The recent BMF Awards Dinner recognised a number of merchant businesses and individuals to have shown exceptional commitment to training and development.
BMF Training Company of the Year
In an award proudly sponsored by PBM, this year’s BMF Training Company of the Year is Howarth Timber and Building Supplies, with Dumfries Timber Company taking the Honorary Achievers Award.
Howarth Timber and Building Supplies demonstrated its support for team development with a training programme encompassing both formal and informal routes. For a company with just over 30 branches, Howarth has no fewer than 15 team members undertaking the BMF Diploma in Merchant Management course, which equips candidates with key managerial skills that they can immediately apply back at work.
Honorary Achievers Award
Operating from three branches, Dumfries Timber is one of the BMF’s smaller merchant members but it has consistently punched above its weight in developing its team. It is the only BMF member in Scotland to have participated in BMF training programmes in each of the last six years, whilst training extends across every level of the business from Apprenticeships to the BMF Diploma — with two team members within each of these programmes.
Young Achievers
The prestigious Young Achiever of the Year Awards came next, with Jayson Richards from City Plumbing Supplies being named as Young Merchant Achiever 2019 and Jade Terry of Naylor Industries named as Young Supplier Achiever 2019.
The BMF Awards Dinner also celebrated the achievements of Apprentices and those taking the next steps up their chosen career ladder. Nathan Jones of South Coast Building Supplies has been recognised as BMF Apprentice of the Year Level 2. Nathan is undertaking a Trade Supplier apprenticeship through the BMF ATA and, after six months in the warehouse followed by six months on the trade counter, he has shown professionalism in both areas.
Tom Savage of Wyckham Blackwell is the BMF Apprentice of the Year Level 3. Tom’s apprenticeship as a Business Administrator has involved some challenging tasks, but he has retained a positive attitude to his studies throughout. Described by colleagues as a “pleasure to work with”, he is organised, hardworking and embraces every opportunity to learn and meet targets.
Two honourable mentions were made in the Young Merchant Achiever category, with Fergus Bell of Bradfords Building Supplies taking the silver runners-up prize and Zia Islam of Gibbs & Dandy taking the bronze award for third place.
Finally, Jane Axford of Tamar Trading was named Best BMF Diploma Student, while Cameron Clarke of Longwater Supply is the best BMF Building Blocks Learner.
BMF CEO, John Newcomb said: “The Young Achiever of the Year Awards were launched in 2013 to recognise and reward talent, commitment, innovation and achievement amongst the next generation of BMF members. They provide a huge confidence boost not only to the winners, but to all those nominated for an Award. Once again we were delighted to see such a wealth of young talent within the industry and choosing the winners was a tough task. Our congratulations to them all.”
