FORTIS merchant members and suppliers recently returned to the Celtic Manor for a focused and high-intensity Building & Timber Conference.
Perfectly encapsulating the stated theme of “Vision, Strength & Unity,” the two-day event was structured to facilitate the maximum level of engagement between merchants and suppliers with 35 revolving rounds of formal “Meet the Merchant” sessions – totalling 2,000+ individual meetings – taking place.
With many of the 40+ FORTIS merchant member businesses bringing at least four delegates (and some taking up to eight…), an even greater level of negotiation strength was ensured by bringing in specialists across the tailored, category-based meeting streams: Bricks & Blocks / Civils & Groundworks / Landscaping & Cement; Joinery / Timber; Decorating & Chemicals / Tools & Ironmongery; Insulation & Plasterboard / Roofing.
Also offering an array of informal networking opportunities, the event – attended by a total of around 600 delegates from across the sector – was punctuated by the buying group’s Building & Timber Awards. Hosted by the engaging Josh Widdicombe, accolades were presented across the following categories:
FORTIS Building & Timber Awards:
Bricks & Blocks
Winner: Wienerberger
Nominees: Forterra, H+H, Vandersanden
Civils & Groundworks
Winners: Brett Martin
Nominees: ACO, Keystone Lintels, FP McCann
Landscaping & Cement
Winner: Hiedelberg Materials
Nominees: Pavestone, Kilsaran, Talasey
Timber & Sheet Materials
Winner: International Plywood
Nominees: ATA Timber, Sodra, W.Howard
Insulation & Plasterboard
Winner: Siniat
Nominees: Expamet, Isover, Unilin Insulation
Tools, Clothing & Ironmongery
Winner: Toolbank
Nminees: Owlett-Jaton, TIMco, Walsall Wheelbarrow Company
Roofing
Winner: Flex-R
Nominees: Restec Roofing Systems, Permavent, Timloc
Joinery & Flooring
Winner: LPD Doors
Nominees: Cheshire Mouldings, Deanta, Unilin
Decorating & Chemicals
Winner: Tembe
Nominees: Azpects, Soudal, Sika
Supplier Account Manager
Winner: Andy Fletcher – Isover
Nominees: Anneka Helgeson – ACO, Darren White – Vandersanden, Krystal Williams – Pavestone, Dan Heffernan – Sodra, Rob Dugdale – Sika, Barry Shorrock – Flex-R, Kelly Ball – Unilin Flooring, Richard Barker – Walsall Wheelbarrow Company
Most Engagement Fortis B&T Member
Winner: C&W Berry
Nominees: EH Smith, Howarth Timber & Building Supplies, Lawsons
Overall 2025 FORTIS Supplier of the Year (from the above winners…)
International Plywood
