Professional Builders Merchant December 2022

Fo r t h e long term

Fol low ing t he p olit ic a l tur moi l of re cent mont hs, it has b e en a bless e d relief to w r ite a Vie wp oint column t hat just may not b e completely out of d ate b efore t his issue re aches your desks (or inde e d, imme di ately as I hit ‘ s end’) A lt houg h w it h Jeremy Hunt deliver ing his Autumn Budget just a fe w d ays af ter we go to press, p erhaps I shou ld not fe el to o over conf ident g iven w hat happ ene d t he l ast t ime a chancel lor l aid out his f inanci a l pl an for t he count r y

The febrile nature of Westminster politics at present means it is a topic probably best avoided, however it is well worth returning to the corridors of power to ruminate on the discussion points of the BMF ’ s Annual Parliamentar y Reception which took place in late October

Under the theme of “Levelling Up Towards Net Z ero ” , the event showcased “the best of British manufacturing and product innovation” from attending BMF Suppliers whilst highlighting the long standing BMF aim to “improve the energ y and thermal performance of buildings… (whilst) demonstrating our supply chain is integral to improving sustainability and to decarbonise homes, electrif y heating and create purposeful jobs in ever y region ”

In particular, the BMF called on new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to act on the C onstruction Leadership C ouncil’s National Retrofit Strateg y which “would create 500,000

new jobs across the UK and help achieve the countr y ’ s Net Z ero ambitions by 2050 ”

BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “Soaring energ y bills have focused attention on the need to insulate our homes and the National Retrofit Strateg y is a 20 year programme to upgrade 29 million to make them warmer, greener and cheaper to run. Its success will require long term cross party commitment, but it sits well with the Conser vative’s Levelling Up agenda, and with Labour’s aim for a fairer, greener future ”

He added: “Modelling shows that if the current Government invested just over £5 billion by the end of this Parliament, it would unlock £11 4 billion in private capital investment over this period, and the programme would more than pay for itself ”

As we discuss later in the issue, in the face of exorbitant bills, the consumer appetite for energ y efficient improvements is higher than ever before. And given the parlous state of both the economy and the environment, the

financial case for action and investment must surely now be beyond question

Furthermore, as also outlined in these pages, making the right sustainability upgrades such as Selco’s investment in solar panels to power its branches, as seen on this month’s cover goes well beyond the eco argument and translates into almost instantaneous cost efficiencies.

We’ve written relentlessly about the need for bold and ambitious plans, working in harness with the existing construction supply chain to deliver the eco revolution that will minimise bills and maximise the return on investment for homeowners, businesses and, not least, the planet itself And at a time of near crisis for the nation’s finances, can it be too much to hope that the Budget you will all have now seen will be more than a traditional tax and spend sleight of hand and will instead really start to lay the essential building blocks that are needed to deliver a brighter, more sustainable future for all

?

“In the face of exorbitant bills, the consumer appetite for energy-efficient improvements is higher than ever before. And given the parlous state of both the economy and the environment, the financial case for action and investment must surely now be beyond question.”

N E W S U P D AT E

Parting of the ways

Special K

Kilwaughter Minerals has officially opened its new £200,000 training academy, specially developed to promote excellence in the industry and address the skills gap facing the construction sector The centre in St Helens, Merseyside will be branded the K Academy and the facility will initially be accessible to customers across the K Rend and K Systems brands, with programmes incorporating both practical and classroom based learning The addition of Kilwaughter Lime courses and employee training will follow in 2023 as part of a phased expansion plan, whilst the centre will also support merchant learning

Gary Wilmot, CEO at Kilwaughter Minerals, said: “We are very pleased to be launching our new Academy and to play our part in addressing the skills gap and enhancing skills within our industries. K Academy forms part of Kilwaughter’s vision to set new standards within our markets we consistently aim to go above and beyond to serve, to drive quality and innovate in a way that inspires our people and customers ”

Moving on up

Firestone Building Products is adopting the new ‘Elevate’ moniker as part of a wider rebranding under the Holcim umbrella, which sees it become the Holcim Building Envelope division of the parent company ’ s Solutions & Products Business Unit The move to the Elevate brand name is said to “symbolise Holcim’s continued commitment to deliver superior quality and innovation with advanced building solutions”

Under the new brand, the company says the “people, products and standards trusted in the industr y will remain the same, ” however customers will see Elevate evolve as the name on trusted products like RubberCover, GeoGard and Geosmart, RubberGard EPDM and UltraPly TPO

In a mutual decision, IBMG (Independent Builders Merchant Group) has agreed to leave NBG as at 31st December 2022 with both organisations “believing that their best interests would be ser ved by following their own strategies and negotiations in the future ”

Nick Oates, Managing Director of NBG, said: “ The decision to part ways was mutual and a result of both parties wanting to follow their own strategies. We have enjoyed a long and productive relationship with IBMG since it first joined the partnership with the acquisition of Parker Building Supplies in 2018 Both

Parker Building Supplies and Grant & Stone, now part of IBMG, were founding Partners of the LLP and played significant roles in shaping the organisation

“NBG remains focused on expanding its position as the premier buying group for independent merchants in the UK. We wish IBMG all the best in the future.”

Martin Stables, Group Chief Executive at IBMG, commented: “The decision to retire our

membership of NBG was mutual and will enable IBMG to focus on building our market leading position as a distributor of building materials in the South of England, with strong local brands supported by our centralised infrastructure. We will continue our focus on expansion, through organic growth, new branch openings and acquisitions across our core markets of Builders’ Merchants, and our Specialist divisions in Plumbing Heating & Sanitaryware, Electrical Wholesale, Roofing and Timber

“NBG and IBMG have shared great success together since the inception of the partnership and we are proud that two of our brands, Parker Building Supplies and Grant & Stone were founding partners. I would like to thank all at NBG for their support during IBMG’s time in the partnership and wish the Group and all of its members ever y success ”

New Master for WCoBM

Richard Hill has recently been installed as the new Master of the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM) at a ceremony held at Stationers’ Hall, one of London’s historic Livery Halls During his year in office, the Master will be supported by Senior Warden Alan Hawkins and Junior Warden Stephen Boyer The Installation ceremony also acknowledged the role of other Court Assistants, including Lucia Di Stazio as new Keeper of the Roll and Liveryman Steve Durdant Hollamby as new Court Assistant

The Master is a well known figure in the builders’ merchants’ industry, currently Chairman of the Builders Merchants Federation and Vice Chairman of ACO Technologies plc Thanking the Immediate Past Master, Andy Williamson, for his year in office, Richard said: “During my Master’s year, I will be championing the important role of mentoring We have plenty of retained

experience around us and I would like to encourage those with that experience to actively support the next generation of young people joining our industry and hoping to develop their careers

“I will also do my utmost to continue the good work of Past Masters in raising the profile of WCoBM and that of builders’ merchants within the City and the Livery movement ”

IBMG AGREES DEPARTURE FROM NBG

STRATEGY

Plan of action

At its recent Annual Parliamentary Reception, the Builders Merchants Federation has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to support a National Retrofit Strategy that it says “would create 500,000 new jobs across the UK and help achieve the country’s Net Zero ambitions by 2050”

Over 120 people attended the BMF event at the House of Commons, which took the theme Levelling up towards Net Zero The function enabled BMF members to meet with MPs and members of the House of Lords to demonstrate the value of the building materials supply chain within the economy. In particular, the reception focused on the benefits afforded by the Construction Leadership Council’s National Retrofit Strategy, which the BMF has supported since its inception

John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said: “Soaring energy bills have focused attention on the need to insulate our homes and the National Retrofit Strategy is a 20 year programme to upgrade 29 million homes to make them warmer, greener and cheaper to run Its success will require long term cross party commitment, but it sits well with the Conservative’s Levelling Up agenda, and with Labour’s aim for a fairer, greener future.

“Retrofitting is labour intensive. As well as reducing CO2 emissions and improving our housing stock, a National Retrofit programme would promote levelling up by creating 500,000 new and meaningful, local jobs throughout the UK One of our key asks of Government is to commit to a properly funded national training plan to boost the number of competent, qualified people to undertake this work The impact would be especially beneficial in areas where unemployment is high, and there is a large

proportion of homes rated EPC Band C or below”

John continued: “Our new PM can also help by providing a simple financial incentive, such as a cut in the rate of VAT on retrofit work, to provide the vital kick start which will unlock business confidence and private investment, and secure consumer support for the programme

“Modelling shows that if the current Government invested just over £5 billion by the end of this Parliament, it would unlock £11 4 billion in private capital investment over this period, and the programme would more than pay for itself ”

He concluded: “The BMF, along with the whole construction industr y, stands ready to work with Rishi Sunak’s Government to reduce embodied carbon our buildings and to make retrofit a success, thereby contributing to the levelling up agenda and improving living standards in ever y region of the UK ”

The Reception was hosted by Andrew Lewer, MP for Northampton South, and the Chairman of the APPG for SME House Builders The BMF would also like to thank its guest speaker, Bill Esterson MP, the Shadow Construction Minister, and the headline sponsor for the event, UK Construction Week.

BoB “tops £1m of project delivery value”

The 27th and latest project for Band of Builders and its community of volunteers and supporters has seen the construction charity break through the milestone £1m mark of the equivalent cost of labour and materials, delivering projects to help tradespeople battling illness or injur y, and making a life changing difference to them and their families

The organisation, affectionately known as BoB, was founded in 2016 Reflecting on the

landmark total, the charity’s CEO Gavin Crane paid tribute to all the volunteers who have given up their time to help fellow members of the UK construction industr y He also praised the generosity of merchants and suppliers, which often provide project materials free of charge

Gavin said: “We have come such a long way in such a short space of time We only became a registered charity in 2019 In that time, we have seen our community of

Driving change

British Gypsum has made fur ther progress towards its goal of b eing carb on neutral by 2050, thanks to the intro duc tion of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuelled vehicles to its UK f leet. Around 40% of the company ’ s UK f leet will now op erate on HVO fuel, with a fur ther 10% using Liquef ied Natural Gas (LNG), and the us e of multi fuelled vehicles at this s cale is exp ec ted to reduce the f irm’s carb on emissions by approximately 70%, year on year

To support the implementation of HVO vehicles, British Gypsum has made several upgrades to its site infrastructure, including an HVO refuelling point in Robertsbridge and a new fuel island capable of delivering 110,000 litres a week at its Distribution Centre in Gotham Supply Chain Director Jag Gill said: “As well as investing in low emission alternative fuels, British Gypsum is also focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our buildings at each site. By working towards net zero buildings, evaluating the energ y renovations of existing buildings, and incorporating greater use of in situ renewables, together we can reduce our environmental impact and journey towards a greener future ”

supporters grow and thrive, and we have built relationships with a raft of businesses that have made us their chosen charity or become part of our programme of patrons ”

BMF ISSUES CALL FOR NEW PM TO BACK NATIONAL RETROFIT

Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Construction Minister; John Newcomb CEO BMF; Chi Onwurah, Shadow Minister for Science, Research & Innovation

M A R K ET M O N I T O R

in association with

FMB Q3 State of Trade Sur vey

The latest State of Trade Survey (Q3 2022) from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) reveals that 74% of members are in favour of the UK Gover nment introducing a long term plan to reduce energy consumption by making existing homes greener and more energy efficient.

The survey shows that growth in workloads, enquiries and employment levels are all continuing to contract, with enquiries dropping into negative territory for the first time since 2013, excluding the pandemic years. This means that across the country, more builders are reporting a fall in enquiry levels, compared to the number seeing a rise These findings come at a time of political uncertainty with building companies having to adapt without knowing what the immediate future holds, due to inconsistent economic policies. On this, the FMB war ns that without “clear political and economic direction, the industry will continue to face an uncertain future”.

Price rises are continuing to soar with 90% of builders experiencing material cost increases and 88% of respondents expecting prices to rise in the next quarter Unsurprisingly, 76% of builders have put up their prices for work

According to the responses, material shortages and difficulties finding skilled labour are still causing job delays for the majority of FMB members. Indeed, around 60% of builders have delayed jobs due to a lack of materials and 59% have

delayed work due to a shortage of skilled tradespeople

The FMB State of Trade Survey, which is released quarterly, is reportedly the only survey of its kind to track the experience of small to medium-sized (SME) construction firms in the UK Further details from the latest survey show that whilst both workload and enquiries have decreased in Q3 2022 compared to Q2 2022 on balance in all sectors, in terms of total enquiries, a third (33%) of FMB members still reported an increase in Q3 compared to Q2 2022.

In addition, 20% of FMB members reported an increase in the number of employees within their company’s workforce in Q3 2022. However, at least o n e t h i rd o f m e m b e r s a re s t r u g g l i n g t o re c r u i t c a r p e n t e r s / j o i n e r s , b r i c k l a y e r s a n d g e n e r a l l a b o u re r s ( 4 3 % , 3 8 % , a n d 3 4 % )

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The fall in builders’ workloads and enquiries to a level not seen since 2013, discounting the turbulent market during the Covid pandemic is a worrying signal about the future prospects for the building industry They reflect the overall economic situation that the UK finds itself in.”

He added: “Small builders across the country need clear policies, and a degree of assurance so they can plan ahead. The current political uncertainly and its impact on the economy needs to be addressed quickly Over 70% of members support a UK wide retrofit strategy to make the existing housing stock more energy efficient This is one of the best ways to boost both the economy and the industry, while also upgrading our homes in an energy efficient way.”

n Use the shortcode www rdr link/man001 to read or download the latest FMB State of Trade Sur vey (Q3 2022).

“Over 70% of members suppor t a UK-wide retrofit strategy to make the existing housing stock more energy efficient ”

Merchants battle against an unsettled economic and political environment

The

Adarkening global economy, continuing price pressures, and a cost of living crisis hit consumer confidence and dampened builders’ merchants’ sales expectations Confidence in the market was low but has actually improved since the last month, and merchants continued to be much more confident in the prospects for their own business than for the market

And having given the G overnment’s mini budget a massive thumbs down last month, merchants weren’t convinced the ne w Prime Minister can or will f ix the UK economy Merchants in S cotland were deeply s ceptical

The Pulse, by MR A Research, is a monthly tracking sur vey of merchants’ conf idence and prospects Telephone inter v iew ing took place between 1st and 2nd November 2022 (two working days)

Problems faced

Merchants battled many problems in an unsettled economic and political environment. Supplier price rises were the single biggest problem for over four in ten merchants (43%) Chart 1 Nearly one in five merchants said Product availability (18%) or Squeezed margins (17%) were their single biggest problem

sales, while sales were expected to grow in the South (+12%) with no change in the Midlands

National Merchants (+11%) expected sales to grow, but Independents ( 30%) and Regionals ( 7%) expected sales to drop.

Sales expectations

Continued turmoil in the trading environment and wider world dampened merchants’ expectations for November sales (net 3%) Chart 2 Nationals (+5%) and Regionals (+2%) expected sales to grow, but a net 30% of Independents expected lower sales. A net 20% of Mid sized outlets and 31% of merchants in Scotland expected sales to fall November sales expectations, compared to November last year, decreased to a net 5%, having recovered in October Chart 2 Merchants in the North ( 18%) and Scotland ( 44%) expected lower

Looking three months ahead, expectations weakened markedly to a net 35% compared with the previous three months Chart 3 Expectations were low across all merchants but particularly in Large outlets ( 67%), and in Scotland ( 50%) By type of merchant, a net 60% of Independents expected to sell less in the next three months compared to the previous three months. Nationals ( 27%) and Regionals ( 30%) also expected to sell less

e difference between the percentage of merchants expecting growth and those expecting a decrease is the net figure, expressed as a percentage A positive net percentage indicates growth, a negative indicates decline. Net zero implies no change.

industry is under pressure, but the latest instalment of The Pulse shows that merchants remain confident in the prospects for their own business.

A quarter of the merchants (26%) who expect sales to decline in the next three months expect them to fall by up to 10% Chart 4. Four in ten (41%) expected a drop of 10 to 20%, and 10% expected a steeper drop

Trends Monitor

outlets (+4%) were confident C onfidence was stronger in the Midlands (+17%) and among Nationals (+16%).

Merchants’ confidence in their own business strengthened Year on Year to a net +9% Chart 5 Nationals (+27%) and Small branches (+20%) were most confident A net 2% of Regional merchants were less confident in the prospects for their business than they were last year

Confidence in the market

A net 13% of merchants were less confident in the market in November than in October, albeit that was an improvement on the previous month Confidence in the market was weak in Scotland ( 38%) and in the South ( 18%). Merchants in the Midlands and North were more balanced (a net 0%) with those more confident balanced by an equal number who were less confident in the market

Year on year confidence in the market recovered a little from the previous month Chart 5 However, a net 34% of merchants were still less confident in the market at the start of November than they were in November 2021 Confidence was low across all sizes of outlet, regions and types of merchant. Independents ( 50%), Merchants in the North ( 45%) and the South ( 36%) were least confident

Confidence in their business

Merchants were consistently more confident in their own business than in the market C onfidence dropped slightly but remained at a net +8%, month on month. Small branches (+15%) and Mid sized

A b o u t t h e P u l s e

The Pulse is a monthly trends survey tracking builders’ merchants’ confidence and prospects over time Produced by MRA Research, the insight division of MRA Marketing, it captures merchants’ views of future prospects in terms of sales expectations, confidence in their business, confidence in the market, and the key issues and problems they experience

This report is the 43rd in the series, with interviews conducted by MRA Research between 1st and 2nd November 2022 (two working days). Each month, a representative sample of 100 merchants is interviewed The sample is balanced by region, size and type of merchant, including nationals, regional multi branch independents, and smaller independent merchants

Optimism for the future and the new PM

While one in three merchants (31%) were optimistic for the future and agreed that brighter days lie ahead 56% were not Merchants in the South (59%) and Scotland (62%) were the least convinced Chart 6

Merchants were not confident in Rishi Sunak’s chances of fixing the UK economy Confidence was asked on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 was no chance and 10 a racing certainty, and less than three in ten merchants (28%) believed the new Prime Minister would fix the UK’s economic problems.

Most sat on the fence with scores of 4 7, but the PM got a big thumbs down from Merchants in Scotland with 50% rating his chances 1 3 out of ten. Less than one in ten (7%) gave him a ringing endorsement of 8, and there were no 9s or 10s

Unlocking energy eff iciency

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a l i t i o n h a s c a l l e d o n

o v e r n m e n t a n d i n d u s t r y t o w o r k t o g e t h e r t o m o v e e n e r g y e f f i c i e n c y “ f r o m p i l o t t o p r o f i t a b l e , f r o m d i f f i c u l t t o d e s i r a b l e a n d f r o m p i e c e m e a l t o p r o m i n e n t ” i f t h e U K i s t o s u c c e e d i n d e c a r b o n i s i n g i t s 2 9 m i l l i o n h o m e s .

Comprising NatWest, Worcester Bosch and British Gas, with support from Citizen’s Advice, the Sustainable Homes and Buildings Coalition’s ‘Home is Where the Heat is Progress Report’ is described as “shedding much needed light” on the importance of customer centric approaches to the home retrofitting industr y, by showcasing the real life experiences of nine households from Tyne & Wear to Pontypool

Focusing on the first three parts of a five phase process, the Coalition says it provides “ an honest appraisal” of some of the stumbling blocks and learnings experienced as they accompany the nine households on a journey to energ y efficiency Some of the learnings “ are concerning but well known”, which the report notes as being “especially around the clunkiness of the customer journey, the opacity of funding options and supply chain shortages”.

It argues that other insights, especially on “Energ y Performance Certificates and their bias towards certain solutions like Solar PV rather than newer technologies, and the

benefits of digitising them, need urgent action now ” Interestingly, the report indicates that EPCs are an increasingly important factor when buying a home, with EPC ratings now seen as more desirable than access to public transport, according to the Q3 edition of NatWest’s Greener Homes Attitude Tracker

The report also emphasises the strong and growing public support for energ y

efficiency highlighting that 68% of homeowners are planning to make energ y efficiency improvements to their home in the next decade Additionally, it discusses the industr y supply chain, and what can be done to unlock the role of SMEs to fully contribute to this strategic agenda

It further argues that “delivering a home retrofit ever y minute until 2050 will not happen by magic” Accordingly, with

households now massively in favour of energ y efficiency, increased industr y momentum to drive this national agenda for ward, and SMEs standing to gain the most from the growth opportunity it presents, the Coalition makes five policy recommendations to unlock the deliver y of energ y efficiency this decade:

1: A public information campaign to educate the public on energ y efficiency measures

2: Long term investment signals to the market, including through local area energ y planning

3: EPC reform to ensure all homes sold by 2033 are rated EPC C and above, while

digitising and regularly updating EPCs to make them more useful.

4: The launch of a ‘Help for Energ y Efficiency Scheme’ allowing banks to provide low interest loans to households to upgrade their properties

5: The launch of an ‘Energ y Saving Stamp Duty Rebate’ leveraging the trigger point of a house sale for the new owner to have a two year window to invest in energ y efficiency and be able to claim it back against its stamp duty.

In support of the recommendations, British Gas has unveiled a plan to deliver heat pumps under £5,000 whilst NatWest Group has earmarked £10 billion for green mortgages and Worcester Bosch has pledged to ramp up training course places to support deliver y by the industr y

“ un l i k e l y t o m e e t t h e r e q ui re m e n t s se t o u t i n t h e go v e r n m e nt ’s 2 0 2 5 F u t u r e H o m e s a n d B ui l d i n gs S t a n d a rd s ”

Consisting of more than 150 organisations from both the public and private sectors, representing the entire housing supply chain, Members of the Housing Forum represent some £24bn turnover in the housing sector Its research was carried out among senior industr y figures attending a number of its 2022 events, including a series of Decarbonisation Seminars

A total of 91% of the respondents were directly involved in ensuring their organisations’ meet decarbonisation targets, and one out of five say that their own organisation “does not have a plan in place that will enable them to deliver homes that will meet 2025 emissions targets”. Furthermore, three out of four of those questioned think the industry “does not have adequate skills and knowledge to meet 2025 targets within the next 10 years”

The research was commissioned in the wake of the changes to Building Regulations which came into force in June 2022 as part of the pathway to meeting Future Homes and Building Standards in 2025 and Carbon Net Zero in 2050

Prior to the 2022 changes coming into force, the Federation of Master Builders had also stated that less than half of their members were ready for the new regulations

The research was carried out by Polypipe Building Products, a member of The Housing Forum’s Futures Network The firm’s Daniel Love said: “We were alarmed to see that so many senior figures do not think that the industr y will meet the net zero challenge within the Government’s timeframe The results of the sur vey also show a fundamental lack of understanding of the technologies that developers can adopt to meet their targets.

“There also seems to be a lack of urgency to increase that understanding, and to begin preparations in earnest Developers need to engage with their supply chain to understand the new technologies and construction methods before the 2025 deadline in order for demand for new products and skills to be ready in time The answer has to be an emphasis on engagement, upskilling and education ”

Alison Rose, NatWest Group Chief Executive, said: “Supporting households up and down the countr y to act on energ y efficiency is essential, not just in our transition to net zero, but also to help keep energ y costs down for the long term The Coalition is showing what can be done to deliver greener, warmer and more comfortable homes for British households in a people centric manner ”

Carl Arntzen, CEO of Worcester B osch, continued: “As a C oalition we are working together to drive change and guide the UK’s move to net zero This latest report shares the lessons we are learning and shines a light on the amount of work and considerations required to decarbonise home heating and ensure the countr y reaches its net zero 2050 targets

“We hope that our recommendations are listened to and acted upon by Government and we of course remain committed and available to support the nation’s drive for climate action ”

n Enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man002 to view the latest report.

n The Coalition has also announced it will be publishing an Outcomes Report in the Spring of 2023 to report back on the results of the nine retrofit pilots.

“The repor t emphasises the strong and growing public suppor t for energy efficiency and discusses the industr y supply chain and what can be done to unlock the role of SMEs to fully contribute to this strategic agenda.”

PAINTWELL KENT BLAXILL ACQUISITION

Reputedly the North West’s largest independent paint distributor and decorators’ merchant, PaintWell is extending its branch network across the East and South East of England following the acquisition of Kent Blaxill The new enlarged group will have 46 branches stretching from Cumbria to Kent, with 250 employees and combined revenues of £55m Established in 1838 and headquartered in the Essex town of Colchester, Kent Blaxill has 23 decorating and builders’ merchant branches, serving a diverse range of trade and retail customers. The acquisition enables the shareholders from the Kent and Blaxill families to exit the business, however some family members are re investing in the enlarged PaintWell business, remaining important and supportive shareholders, as it continues to build on their legacy Kent Blaxill’s management team, led by managing director, James Park, will remain with the business, working with Stuart Slocombe and the PaintWell executive team to integrate the two businesses and “realise the potential that this partnership brings” In addition, Andrew Cope the founder of Chandlers Building Supplies and subsequently CEO of Independent Builders Merchants Group (SE) until he stepped down in 2021 joins PaintWell’s board as a Non Executive Director, bringing considerable experience of the building supplies sector

For PaintWell, this move extends its branch network beyond its traditional markets, building its national presence and creating opportunities for its e commerce business and industrial paints offering

The Kent Blaxill acquisition is the latest development following Cairngorm Capital Partners’ investment in PaintWell in March 2021 Among a number of additions to its branch network, PBM reported the firm’s acquisition of specialist paints and surface coatings distributor, Promain, last month to extend the platform for a new industrial paints division. Investment has also been put into its growing e commerce platform

SELCO SUSTAINABILITY BLUEPRINT

Selco Builders Warehouse reports it has made further progress on its sustainability journey by undertaking a major installation of solar panels at a branch for the first time The firm’s depot in Barking has now benefitted from the installation of more than 220 solar panels, which is already said to be generating up to 40% of the branch’s energy usage

In addition, a new recycling policy is being rolled out across the entire branch network before Christmas, including the introduction of specialist timber skips Craig Ducker, the builders’ merchant’s Head of Operational Projects and Business Services, said: “Alternative energy sources and a strong and robust recycling strategy are two key areas of our sustainability blueprint. The solar panels were installed in Barking in late September and, despite not having the greatest weather conditions since installation, the early indications are that around 35 40% of the electricity used in the branch is being generated through the solar panels

“In the first week of having the solar panels installed, we saw a 46kgs reduction in carbon emissions We will continue to monitor this trial, but the long term hope is that we can ultimately extend the concept across the wider Selco estate ”

DULUX DECORATOR CENTRE

CAN RECYCLING SCHEME

The specialist decorators’ merchant reports that it has received a “staggering” one million paint cans under its free of charge can recycling scheme Run in partnership with Veolia, the scheme has been designed to make it easy for tradespeople to dispose of empty paint cans in a responsible and suitable way Professionals can arrange for cans to be collected from site or can return them to store themselves, depending on what is easier for them.

The DDC team will monitor customers’ recycling and send them a certificate each year to certify how many cans they have recycled as a percentage This can then be used to showcase a best practice approach to improving environmental efficiency and reducing waste and can even help to win new business

Duncan Lochhead, DDC’s Commercial Sustainability Manager, said: “As a champion of sustainable building practices, Dulux Decorator Centre is incredibly proud to have received one million paint cans under its recycling scheme With our customers’ help, we are striving to increase the empty can recycling rate significantly and reduce our impact on the environment

“According to the Construction Leadership Council, the construction of our built environment produces the largest waste stream by tonnage, and recycling paint cans is an easy way for the painting and decorating trade to do its bit and reduce this figure.”

PBM takes a look at some of the latest news stories from across the merchant sector.

MKM

100 GOOD DEEDS

Introduced to celebrate the major milestone of opening its 100th branch this year, MKM’s ‘100 Good Deeds’ campaign will see each of the merchant’s branches carry out a good deed in their local areas Head of Marketing Nicola Ollett said: “It’s really important to MKM and our staff that we support local good causes and give back to the communities where we have branches, employ staff and serve customers.

“The 100 Good Deeds campaign is another fantastic community initiative that we are proud to be launching These local acts of kindness will include anything from supporting charities that are close to the hearts of our people, supplying materials for community schemes, or dedicating time to local projects that are making a real difference ”

FORT BUILDERS’

MERCHANT

H&B GROUP MEMBERSHIP

Formed just before the start of the pandemic, Berkshire based FORT Builders’ Merchant has grown from a standing start in January 2020 with one truck, one van and seven members of staff to a substantial operation with four trucks, three vans and twenty four staff Headquartered near the Membury Services on the M4 and operating from the site of a former WWII US Air Force base that was itself built on the location of the Iron Age hill fort that gives the business its name, FORT delivers to customers across Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire

Following its impressive growth over the last couple of years, FORT has now joined the h&b Group and is now “looking forward to the buying deals and other services that h&b offers”.

Director Tim Gelardi said: “In the past few years we have had two members of staff employed full time in sourcing materials, fighting for stock and battling for the best prices, instead of actively selling and servicing our customers Joining h&b has given us a place at the top table, with grown up deals for a grown up business great prices and access to the best products and brands in the business ”

LORDS GROUP

TRADING

HEVEY BUILDING SUPPLIES

Having originally purchased a 75% interest in Hevey Building Supplies in October 2017, Lords Group Trading plc has confirmed it is to purchase the remaining 25% minority shareholding in the subsidiary business for a predefined market value figure of £6 2m, as disclosed in the company’s AIM Admission Document dated 14 July 2021

The consideration payable is in line with management expectations since IPO, and will be funded from the company’s existing resources, with the purchase “expected to deliver further strong returns on investment ”

TRAVIS PERKINS PLC MENOPAUSE SUPPORT

Travis Perkins plc has signed up to the Menopause Workplace Pledge, partnered with Menopause Experts Group and created a policy to support colleagues affected by the menopause. Training is also being made available to the merchant firm’s 20,000+ colleagues, with particular emphasis on the Group’s managers and 250 Mental Health First Aiders, who will be equipped to signpost where help and information about menopause are available

While many who experience menopause are able to carry on their working lives as normal, figures suggest that a substantial number of women quit their jobs because of the menopause and their struggles with its symptoms in the workplace By partnering with Menopause Experts Group to provide education and training, Travis Perkins aims to raise awareness about the effects of menopause, and to encourage open conversations and help signpost and direct colleagues across the Group to advice and assistance

Travis Perkins HR Chief Officer Emma Rose explained: “A modern construction workforce is a diverse one, and balancing physical, mental and financial wellbeing is key to creating a supportive workplace where everyone feels they can belong The menopause can be challenging for both women and men, and through awareness and education, we want colleagues to have access to the right support and information, and feel confident in talking about their own health and wellbeing, so we can ensure those who need it are supported and feel able and confident to talk to their manager and discuss any adjustments they may need at work ”

An end to salar y secrecy

The cost of living crisis is prompting many employees to consider looking for new, and better remunerated, opportunities At the same time, a tight labour market means that employers are fighting to find the best talent. And with The Money Charity revealing that 29% of UK adults are now using credit cards to pay for essentials, Foyne Jones asserts that the sector needs to “talk frankly” about sharing salaries pre inter view, so businesses can help both potential new and existing staff to better manage the increase in day to day living

Founder & Managing Director Peter Jones said: “ The UK economy is

experiencing a ripple effect right now, as greater levels of inf lation, ongoing political upheaval and the war on Ukraine have all contributed to the cost of living increase I recognise that many small businesses continue to navigate the economic harm caused by the pandemic, however the same can be said for the average homeowner who has also experienced nationwide job losses, market uncertainty and now, energ y, food and fuel bills at an all time high.

“S o, what can be done to help limit the damage to your business and future staff ? I believe a great starting point is to remove the veil of secrec y around

Foyne Jones discusses the ongoing recruitment challenges faced by businesses and candidates alike, emphasising the importance of “sharing salaries pre-interview”.

Peter Jones Founder & Managing Director of Foyne Jones

salaries and earning potential when advertising a new role in your company Let the people know what they can earn with you so they can make an educated, well informed decision and ultimately plan for the future At the ver y least, it will allow them to budget for a change in household circumstances such as a pay cut, reduction in hours, rent increase and higher mortgage rates ”

Given the difficulties faced by many individuals, and the challenges business face in recruitment, Peter also stresses the need to “look after your current team” He states: “C onsider the redistribution of funds through postponing company events, free business tools and ser vices, remote working, even a paperless office to recoup costs

“In doing so, you will be able to invest this money elsewhere including employee incentives, rewards, company growth and investment.”

Foyne Jones is exercising this strateg y at the moment, having recently been shortlisted for the finals

of this year ’ s Global Recruiter Awards for B est Recruitment Process Outsourcing

Business Peter explained: “It would be wonderful for the team and I to attend this event but on ref lection, I felt the money spent on awards tickets would better ser ve my staff and so as a business, we paid the equivalent ticket value into their bank accounts instead!”

Peter also argues that greater salar y transparenc y has broader benefits, noting: “As a mental health ambassador, I know that financial difficulties are a common cause of stress and anxiety and being kept in the dark is only going to add new pressures In my opinion, ending salar y secrec y is a quick way for employees to gauge a clearer idea of the potential for upskilling, promotion or moving into a neighbouring position to increase their pay band.”

The underlying point is that the recruitment sector is showing signs of greater employee movement next year. For example, the latest global report from P wC indicates that from those sur veyed, 1 in 5 are “extremely” or “ ver y likely” to switch jobs

Holly Spring, Ass o ciate Direc tor at Foyne Jones, commented: “I invite employers to share more information on salaries prior to f irst stage inter vie w b ecaus e time is precious for b oth candidate and business es alike rig ht now We continue to de velop s olutions that us e creative pre s elec tion tac tics like video technolog y to assist with recr uitment and increas e the le vel of transparenc y b etween candidate and client.

“Salar y disclosure has therefore become an integral part of our recruitment process, seen as a priority

for jobseekers’ when advertising the role Greater transparenc y means that candidates can rule themselves in or out right away, especially if they need to factor in travel costs or childcare.”

Peter added: “Building financial resilience both personally and professionally needs to be the bedrock for ever y business and the sur vival of our industr y, so newcomers and established players can benchmark their earning potential from the get go and make the best choices for them

“Whether you are an employer looking at the different pay bands in the market or a keen professional weighing up your options, knowing a salar y from the ver y beginning will manage expectations, encourage genuine prospects, and ensure the ideal candidate ever y time.”

He concludes: “If you are looking to work with a recruiter, find out what their philosophy about salar y discussions are If you ’ re not in alignment, don’t proceed You will only be out of pocket and disillusioned, just like a jobseeker who has forked out time and money for a face to face inter view and is still none the wiser about the take home pay!”

n Foyne Jones will celebrate its 20th business anniversary in 2023. For more information on the company’s tailored recruitment services for the merchant sector, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man003

“Whether you are an employer looking at the different pay bands in the market or a keen professional weighing up your options, knowing a salar y from the ver y beginning will manage expectations, encourage genuine prospects, and ensure the ideal candidate ever y time.”

Caroline Wildman has joined Forterra as marketing director Previously marketing director at millboard, caroline said: “With Forterra’s range of heritage brands and innovative products, I couldn’t imagine a better fit It’s such an exciting time for the company with all the sustainability innovations, and ongoing renovations at the plants

“There are lots of brilliant things happening across the business, which I can’t wait to bring more attention to ”

RGB Building Supplies has appointed

as managing director, taking over from

who retires at the end of 2022

Jenny first joined rGb as Hr manager in 2005, taking on additional responsibilities and joining the board as Hr director in 2016 Following rGb’s acquisition by Grant & Stone and the subsequent merger with IbmG, Jenny became the Group Hr director and is now returning to rGb

With previous sales and business development leadership positions at Stiebel eltron and Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS), Chris Johnson has joined Viessmann as UK director of Sales Not least through his most recent role as National Sales director for Heat Pumps & renewables at Vaillant, he brings highly relevant experience as Viessmann looks to grow its penetration of the heat pump market with its Vitocal range

Having joined Saniflo in 2016 as a Technical Sales engineer, John L’Erario has earned a well deserved promotion to Kinedo Area Sales manager covering a territory from the North of the Thames, up to the east midlands and across to east Anglia

Plumbing and heating specialist Mark Vitow Ltd has announced the appointments of Matt Smith to regional Sales manager for the South West and Adam Hewlett as rSm for London and the Home counties Sales director Matt Fletcher said: “We’re thrilled to welcome matt and Adam to the Sales Team Their industry knowledge and collective experience will prove invaluable to support our growth plans, both in the manufacturing and distribution channels This will not only strengthen our offering and coverage to our existing account base but also welcome new members to our extended customer network ”

Grafton Group plc has appointed Eric Born as its new chief executive Officer, succeeding Gavin Slark who remains with the Group until 31 december eric brings a wealth of international business experience to the role including having served for five years as chief executive of global aviation services provider, Swissport International AG and for a similar period as chief executive of Wincanton plc eric said: “The Group has a portfolio of quality, high returning businesses with good market positions that provide an excellent growth platform I look forward to working with my new colleagues to enhance the position of Grafton as a leading international business for the benefit of all stakeholders ”

Jenny Naylor

Andy Gamble

Matt Smith, RSM South West

Adam Hewlett, RSM London/Home Countries

Diploma developments

The BMF Diploma in Merchant Management has gone through several revisions and changes since its foundation in 2007. Some changes are small whilst others are quite sizeable, but all are designed to ensure it continues to reflect the current market and meets the needs the latest generation of students across the building materials community.

Merchant delegates are now offered a choice of a distinct deliver y styles. The original format of nine face to face group workshops and assessments over 18 months remains popular, but events such as Covid led to the development of two further options that enable flexible study whilst maintaining the Diploma’s high quality content

Firstly, the hybrid (flexi) Diploma programme combines online and face to face deliver y While this can save time and money in terms travelling to workshops, both online and face to face deliver y styles have distinct strengths that complement each other making this an attractive option.

Online deliver y works well for the detailed and sometimes complex areas of knowledge within the programme, allowing delegates to fully focus and work at their own speed Each group also has several face to face sessions enabling delegates to work together on scenarios replicating real management challenges.

Delegates on the hybrid (flexi) programme receive a video of the online presentation to refer to as they work through their written assessments However, we are now working on ways for some assessments, all currently undertaken individually, to be done collaboratively with delegates working with colleagues to address areas of management good practice

Another deliver y option is the One to One, or ‘Solo’ Diploma programme. This enables one student to get up and running straightway, rather than waiting for a group

to form. Solo delegates can set their own timetable, undertaking the programme over a shorter or longer period than the standard 18 months if they wish

E ach S olo delegate has a p ers onal plan and tutor For each of the nine c ycles in the programme the y receive the standard Diploma material plus video pres entation of imp or tant ke y content, and supp or t for ass essments for that s ec tion The y als o have an hour long online tutorial to dis c uss ke y concepts and areas of content, issues with ass essments and, if the y wish, adjust their Diploma timetable

New Supplier Programme

Responding to interest in the BMF Diploma from the merchant supplier sector, we have a major development in the pipeline the BMF Diploma in Supplier Management. This will enable a whole range of diverse suppliers to benefit from our proven training and well regarded qualification

New training techniques are set to be adopted to apply the rigours of this challenging programme to a different audience Within the programme itself, development challenges include adapting many of the stock and finance calculations, the language used, and some of the legislation cited, from a retail focussed environment to a supplier focussed environment

This exciting new development will bring an additional high quality qualification and training programme to another thriving and important sector in our supply chain

over 18

remains

To register your interest in taking any route to the BMF Diploma in Merchant Management qualification or enrolling your supplier business on our new Supplier Management Diploma please contact Kerr y Wilson@bmf org uk

n BMF training ranges from formal Apprenticeships and, with leading British universities, sector specific Diplomas, Degrees and a Masters Degree in Merchant Leadership and Strategy, to online product knowledge and other specialist skills training

“The original format of nine face-to-face group workshops and assessments

months

popular, but events such as Covid led to the development of two fur ther options that enable flexible study whilst maintaining the Diploma’s high quality content.”

Call to action

The ‘Hello Hydrogen’ campaign sees gas distribution networks, boiler manufacturers and energy suppliers come together to raise households’ awareness on the low carbon gas ’ s role in reducing CO2 emissions Members of the group hope the information hub will teach people about new hydrogen ready boilers that could be used to heat their homes in the future.

The alliance argues that the switch from natural gas to hydrogen for home heating could cut CO2 emissions by 20 million tonnes a year equivalent to 12 million cars but the industr y representatives want “clear guidance” from the Government that

n Mike Foster, CEO of the not for profit trade body Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has called on the UK Government to “get on with delivering the vision it laid out in 2019 to make the UK a world leading hydrogen economy.”

“The UK Government needs to stop dithering and get a grip otherwise it will lose yet more of our industrial base as investors will go elsewhere,” Mike said “It’s a time old problem, we have the good ideas, we develop them ready to go and Whitehall bureaucracy holds up progress so investment goes overseas instead

“We have great British businesses ready to power forward with a hydrogen future; we have great British trade unions fully backing them; a

it remains committed to hydrogen as it steps up efforts to develop the necessar y technolog y Furthermore, the group contends that producing hydrogen for homes in the UK could also “create tens of thousands of jobs and help the countr y avoid future cost of living crises by ending its reliance on natural gas from overseas ” Hello Hydrogen also wants to “highlight the ease in which homes will be able to install the new hydrogen ready boilers like for like with old ones at the end of their life in a cost efficient way especially in households where they might not have space for alternative future heating options like heat pumps. ”

united British industrial sector poised to be world leaders and a British bureaucracy determined to stop it ”

He continued: “Hydrogen suppliers need the confidence to invest by knowing domestic demand will be there The gas networks want to end fossil fuels and deliver hydrogen to homes instead The gas boiler manufacturers want to convert appliances to run on hydrogen All united to meet our climate obligations Yet we still wait on Whitehall bureaucrats to give the green light ”

Campaign

Angela

commented: “As people start to turn on their heating again, we think now is the perfect time to begin the conversation about how we will all heat our homes in the future. We want households to know that there will be numerous ways to warm up their radiators or cook their dinner and hydrogen could be the right choice for them.

“For too long, consumers have only heard about expensive options that take up lots of space, to make their homes greener. We want them to know other, more affordable, choices will be available We now need the Government to get behind our campaign

Mike concluded: “The consultation on hydrogen ready boilers was promised last year We are still waiting The Energy Bill, delivering hydrogen villages, has been paused and we are waiting to see what happens next Both these policies are needed to stop consumers being ripped off in the name of net zero

“Having a hydrogen ready boiler means the consumer doesn’t have to shell out £ tens of thousands to go green; they can wait for the gas to be switched to hydrogen instead No more ripping boilers off walls or radiators replaced, just a simple in home conversion ”

Director

Needle

Some of the biggest names in the UK energy industry have joined forces to launch a campaign to raise awareness of hydrogen gas for heating domestic homes, calling on the Government to commit to a hydrogen future.

and show real commitment to a hydrogen future so the energ y sector can start the huge investment needed to make it a reality”

She added: “ This will boost the economy, create jobs in the UK, allow us to have control over our energ y again and reduce carbon emissions ”

Campaign Chair, Victoria Billings of Worcester Bosch UK, said: “ The industr y is coming together to build a hydrogen future that means household bills are no longer linked to global events. That’s why we ’ ve launched the Hello Hydrogen campaign to make sure consumers are kept fully informed of the choices they have for the future of heating their homes

“We want hydrogen ready boilers to play their part in heating homes across the countr y, knowing they will fit in the same place as traditional boilers and will cost the same price, but we need to know the

Government are fully behind hydrogen as a choice for millions of households ”

The Hello Hydrogen campaign is described as being fully funded by the Gas Industr y Backers include Cadent Gas, Northern Gas Networks, Wales and West Utilities, SGN, The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM), National Grid, Baxi, Worcester Bosch, Valliant, Ideal and Intergas along with British Gas and Ryze Hydrogen Supporters of the campaign also include the GMB plus industr y bodies Community Trade Union, Hydrogen UK, Heating and Hotwater Industr y Council (HHIC), Energ y Utilities Alliance (EUA) and the Food Ser vice Equipment Association

The boiler manufacturers have previously committed to ensuring hydrogen boilers will be no more expensive than current natural gas ones, whilst the Government is due to decide in 2026 whether to allow for hydrogen in the current gas network

n More information on the Hello Hydrogen campaign can be found via www rdr link/man004

A platform for growth

Grant UK has moved to new premises, with the company’s Head Office, warehousing and Training Academy all now based in Swindon, Wiltshire. The new site includes offices and storage facilities that are three times larger than its previous premises, allowing the business to continue to expand in the sustainable heating sector. PBM reports back from the official opening.

For over 25 years, Grant UK has been supplying award winning heating products from the Vortex oil fired condensing boilers to the latest renewable technologies such as solar thermal and air source heat pumps, in addition to wet underfloor heating systems and developing its range of support services for customers During this time, the company has significantly grown in size and after trading in Salisbury for a number of years, it moved to Devizes, Wiltshire where its sales, training, technical, marketing and distribution teams have been based since 2003

Nearly two decades on, Grant UK has undergone further expansion and has relocated to a new site in Swindon which was formally opened on 3rd November The impressive new facilities are considerably larger, totalling over 80,000sqft And in addition to providing greater office spaces and significantly increased on site storage capacity, the new site has also enabled the supplier’s Training Academy to be expanded as well (with course available for merchants in addition to installers).

With improved facilities and more storage, Grant UK hopes that its new home will allow it to continue to grow, further improving and enhancing its deliver y of products and ser vices to customers

Officially opened by Tim Pollard, formerly of Wolseley UK and now a sustainability consultant, the new Head Office set up has been the culmination of a ten month renovation project involving the entire site, installing state of the art racking in the warehouses, creating engaging workspaces for employees and transforming one of the units into training rooms and practical assessment areas for the Training Academy.

An integral part of the project was sustainability and Grant UK has implemented numerous environmentally friendly measures throughout the site For example, a biomass heating system has been installed which is providing the heating and hot water whilst 768 solar panels and storage batteries have been installed as part of the 303kWp Solar PV system which has been fitted on the roof

of both units a system which will fulfil all of its electricity demand while also feeding renewable electricity into the grid.

The choice of materials which have been fitted throughout the office spaces has also been based on their sustainability credentials.

Managing Director Paul Wakefield said: “Our move to Swindon marks an exciting new chapter for Grant UK. Moving premises is a significant step for any business to make, but the hard work that has gone into creating our new larger facilities will enable Grant UK and the team to settle into a site which will support our continued growth for many, many years to come

“ The road to a cleaner, low carbon future will be full of opportunities and this move to new facilities will ensure that we as a company can continue to deliver the high quality products and ser vices that our customers have come to expect from Grant ”

n For more information on Grant UK’s range of sustainable solutions and support ser vices for merchants, use the shortcode www rdr link/man005

r o f e s s i o n a l b u i l d e r

Don’t worr y be Appy

As a leading distributor to independent merchants, E.Tupling maintains a commitment to “continuously innovate and find solutions for its merchant partners”. And in an ever-evolving industry, Directors Ross Duncanson and Tim Whitehead together with Head of Marketing Claire Briars discuss how the firm’s newly launched UFH & Renewables App provides its merchant customers with competitive advantage and unrivalled service.

Quoting for underf loor heating (UFH) and air source heat pumps (ASHP) has “ never been easier” for merchants with the use of E Tupling’s “simple, yet sophisticated” underf loor heating and renewables app And just by answering a few simple questions, merchants will be provided with an immediate cost price

For more intricate projects there is also a feature to upload plans or drawings, even as a photo image, and E Tupling will provide customers with a schedule of materials, pipe layout design, heat loss calculation and itemised quotation within 24 hours

E Tupling customer Gar y Fox, Trade Counter Manager at Plumbcall, explained: “ This underfloor heating & air source heat pump app is incredible! Really simple and easy to use, an instant quotation is available within 4 5 clicks of the screen, empowering our staff to confidently sell UFH and ASHPs

“ The speed of obtaining a full quote within minutes pleases our customers tenfold! This app completely takes the long hassle and lengthy detail of UFH & renewables away from the trade counter, ensuring easy transactions and happy

customers. E.Tupling also takes care of the entire sale, from quote to deliver y and install advice The company ’ s app is truly ground breaking for our team ”

Established in 1966, E.Tupling is an independently owned family business and is a leading distributor of Plumbing & Building Plastics and Underfloor Heating & Renewable Systems Director Tim Whitehead said: “Merchant feedback has always indicated the need for simplicity to secure an UFH order. Our objective will always be to protect and enable the trade counter sale at a price point that competes with the online retailer

“A few simple clicks provide a price and we believe this completes the circle Simplicity, a competitive price plus stock, ser vice, technical support and deliver y. Simple objectives, a simplified process and a comprehensive offering ”

This “distribution first” app is available as a website tool, which is said to be perfect for trade counters, and also as a mobile download from Apple and Android. The app is exclusive to E Tupling’s merchant partners only and is fully password protected

Claire Briars comments: “We are wholly impartial and after researching the entire

market, we benefit from agreements with 12 of the leading manufacturers in our industr y, including Polypipe, Grant, Fastwarm, Maincor, Heatmiser and Pipelife. We adopt a completely unbiased approach and for all of these reasons, our innovative app will pinpoint the best underfloor heating system for each and ever y individual project ”

A full schedule of materials, itemised quotation and pipe layout design are all provided as standard E Tupling also provides full technical guidance and support to installers and end users on the merchants’ behalf, should they ever require any assistance.

(from L R) The E Tupling Senior Management Team: Adam Taylor, Claire Briars, Tim Whitehead, Ross Duncanson, Ian Whitehead, Sally Stuffins, Duane Collins and Chris Yarwood

Furthermore, the distributor says it understands how challenging the market has been for trade counters over the last couple of years where dealing with manufacturers’ long lead times, poor product availability as well as a spate of price increases “have created a siege of obstacles”

Ross Duncanson continues: “As the leading distributor to independent merchants for building & plumbing plastics, UFH and renewables, we fully recognise how busy trade counters can be Enquiries for UFH and renewables can be time consuming

and more technical than most.

“Through our dedicated UFH & Renewables team of experts, merchants will also have full technical support and guidance available to them throughout the entire project This is just the beginning of the additional support that we provide to our customers, and work is already underway on adding Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) to the app in the coming months ”

Claire concludes: “As the leading distributor to independent merchants it will always be our choice, service, innovation,

speed, technical knowledge and versatility that separates us from other suppliers The market is constantly changing with new challenges emerging, therefore as an energetic and ambitious business we strive to continually evolve to improve our levels of service and offering beyond our customers’ expectations ”

n For more information on E.Tupling’s UFH & Renewables App, in addition to details on its full product portfolio and support services for merchants, enter the shortcode www rdr link/man006

“Merchant feedback has always indicated the need for simplicity to secure an UFH order. Our objective will always be to protect and enable the trade counter sale at a price point that competes with the online retailer.”

Under the radar

As low carbon heating systems begin to replace traditional gas boilers over the coming years, merchants need to be prepared to handle a range of queries from installers who may be fitting underfloor heating (UFH) for the first time. Martin

at RWC, explains the different UFH systems on the market and how stockists can help their customers choose the right system for each project.

Simply put, UFH is a big sales opportunity for merchants, and the market is expected to grow significantly as the shift towards eco friendly heating gathers pace, with merchant stockists now having access to a wide range of UFH products And to help your customers decide which UFH system is best for a given project, the key considerations include questions such as how has the floor been constructed? Is it a new build or retrofit project? What is the heat source?

This is where RWC’s JG Underfloor brand can provide unrivalled support to ensure the right choice is made Alongside RWC’s commitment to making jobs more efficient through innovative product design, we also offer additional support, such as a rapid and free UFH CAD ser vice Further help for both merchants and installers is available from our team of national technical engineers who are ready to advise on best practice, ensuring installers are provided with the knowledge required for ever y job.

Driving UFH innovation

Complementing our existing JG Underfloor heating range, we have introduced a new,

low profile, UFH solution JG LowFit which is designed to keep the overall floor height to an absolute minimum without compromising heat output It works on both new build and retrofit projects and only increases the floor height slightly The pipe fixing panels come in a range from 16 to 20mm thickness, and once installed, the overall height build up is between 19 23mm before floor coverings

The range offers installers a convenient and unobtrusive UFH solution to work alongside alternative heating technologies such as heat pumps without compromising on performance Its foil and mesh panels have been specifically designed to be placed over existing timber or concrete flooring, meaning installers avoid the need to spend time prising up the building’s flooring and adding unnecessar y costs to the project

Furthermore, the new range has options suitable for screed, non screed, tiled and existing concrete floors, suiting almost any type of installation.

Installer benefits

As well as easy to fit floor panels, our 12mm JG LowFit Layflat Polybutylene Barrier Pipe

offers great flexibility when laying and it includes an inner barrier to prevent the ingress of oxygen molecules, reducing corrosion on metal parts within the system In addition, featuring both 12mm or 15mm JG Speedfit push fit connections, new JG LowFit manifolds are fast and simple to install

Merchant know how

When it comes to the full package, installers and end users will find an offering that provides high quality and longevity, as well as the technical support before, during and after installation In fact, ser vice and support is key That support is available from JG Underfloor all the way through from the initial quote, during installation and after wards if there are any issues at all, we are here to help

It is important to address the concerns many people have about pipework being buried under their floors The confidence in our products is such that we give a 50 year guarantee on many of RWC’s JG Speedfit pipework ranges and components, as well as a 2 year warranty for manifolds and controls

To promote the use of UFH in a range of projects, we ’ re working on offering

f e s s i o n a l b u i l d e

Coates, UFH Product Manager

educational support to installers If you went back five years you would probably find that 25% of plumbers would install UFH, whereas this number now stands at approximately 30%, with more and more plumbers starting to realise the benefits of UFH systems

As they are learning that it’s an easier system to fit and they can lay all the pipework in an average size house within a day, we expect this statistic to only be increasing in years to come

And should any hesitancy remain, that’s where our support comes in All we need are certain facts like room dimensions, drawings, what the subfloor is eg: concrete or timber, and so on and once they’ve given the merchant all the facts about the project, we can provide a detailed parts list and a full list of the materials.

And if they’ve never fitted UFH before, we can arrange a site visit, point them in the

right direction and get the correct solution

In fact, in many ways, the actual installation is the easy part

In addition, we ’ re talking to merchants all the time and offering training, so they know the questions they need to ask the contractors Merchants can also talk directly to the local RWC area sales manager or technical sales engineer.

Another point to bear in mind concerns the new regulations as per the phasing out of gas boilers, which is causing some uncertainty in the market The picture remains a little unclear, but the main thing we highlight to customers is that UFH is ideal for any new builds that aren’t using a gas boiler For instance, UFH is perfect for both air source and ground source heat pumps because they lend themselves to a lower running temperature

We’re also working with merchants to educate installers that UFH is an option when it comes to almost any project that involves renewable heat source be it new build or retrofit

n For more information on RWC’s JG Underfloor range in addition to the support on offer to merchants, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man007

NAVIEN NCB RANGE

The global boiler manufacturer has launched its new, state of the art NCB combi boiler range which it claims will offer “a completely new approach to home comfort.” Featuring three new models the NCB700 ON, offering flow rates up to an industry leading 22 litres per minute; NCB500 ON, which has flow rates of up to 16 8 LPM; and the compact and lightweight NCB300 which is designed for small homes and flats, and easily fits into small cupboards the range is said to help installers and homeowners meet the changing demands on Britain’s heating systems.

This new generation of combi boilers can meet every need from small two bedroom homes through to larger five bed properties with multiple bathrooms Furthermore, as an efficient, futureproof method of prioritising year round hot water performance, the NCB500 ON and the NCB700 ON feature Navien’s ON technology which maximises comfort and eliminates the need to wait for hot water whatever the time of day.

ON is designed to maximise the recirculation of domestic hot water (DHW) while significantly reducing water wastage, ensuring the rapid delivery of hot water, consistency in temperatures, and enough hot water to run up to three showers at once all without the need for a hot water cylinder

n For more information, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man008

STUART TURNER

AGM ACQUISITION

Following several other acquisitions over the past couple of years, Stuart Turner has recently acquired Aquatronic Group Management (AGM), described as “a key provider of cold water boosting installation and maintenance equipment and services in the UK”.

Based in Colchester, AGM designs and manufactures pressurisation and water booster units and installs and maintains fresh and waste water pump systems The company offers a nationwide service from its centres in Manchester, Colchester, and Southampton

This “complementary acquisition” not only expands the overall product range presented by Stuart Turner, but also brings a “hugely important servicing capability” into the business whilst the latest move further supports its ongoing strategy “to transform the company into the leading provider of water boosting solutions and services in the UK”

Richard Harden, Stuart Turner’s Chief Executive said: “AGM is a great fit for our product portfolio and gives us immediate access to the services market, which is seen as a significant area of growth for the company The team at AGM have established a fantastic reputation for both service and technical capability and we are looking forward to welcoming them into the Stuart Turner family.”

n Use www.rdr.link/man009 to learn more.

MHS RADIATORS DESIGNER RADIATOR RANGE

MHS Radiators has expanded its range of designer radiators with the introduction of two new models Arc and Arto

The striking Arc radiator features elegant 50 x 25mm oval tubes to create an “effortless combination” of smooth, rounded edges and straight lines Suited to contemporary and traditional styles, Arc is available in eight heights, from 600mm to 2000mm, and a vast number of widths, from 300mm to 1800mm. Single models, with one set of tubes, offer outputs from 226 to 1926 watts, while double versions, which feature two sets of tubes, have outputs from 349 to 2902 watts

Also joining the range is Arto Available in a choice of 163 vertical and 176 horizontal sizes, Arto’s sleek design allows heat to be supplied from the smallest or largest of wall spaces

The radiator collection is said to offer flexibility for rooms of all sizes and installations requiring larger outputs, with the Arto Horizontal and Arto Vertical available in single and double versions with outputs up to 3679 watts

n Head to www.rdr.link/man010 to discover more.

Br ighter times ahead

Despite turbulent times ahead, the long term future for timber construction remains bright according to the speakers at the recent TDUK Global Market Conference.

More than 130 industr y leaders came together in London on 2nd November to discuss the state of the timber sector at Timber Development UK’s (TDUK) Global Market Conference. And while numerous speakers warned of stormy weather ahead amidst gloomy economic projections for 2023, they also said that brighter days would follow, with the industr y poised for major growth considering timber’s status as a key low carbon solution.

Attendees were welcomed by TDUK Chief Executive David Hopkins, who began proceedings by reiterating the recent merger between the Timber Trade Federation and TRADA to become Timber Development UK He said: “TDUK has been formed to better reflect the reality of the market Most of our members sell more than just one set of timber products to their customers, so we want to bring everyone together and get a better sense of what is happening right across the timber market

“TDUK will lead best practice with the industry’s most comprehensive technical resource library We’ll also give you the tools and guidance to lead the timber sector towards a low carbon future, which now has to be central to the way we all do business ”

This was followed by a presentation on the current state of the timber supply trade from

TDUK Head of Technical and Trade, Nick Boulton. Nick outlined the way volumes of timber imports into the UK have fluctuated over recent years, both during and immediately after the Covid pandemic.

He explained: “By the end of 2021, shortages of other materials encouraged people to delay work and so demand for timber fell, resulting in ports being full of unneeded timber stock That’s part of the

reason why, in the first six months of 2022, volumes of imports decreased while the backlog at the ports cleared

“But in recent months, loss of consumer confidence has become the main cause of reduced demand for timber, and other building materials, in the domestic RMI market We did see growth in the market during Q1 of 2022, which continued until June before starting to fall in line with

David Hopkins, TDUK Chief Executive

Nick Boulton, TDUK Head of Technical and Trade,

decreasing consumer confidence, exaggerating the usual summer slowdown in the softwood market ”

Despite these fluctuations in timber imports, Nick said supplies to the construction sector during 2022 have been consistent and reliable with no shortage reported He also addressed the fluctuation in timber pricing that has been seen over recent years, and particularly during the Covid pandemic, when demand for timber outstripped available supplies

For instance, the TDUK Structural Importing Price Index highlights that, pre Covid, the price of timber remained relatively stable for many years, and Nick predicted that in time the market will return to more stable pricing, albeit likely at a higher average price

point than previously.

The challenging task of predicting what lies ahead for timber and the wider construction industry fell to Professor Noble Francis, Economics Director at the Construction Products Association (CPA)

Noble began by acknowledging how difficult it currently is to forecast accurately for 2023 considering the recent political and financial chaos, simply noting that “No one knows what’s definitely going to happen, and there’s real uncertainty around the 2023/24 forecasts ”

He explained that UK GDP got back to pre Covid levels at the start of 2022, however economists were expecting it to fall during both Q3 and Q4 this year, putting the UK into recession Noble believes there will be further

contraction at the start of 2023, but that the recovery will begin during the second half of next year, and that interest rates will peak somewhere around 4% in 2023

While the UK entering recession with a forecast 1% fall of GDP next year is not a positive step, Noble reassured the gathered delegates that these falls are not as catastrophic as the economy saw during the crash of 2008, when GDP fell by 5%

He also pointed out that construction was at a very high level during 2020 and 2021 due to all the domestic RMI work carried out during Covid, and so the decline in construction is from these high points and he expects construction to begin its recovery in 2024

For timber in particular, Noble echoed David’s assertion that the long term future is bright He said: “If the government wants to build 300,000 homes a year, as well as decarbonising the heat network, that means we will need to build more energy efficient homes and carry out lots of energy efficient retrofit work on existing buildings all of that is good news for timber”

Concluding the conference, David added: “The last couple of years have thrown some considerable challenges at our industr y, with the pandemic, invasion of Ukraine and political instability placing the market on a rollercoaster, where highs are to be matched by lows This coming winter looks no easier with energy security likely to be a key concern for businesses and households across Europe, as spiking interest rates, inflation, and labour availability create a challenging business environment

“However, against this gloomy outlook, there is room for optimism on a policy level, with our speakers outlining the increasing recognition of timber as a climate change solution for the built environment Through TDUK we are creating an opportunity to significantly advance timber’s position in the market, as we build strong connections between suppliers and specifiers.”

n For more information on TDUK, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man011

Two-way communication

The relationship between the timber industr y and the merchant sector has never been stronger Through effective communication and understanding, we have navigated a turbulent market that since the start of the pandemic in 2020 has seen supply chain issues and fluctuating prices This is all at a time when wood is embraced as the low carbon option in building toward a sustainable future Production of OSB (oriented strand board) has been ramped up to fill the gap in the market left by import restrictions on products. In turn, merchants are helping their customers switch to the most appropriate, often locally sourced, sheet materials

It is vital that accurate information reaches right through the supply chain Within the timber industr y, there is considerable expertise, so we work closely with our merchant customers and talk to

their end users, including housebuilders, to explain what is happening and why

Pricing is a key topic We watch the markets closely to understand the influencing factors and ensure merchants can make the margins they need, at a price point that is viable for their customers It is a juggling game, with many issues to consider bark beetle damage, raw material issues, energ y prices and chemicals costs.

And as the building industr y faces rising labour costs and skills shortages, innovation in wood products is increasingly essential Collaboration with merchants and their customer base is helping manufacturers better understand where new products are needed and enables them to be brought to market.

For the merchant, it is ultimately about having the right products in stock As an industr y, we can suggest to merchants what they order because we see where the trends are going

We are also able to train their staff so that they ask the right questions of their customers For example, a customer may be buying an MDF sheet but, if it is to be used

Sanjit Dosanjh, West Fraser’s National Sales Manager for the UK & Ireland, examines the relationship

between merchants and the timber industry.

in a bathroom, they may need a moisture resistant product instead of a standard product It is these little things that help customers and build the merchant’s reputation

O ver t he p ast 12 14 mont hs, we have b e en doing a lot of t raining on line We are now incre asing ly aske d by our merchants to t rain p e ople w ho have come into t he business and want to have t he k now le dge to s el l t imb er pro duc ts ef fe c t ively We are a ls o aware of merchants w it h t imb er sp e ci a lists and t imb er sp e ci a list branches t hat help t hem maximis e s a les and incre as e marg ins

Although price is still a significant factor, we are seeing more and more people wanting to buy sustainable products For the timber industr y sustainability is key, and we are here to help merchants achieve their goals on their carbon zero journey

Equally importantly, we have to enable them to pass the sustainability message on to their customers: the housebuilders and tradespeople.

Two way communication between the industr y and merchants is essential, be it in sales, marketing, training or any other aspect of the business. We are happy to have

From the forest to the warehouse

n West Fraser says that its SterlingOSB Zero board is the “first and only OSB produced in the UK to be free from formaldehyde added during the manufacturing process” hence the ‘Zero’ moniker It is also one of the most popular panel products employed here, widely used structurally for walls and roofs as well as applications such as shop fitting and offsite fabrication

How SterlingOSB Zero is manufactured is, in itself, a complex and fascinating process. It all begins with the trees being harvested from UK or European forests, which are then de branched/cut to size and delivered as green timber to the wood storage area of the factory

The bark is then removed and recycled for process heat while the green timber then goes on to the cyclones to separate the steam and strands Moisture is further reduced to less than 4% in rotary drum dryers, before the material is passed into a ring strander where 48 knives rotate at a flailing 400 rpm to shred the wood chips into strands accurate to 0 8mm

Screening separates the resulting material by size, determining which is to be used for the core and surface layers. The strands are then coated with a mix of wax and resins before being arranged in three layers, perpendicular to each other, helping give the boards their strength

Online quality control is undertaken at this stage, and the approved panels are trimmed, dated and certification stamped Then, a continuous, heated compression is applied to join the strands ever more tightly, before the emerging boards pass through metal detectors if any ferrous material is found, the board is rejected

The panels are then cooled in a star cooler before being sent to the finishing lines, where they are cut to size, the tongue and groove edges formed, and special coatings are applied Ultimately, at the end of the line the boards are warehoused ready for distribution

West Fraser says its sustainably managed operations “from forest to factory gate” contribute to SterlingOSB Zero’s manufacture being a net carbon negative process, and therefore another reason for its wide specification across the UK, as the construction industry tries to reduce its environmental impact

conversations with our merchant customers to help them close timber sales It is about using data, thinking outside the box and being more consultative.

n For more information on West Fraser’s range of products and support services for merchants, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man012

“And as the building industr y faces rising labour costs and skills shor tages, innovation in wood products is increasingly essential. Collaboration with merchants and their customer base is helping manufacturers better understand where new products are needed and enables them to be brought to market.”

Of fsite opportunities

Heralded by the government as key to increasing housing deliver y by improving efficiency, raising standards and navigating labour shortage challenges, offsite construction presents a particular conundrum for the merchant sector. Is there an opportunity to be a key contributor within a growing and hitherto untapped supply chain, or is it an existential threat as merchant businesses are ‘disintermediated’ by factor y production and new procurement frameworks?

The discussion formed a core element of the BMF’s Annual Members’ Conference in the autumn, with speakers suggesting that MMCs and offsite construction will constitute up to 20 25% of the new build market within a decade At the BMF event, delegates heard from Brendan Twomey from Berkeley Modular who, in an enlightening presentation, noted that the company sources a variety of materials for its projects under a long term agreement with Travis Perkins

Clear opportunities do exist, in Brendan’s words, given the merchant sector’s expertise in “product solutions, logistics, leverage, costs and customer ser vice”, and this can be demonstrated in a variety of different ways.

Many merchants are now working with external offsite partners, whilst others are able to take a more integrated or holistic approach For example, The Sovini Group, which “boasts a unique end to end supply chain”, is now supporting its wider environmental strateg y with its latest

initiative “of adapting raw materials for the new build construction arm of its business, Sovini Construction ”

Its newest shift in sustainable construction management is said to be the latest in a long line of “ecological and biodiverse plans for delivering affordable social housing across the North West”, with the Group’s offsite development framework set to deliver 1,000 new high quality and affordable homes within the next four years

Time for timber

Crucially, the first part of the process sees structurally graded, PEFC certified timber sourced from Scandinavia and delivered to the Group’s own independent builders’ merchant, Sovini Trade Supplies The climate smart raw material is then transferred to a local Merseyside based organisation, timber frame specialist SticX

The award winning team at SticX use the latest 3D CAD software to integrate the main architectural design of the structures Once constructed, the frame is compartmentalised and transported to site where it is erected to deliver homes that provide a significantly lower carbon footprint as a result of its manufacturing whilst also reducing energ y consumption throughout its lifetime, and locking away atmospheric CO2 for generations

Furthermore, with the Group’s timber frames being produced off site and delivered in a prefabricated form, construction times to make a building ‘wind and watertight’ can save as much as

30% over that of traditional construction

John Maddock, Director of SticX, said: “ Timber Framing is a great solution for The Sovini Group For a client who’s genuinely concerned about sustainability it scores highly By partnering with them, we can help develop improved solutions to save money and time Ultimately, using timber frames means they can provide higher quality houses for their clients. We’re also a local company, so their spend stays local and benefits the Merseyside economy. We’re delighted to share our expertise with such an enlightened and progressive client ”

n Enter www rdr link/man013 to read more about The So vini Group’s end to end supply chain ser vices and its Net Zero Carbon Commitment.

u i l d e r s

As renewed focus is placed on so-called modern methods of construction (MMCs) to help the nation deliver on its necessary house building targets, The Sovini Group is investing in offsite construction as part of its ongoing Net Zero Carbon Commitment.

Morris Meadows in Merseyside The Sovini Group s affordable housing development, implementing offsite timber construction

SticX timber frame delivery on site

(left to right) Anita Harrison Carroll, The Sovini Group Chief Business Officer; John Maddock, SticX Director; Alan Evans, Director of Operations at Sovini Trade Supplies

“Crucially, the first part of the process sees structurally graded, PEFC certified timber sourced from Scandinavia and d e l i v e r e d t o t h e G r o u p ’ s i n d e p e n d e n t b u i l d e r s ’ m e r c h a n t , S o v i n i Tr a d e S u p p l i e s . ”

ROOFING REWARDS

Mar ley makes it simple with ‘My Account’

For merchants looking to make their lives easier, the My Account digital platform from Marley ticks all the boxes. My Account is the one stop shop for customers to manage orders, find training and request quotes, as well as much more…

E asy to navigate

Designed with an easy to navigate dashboard that gives access to all aspects of your account at the click of a button, My Account is the go to hub for Marley customers. With easy log in from computer, tablet or smartphone, trade accounts can be conveniently managed whilst the latest Marley news and ser vice updates are also available first

Manage orders with ease Aiming to take the stress out of materials ordering and supp or ting the planning and management of your orders, My Account gives you access to lead times w hilst the ne w s earch func tion lets you quick ly and easily f ind sp ecif ic orders and details

There’s also a download option so you can manage and organise by expected deliver y date for full visibility Existing orders, quotes and sample requests are available at the touch of a button 24/7, 365 days a year

Boost your skills

Providing further support, My Account features a training hub where users can access convenient ten minute training modules, Teams training sessions as well as the opportunity to book planned in person training In addition, My Account local Area Sales Manager and Customer Ser vice Advisor details are available for further guidance and advice.

n If you are a Marley customer, speak to your local Area Sales Manager to get set up or for further details on Marley’s My Account, please visit www marley co uk/my account

Prime directive

Composite decking is the fastest growing timber decking alternative currently available on the landscaping market. Although traditional timber decking has been the preferred choice of many for years, it’s a high maintenance product which requires annual painting and staining. On the other hand, composite decking is a simple, no fuss alternative due to its unique formula, which makes it low maintenance and more durable than traditional products

There is now growing importance and interest in homeowners making more eco friendly choices when it comes to developing and updating their homes and there are an abundance of environmental benefits to composite decking For example, each square metre of Composite Prime

decking contains the equivalent of more than 3,000 plastic bottle caps or 280 plastic bottles Moreover, in the last seven years of operation the brand has saved the equivalent of 176 million plastic milk bottles from landfill and over 1 8 billion bottle tops

Composite benefits

The wooden fibres and plastic shavings are combined with colour pigments before being heated and extruded. The plastic content gives the boards a long lifespan without the need to treat or seal the decking, whilst the wood content enables the product to retain its natural look and feel

The finished product is extruded and engineered to ensure that it meets the requirements of landscapers and garden designers across the board

Most homeowners seek to create a garden that is practical and utilises a range of solutions to add value to a home And when it comes to choosing the right materials to source for a residential project, composite decking is an ideal option due to its low maintenance and durable properties

In addition, it has the ability to stay free from cracks and splinters, increasing its lifespan and making it

bare foot safe. It is suitable for all family gardens as it doesn’t warp, crack or splinter, therefore making it safe and slip free whilst composite products can also be fire resistant so you don’t need to worr y about any barbeque or fire pit mishaps

With this increased interest from consumers for more durable, sustainable and cost effective products, stocking and working with composite products will enable merchants to meet consumers ’ needs as the demand for composite products grows

Natural aesthetics

Homeowners are also looking for products with natural aesthetics; composite is manufactured using the latest technolog y to provide the look and feel of traditional timber without the hassle of high maintenance, or health and safety concerns They are created using a combination of recycled plastics and 100% FSC Certified wood flour, which is a waste product of hardwood production.

When selecting materials for a decking project, many homeowners underestimate the maintenance a timber deck needs, or have not considered replacing an old timber substructure frame with composite deck boards which require far less upkeep for the same natural look.

Charles Taylor, Director at Composite Prime, explores the growing market for composite products and outlines the advantages they can offer merchants in terms of both stockholding and sales.

Sustainable alternative

Making sustainable choices when it comes to developing and designing gardens is crucial to ensure we begin to combat the growing crisis around waste As outlined above, composite decking has a number of environmental benefits and as a result, consumers are choosing to switch to composite materials instead of using plastic, as they provide a much more

sustainable and genuine alternative to timber As the demand for sustainable alternatives grows it is the ideal product for merchants to invest in

Durability

There is also an increased interest from consumers for more durable and cost effective products Furthermore, since the cost of living crisis began, homeowners

across the UK are looking for ways to invest in long term solutions and how to add value to their home through garden updates

For those wanting to invest in their space ready to make the most of a move down the line, composite decking is a durable and strong investment for your outdoor space to ensure a good return with a product with a life span of approximately 25 years.

As the market and demand for composite products grows, it brings great advantage for stakeholders and merchants as consumers become increasingly interested and aware of the durability, sustainability and natural aesthetic this timber alternative offers

n For more information on Composite Prime’s range of products and comprehensive support package for merchants, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man014

Ser ve and protect

The increased use of natural materials such as timber as a central feature of building design presents significant opportunities for merchants to offer an array of maintenance solutions.

PBM takes a look at the new Armourflex UV Protection Oil from Barrettine.

Sustainable modern architecture has evolved into the ‘industry standard’ for construction projects, generating a flood of designs incorporating natural materials and perhaps none more so than wood Seemingly pervasive across all sectors, this trend can be seen in the construction of houses, flats, offices, public buildings and beyond However, such materials are naturally perishable and without maintenance will rapidly deteriorate.

UV Protection Oil is the latest high performance addition to the specialist range of ArmourFlex coatings from Barrettine, offering what the supplier describes as an efficient solution to protect exterior wood facades and vertical surfaces Formulated with a careful balance of UV absorbers and antioxidants, Armourflex UV Protection Oil has been designed to capture the damaging UV rays from the sun and dissipate them safely away as heat

In turn, this averts greying whilst also hindering the swelling, shrinkage, splitting and warping of wooden surfaces. With performance tested resins the product also resists water and dirt, thereby reducing potential discolouration from fungal attack This gives an overall picture of healthy timber, with an extended ser vice life and reduced maintenance expenses

Wooden facades will regress to grey and warp if left unprotected, even for relatively short periods of time This could necessitate the expense of re cladding and thereby reduces the eco credentials of the design

However, UV Protection Oil retains the cladding as a “protected investment,” looking new for longer and maintaining its structural integrity Indeed, its manufacturers say that the product will not crack, peel or flake when subjected to the intense variety of our annual weather cycle

Furthermore, the product is not limited to the wide expanses of cladding but is also said to be equally suitable for exterior doors, window frames and joiner y, protecting the wood against UV damage and weathering

In addition, application is described as being easy with the product “gliding” onto the wood with a brush or roller Both coats can be applied within one working day and cured by morning.

Barrettine is a Bristol based, UK manufacturer with over 140 years histor y, specialising in high quality protective wood coatings for the Professional market With a focus on developing the “first class durability expected from trade performance products,” the firm invests in “diligent product development to answer modern construction challenges with innovative new solutions.”

A full package of support is available to merchant stockists including in store point of sale, technical assistance, and training alongside enriched online content

n For more information on Barrettine’s range of products and support ser vices for merchants, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man015

JELD WEN FIRE DOOR WHITE PAPER

Ahead of the imminent Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 on 23 January 2023, Jeld Wen has explored the critical role of fire door safety, what’s due to change and what should happen to better protect tenants in its new white paper, ‘Fire Safety: Time to Shut the Door on Risk ’

The thought provoking document sets out the purpose and effectiveness of fire doors, relevant regulations, manufacturing, installation and maintenance, before outlining research which looks at confidence amongst the social housing community and wider factors, such as the trade skills gap and housing crisis

Furthermore, it sets a benchmark for perceived progress in the industry, noting that just 30% of people living in social housing feel assured that their home is sufficiently protected against the threat of a fire It also highlights some of the additional measures that can help deliver progress, with a focus on enabling a “much more rigorous and transparent approach” through the stages in the fire door safety chain.

WHITESALES

ROOFLIGHT UPSTAND

With Building Regulations now requiring all rooflight upstands built on site to meet a 0 35W/m2K U Value, Whitesales has launched an all in one proprietary solution said to make it for builders to comply The overhea specialist has developed a new pre assembled timber sloping upstand to fit with its popular em.glaze fixed and hinged aluminium rooflights, which means builders don’t need to build anything separate on site and don’t need to worry about U Value calculations for Part L compliance

With upstands now classified as part of the wall feature for the purposes of Part B fire safety requirements, Whitesales has also ensured that its version “easily meets the EN13501 1 fire resistance standard” with pre fitted fire rated insulation sandwiched between the plywood elements and the addition of an A1 fire rated plasterboard lining as standard.

LATHAMS WISA BIOBOND

Describing itself as “one of the UK’s most sustainable materials distributors”, Lathams has announced the introductio rigorously tested and “ultra sustainable” WISA BioBond as the standard bonding agent across its full range of WISA Spruce plywood Said to be a “landmark development in plywood adhesive”, BioBond replaces at least 50% of standard glue’s fossil based phenol with lignin timber’s inherent bonding agent This partial substitution reduces the carbon footprint of WISA Spruce by approximately 10%, without compromising technical performance or visual appeal, to offer a like for like yet greener alternative

WOOD PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

‘FIT FOR PURPOSE’

TREATED TIMBER

The WPA is reminding merchants that whilst one piece of treated wood may look very much like any other, the level of preservative protection can be very different. Accordingly, the particular applications for treated timber are grouped into colour coded ‘Use Classes’ with the British Standard for wood preservation (BS 8417) and the WPA’s Code of Practice: Industrial Wood Preservation requiring that “the loading and penetration of preservative impregnated into the wood is tailored to the desired end use ”

The organisation is highlighting its ongoing campaign to ensure that treated timber is truly ‘fit for purpose’ with only the appropriate products used for their intended application For example, for the fencing, gardens and landscaping sector, when treated wood will be used in contact with or close to the ground, the message is to ‘Use Class 4’ drawing on the WPA’s ‘Make Sure it’s 4’ logo and communications package

For the broader timber supply chain, the campaign’s focus also includes differentiating between interior and exterior applications for treated wood with the WPA using a bold, colour coded ‘Use Class 2, 3 or 4?’ message and simplified product descriptions

Campaign news

British Gypsum

Protecting the art of plastering

There’s a rather beautiful simplicity about this ad from British Gypsum, outlining its heritage of more than a century and referencing its support for the ‘craft’ of plastering to ensure that the trades can “deliver perfectly smooth walls for better homes and spaces ”

Further emphasised by a tagline of “We care about building better”, more information on the company and its comprehensive product range awaits via www.rdr.link/man020

Shurtape

T Rex

tapes

The full line up from the ‘ferociously strong’ brand is on display here Use the shortcode

www.rdr.link/man021 to get the lowdown on products such as the ‘Brute Force’ duct tape and the ‘Extreme Hold’ all weather mounting tape

Mascot

Ultimate Stretch Workwear

Offering a point by point breakdown of the garment’s key benefits, Mascot showcases its ‘ very durable work trousers for carpenters’ in this month’s ad Comfort, practicality and versatility appear to be some of the key watchwords

More details can be found through www rdr link/man022

Werner 100 years of innovation

Neatly illustrating its array of solutions for every on site requirement, Werner says it is supporting the trade “ every step of the way ” Use the shortcode www rdr link/man023 to discover more about the company ’ s full portfolio of ladders

For more on this and all of the company ’ s roof pitch

head to www.rdr.link/man024

Professional Builder and Professional Heating & Plumbing Installer magazines continued to engage with professional tradespeople across the nation throughout the pandemic, increasing their digital reach when the trade counters were closed.

With demand for work continuing to be high, PBM looks at some of the advertising campaigns to feature in the latest issues as active suppliers seek to influence the buying decisions of approaching 200,000 trade professionals at merchant branches each month.

Viessmann Which? Best Buy Combi Range 2022

With WiFi inside for mobile device control, Viessmann’s ad celebrates the award of Best Buy status from the consumer champions for the fifth time in six years with excellent reliability and high scores for build quality, ease of repair and servicing cited as the reasons why Enter the shortcode www rdr link/man025 for more on the range

Warmflow

Zeno Air Source heat pumps

As the drive for renewable heating technologies continues to gather pace, Warmflow’s line up of three models (8, 12 and 20kW) looks to represent a very stylish way forward

For further details on the performance and installation benefits referenced on the advert, head to www.rdr.link/man028

Drayton Auto-balancing TRVs

Quick and easy to install, Drayton says its auto balancing TRVs reduce waste by an average 8 8% and will make cold spots and call backs a thing of the past

For the full picture, search www.rdr.link/man026

Lakes ‘Lakes life easier’

A clear advert from Lakes outlines the showering spaces specialist’s key installation benefits and service support package, including lifetime product guarantees and delivery within 48 to 72 hours, all in the interests of, erm, laking life easier for your installer customers

Check www rdr link/man027 to discover more

Ultraheat Radiator range

Laying claim to the ‘largest in stock range of radiators in the UK for next day delivery’, this ad from the heating division of Pictas highlights Ultraheat’s Premier Range, Compact 4, Planal & Lanner, and its Electric Towel Rails

For further info and to request a catalogue, use www.rdr.link/man029

Recycle path

Klober says it has “stepped up efforts to reduce plastic packaging in the construction supply chain”. PBM reports.

With the stated aim of tackling sustainability head on, Klober will be rolling out various recycled packaging solutions over the coming months This comes at a time when the green agenda continues to dominate headlines, with plastic waste from UK construction businesses said to have increased by 45 72% in two years according to government data in 2021.

Chris Nicholls, the supplier’s Commercial Director, said: “Plastic use in construction components remains fundamental due to the durability and longevity benefits it boasts Therefore, opting for alternatives materials could create more waste due to shorter component lifespans and more frequent replacements

“ That said, identifying ways to cut back is vitally important to us as a business and as individuals Packaging is one area that we can make a positive change ”

The construction industr y is responsible for around 23% of all plastic consumed in the UK and a report published in May this year from the Zero Avoidable Packaging Waste in Construction (ZAP) project, led by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP), highlighted “ a lack of

substitute materials, particularly for shrink wrap and straps”

With this in mind, Klober’s pallet strapping is now made from 30% recycled content, as Chris explained: “We’ve introduced a range of solutions to reduce plastic consumption and feed into a circular economy For example, we now use a 100% paper tape in some cases When making these changes, it was crucial that we balanced sustainability with product quality or safety during transport

“Where plastic is still necessar y, we ’ ve switched our tapes to PET which is the most recycled material worldwide It’s made from 85% recycled content and is 100% recyclable ”

Indeed, since the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax came into effect on 1 April this year, many manufacturers have revisited their plastic packaging to ensure it contains more than 30% recycled content Furthermore, the company says its customers have long benefitted from a variety of recycled solutions, including the Eaves Ventilation range which comes in R PET, a material made of 100% recycled plastic bottles However, the roofing components supplier has now gone one step further

“ The plastic packaging tax was a catalyst for change, creating real incentives for businesses to do more to reduce waste,” concludes Chris “We’re extremely proud to have made some key changes, which are functional as well as being kind to the planet For example, not only is our shrink wrap made from 30% recycled content but, due to its 400% stretchability, the typical user will require 50% less versus conventional shrink wrap We’re also making changes such as opting for 100% recyclable paper deliver y note pouches and switching from plastic bags to biodegradable sugar cane bags for our dr y ridge kit fixings ”

As part of these wider improvements, the firm is also updating packaging across its extensive membrane range to reduce waste When it comes to installing the membrane, the packaging is often quickly discarded so the paper wrapper surrounding the roll has now been reduced from full size to A3

n Enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man030 for more information on Klober’s packaging initiative

UNION

KEY COPY PROTECTION

UNION has launched a new guide to highlight the issue of misleading claims around key copy protection, advising merchants to be vigilant against such claims to avoid the fallout that can result from misusing trademarks craig birch, Head of Product management at UNION, explained: “The idea of ‘copyright protection’ or ‘lifetime trademark protection’ has long been a myth in our industry, and one that only someone with a good knowledge of trademark law is likely to see through That’s why we ’ re spreading awareness about this issue with our new guide, which highlights the fact that the only way to validate whether a key and cylinder system is safe from key copying is if it is subject to a current patent, like our new keymASTer range ” Go to www.rdr.link/man031 to download the new guide.

ASSA ABLOY FIRE DOOR GUIDE

S h o w c a s e d t o m a r k t h e s t a r t o f F i r e d o o r S a f e t y We e k , AS SA A b LOY O p e n i n g S o l u t i o n s U K & I r e l a n d i s u r g i n g t h o s e i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e s p e c i f i c a t i o n , i n s t a l l a t i o n , a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f f i r e d o o r s t o e d u c a t e t h e m s e l v e s b y r e v i e w i n g i t s c o m p r e h e n s i v e F i r e d o o r G u i d e md brian Sofley said: “We understand the pressure the industry feels to deliver services faster than ever, at the lowest price point possible However, this could potentially lead to specification errors with fire safety products, causing ongoing installation and maintenance issues As fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, the impact that this can have can be devasting, and in some instances mean the loss of life ” To download a copy of the guide, use www rdr link/man032

HANSGROHE INSTALLER BROCHURE

Showcasing products from across its most popular Vernis blend and Vernis Shape ranges, plus a range of trade solutions in one useful guide, hansgrohe has released a brand new brochure specifically designed to help installers inspire and guide customers to their ideal bathroom renovation or update

From exposed and concealed showers to basin and bath mixer taps, the brochure includes a range of product options, finishes and price points, to make it simple to suggest options that fulfil customer’s needs in terms of functionality, aesthetics, and budget, with ease Download a copy for your customers via www.rdr.link/man033

KNIPEX

CHRISTMAS PROMOTION

Knipex has launched its 2022 christmas promotion (87 00 100 XmAS), featuring the cobra XS inside a festive ornament as a special limited edition set! White stars on a red background adorn the festive decorative packaging and hidden inside is a mini version of the popular water pump pliers, measuring just 100 mm

The tool itself features 11 adjustment positions, 24 mm (1”) jaw capacity and one handed quick adjustment Its slim profile means it is perfect for use in tight spaces, while a pinch guard prevents operators’ fingers being injured

WAVIN ‘WAVAN’ MERCHANT ROADSHOW

Hitting the road in a custom mobile display vehicle dubbed the ‘WaVan’ Wavin has set off on a national roadshow to bring its expertise and extensive product range to merchants and installers across the UK The manufacturer kicked off the tour by partnering with Wolseley to visit sixteen of the merchant’s distribution centres before the end of 2022, with further trips planned in the new year during the visits, Wavin experts are providing hands on product demonstrations while answering queries and offering insight into full range of products including Hep2o, the Osma Soil & Waste range, as well as rainwater systems

For more examples of supplier support for merchants on the PBM website, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/man034

w w w p r o f e s s i o n a l b u i l d e r s m e r c h a n t c o u k

This range expansion comes in the landmark 50th anniversar y year for the Nantwich based company, which reportedly now supplies a total of more than 8,000 products for the construction and industrial sectors The latest product launches include the addition of high viz clothing to the company ’ s

CE Approved Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) range which now encompasses vests, polo shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces, trousers, jackets and coats

In addition, more than 200 new hand tools were introduced this spring and summer

The product selection was specifically designed for a range of tasks, covering all trades and applications Furthermore, the distributor has also extended its ironmongery category with more than 200 new interior and exterior ironmongery products launched as part of a full range review.

TIMCO also added to its selection of A5 Range Specific Product Guides containing comprehensive and dedicated product range

Golden wonders

TIMCO says

2022

the trade relies on every day”.

over views These are categor y specific and available for customers’ use; providing them with additional marketing collateral as well as helping to drive further sales

The company states that it has further launches due before the end of the year for example, a range of new Workwear was scheduled for November whilst a “whole, new and exciting categor y range which will be unveiled online prior to Christmas” ahead of an official launch in Januar y.

In addition to continually reassessing its product portfolio, TIMCO says it is also committed to delivering excellent customer ser vice to suit individual customers’ needs. Ongoing focus and investment has centred on its website and continued development to improve the speed, search functionality and overall user experience

Examples are said to include Related Products, Out of Stock Alternatives as well as Back in Stock Dates and a unique Stock Watch Function which provides customers with an ‘alert’ when the selected product returns to stock

The company also introduced Direct Deliver y online earlier this year, billed as a major project whereby TIMCO can deliver products to any address for only £2 50 (for orders of more than £50) and can even personalise the deliver y by including the customer’s logo on the deliver y note This solution is designed to save customers’ warehouse space, operational costs, staffing costs, and provides its merchant customers with “ access to 8,000 products overnight”

The p opularity of the s er vice is e vident in the fac t that the p ercentage of

direc t to site orders now accounts for 10% of orders each month

MD Simon Midwood said: “We conducted extensive research to find out the products and services our customers want, and we ’ re delighted to be delivering these through an ever increasing range of quality stock, accompanied by the famous ‘TIMCO hug’ an umbrella of support packages that help customers compete in a competitive market ”

more information on the company’s expanded range, in addition to its marketing support package for merchants, enter the shortcode www rdr link/man035

w p r o f e s s i o n a l b u i l d

As it marks its 50th anniversary year,

it is on track to launch 1,000 new product lines in

with the distributor continuing to expand its offer in response to growing demand for “quality products that

n For

“More than 200 new hand tools were introduced this spring and summer (whilst) the distributor has also extended its ironmonger y categor y with more than 200 new interior and exterior ironmonger y products launched as par t of a full range review.”

ROCKWOOL ENHANCED TRADE RANGE

Said to be the most thermally efficient stone wool insulation currently available in the UK and Ireland, Rockwool has launched Thermal Insulation Cavity Slab 32 and Thermal Frame Slab 32 Suitable for multiple applications, the two dual purpose products are made using patented NyRock technology and feature a more efficient fibre structure that is denser and traps more air This extra air helps slow the transfer of heat further for greater thermal performance and a low lambda (l) rating of 0.032 W/mK.

ALUMASC INFINITY STEEL RAINWATER

RAINCLEAR

TIMLOC INVENTIVE ROOF TILE VENTS

Now available via Rainclear Systems, the InVentive roof tile vent range from Timloc Building Products is a comprehensive range of tile and slate vents designed to suit profile, plain, small profile and non profile roof tiles and slates as well as universal options Enabling ventilation directly into a roof space or connect to a ducted ventilation system, the range also includes compatible accessories for connection to ventilation ducts or soil vent pipes

Lightweight and easy to handle, the roof tile vents are suitable for a minimum pitch of 22 5° and are sized to replace one slate, providing a continuous visual appearance along the roof when viewed at all levels

Download the Timloc Roofline Products brochure via www.rdr.link/man036

SNICKERS WORKWEAR MID LAYER CLOTHING

Suited to traditional and modern buildings in both new build and refurbishment applications, the Infinity Steel Range is a lightweight, non corrodible alternative to PVC U systems that boasts low life cycle and maintenance costs, long term durability and 100% recyclability The range is now available in a “timeless” new colour, with RAL 9007: Grey Aluminium joining the existing galvanised pre coated, black and anthracite grey colour finishes

The system comprises deep half round gutter profiles, tapered running outlets and ‘deep drawn’ one piece angles, which combine to ensure maximum flow rates and capacity Dry joints negate the need for silicone sealants and EPDM rubber sealed connectors aide fast, easy, watertight installation

WERNER NEW PLATFORM

Launched at the recent National Painting and Decorating Show, Werner has unveiled its new Adjustable Height & Linking Pro Platform. The lightweight and versatile aluminium platform is said to offer users the “unbeatable benefit” of both height adjustability and working length extension With a design consisting of both adjustable legs and Quick Link technology, the platform provides a working height of up to 0 76m via 10 height adjustments which allows users to reach up to 2 7m In addition, it is possible to connect two or more platforms to create a longer working surface with no tools required

Said to offer “excellent breathability for efficient body temperature management”, Snickers’ body mapping designs and sustainable fabrics keep the wearer ventilated as the heat from the body is regulated to give “winter warmth and cooling comfort” as and when it is needed.

A l l S n i c ke r s Wo r k w e a r M i d l a y e r J a c ke t s , F l e e c e s , Sw e a t s h i r t s a n d K n i t w e a r c o m e i n a r a n g e o f s t y l e s a n d H i g h v i s i b i l i t y o p t i o n s f o r d i f f e r e n t w o r k i n g e n v i r o n m e n t s a n d w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s

Aanco (UK) Ltd t/a Made For Trade page 9 www.rdr.link/man100

Barrettine Group inside front cover www.rdr.link/man101

BSW Timber Ltd page 8 www.rdr.link/man102

Buckbootz page 20 www.rdr.link/man103

Crash Charity page 4 www.rdr.link/man104

Easy-T rim Roofing & Construction Products Ltd page 14 www.rdr.link/man105

Elevate (formerly Firestone Building Products) page 23 www.rdr.link/man106

Forgefix Ltd page 41 www.rdr.link/man107

Hexstone Ltd page 39 www.rdr.link/man108

Intact page 20 www.rdr.link/man109

Jouplast UK page 25 www.rdr.link/man110

professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk page 31 www.rdr.link/man111

ROCKWOOL Ltd page 27 www.rdr.link/man112

Spanish Slate Quarries UK Ltd page 35 www.rdr.link/man113

Stakapal Ltd page 29 www.rdr.link/man114

TOOLFAIR outside back cover www.rdr.link/man115

VIP-Polymers Ltd page 31 www.rdr.link/man116

West Fraser page 17 www.rdr.link/man117

Wickens Engineering Ltd page 35 www.rdr.link/man118

Y O U TH DEVEL O PM EN T

Alan Hansen infamously once said “you can’t win anything with kids” of Manchester United, but the club’s youth policy really is the stuff of legends The stories of the Busby Babes and Fergie’s Fledglings are well known, but the Red Devils’ in house pipeline runs far deeper

A simply astounding fact made the news ahead of United’s game against West Ham at the end of October, confirming that the Red Devils have featured a homegrown player in every matchday squad for the last 85 years As reported on manutd com, “the sequence started on Saturday 30 October 1937 when Tom Manley and Jack Wassall were involved in an away game at Fulham.”

Manley had already played for the first team 161 times, whilst Wassall made has 15th appearance against the Cottagers We can only assume they both missed the previous fixture, but since that day in West London, United have featured a former youth team player in the squad for over 4,000 consecutive games

According to the club website, “the epic stat was uncovered by historian Tony Park, whose criteria for a homegrown player is three fold: 1) they have to have signed before the age of 18, 2) played at a junior level below the first team at United and 3) not to have played for another team at senior level.”

Apparently, Park had clocked “incredible numbers of youth players featuring in matches, particularly during the 1950s” while researching his book Sons of United (written with Steve Hobin). He subsequently traced the run all the way back to that match at Craven Cottage, and the run continues to this day from Manley and Wassall, through Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Nobby Stiles, Sammy McIlroy, Mark Hughes, Norman Whiteside, the famous ‘Class of ’92’ and all the way to the likes of Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay today

It may not be going quite as well on the pitch as the club and its fans would like, but you have to admire this extraordinary achievement.

S E E I N G R E D

With the World Cup now underway, we’re going to be paying close attention to the matches officiated by Argentine referee Facundo Tello He was the man in the middle at the recent Champions Trophy final between Boca Juniors and Racing Club which saw an incredible TEN players sent off and the game ending early as Boca had only six players left on the pitch!

As reported by the BBC, Boca’s Sebastian Villa and Racing’s Johan Carbonero were dismissed in the 95th minute following an argument, while Boca’s Alan Varela was shown a second yellow five minutes later It then all kicked off when Racing’s Carlos Alcaraz netted the winner in the 118th minute of a typically tense match and the Boca players “surrounded him, grabbing him by the ear and throwing the ball at him ”

The ref “sent off Alcaraz along with five Boca players, including Dario Benedetto, an unused substitute, and Carlos Zambrano, who had been replaced earlier ” Unused Racing sub Jonathan Galvan also received his marching orders to take the total to an incredible ten and in case you’ve lost count, that’s seven reds to Boca and three for Racing!

R O N N I E R A D F O R D

We were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Ronnie Radford, whose goal for Hereford against Newcastle in a third round FA Cup tie in 1972 is surely one of the most iconic goals in the tour nament’s history His 35 yard thunderbolt not only set the Bulls on their way to becoming the first non league club to defeat a top flight side since 1949, but it also helped launch the career of a young John Motson the unexpected upset ensured plenty of coverage for the unsuspecting Motty, and the rest is broadcasting history.

With Paul Davies

A kindergarten in Manchester