware that these rates will change on the 1 April every year.

View current rates

Success stories

Providing our members the very best industry training has always been a key objective at the BMF. We recognise that highly trained and knowledgeable staff set our members apart from their competitors and in the current landscape. Hear from some of our members who have recently engaged in BMF training.

View our success stories

Want to find out more about training?

We’re here to help you get the most out of BMF training. Whether you're exploring opportunities for your team or looking to develop your own skills, we'd be happy to have a chat about what’s available and what would work best for your business.
Your first port of call should be your BMF Regional Manager, who can help identify the right training options for you. Alternatively, you’re always welcome to contact the BMF Training Team directly.

The BMF support our business by giving us access to first class training for our staff. The management development training is particularly strong and there is no doubt our management team have developed both personally and professionally during their training.

Adrian Shelley, Managing Director
Henshaws Roofing & Building Supplies