Training and development is one of the key benefits of BMF membership and the Federation reports that the standard of entries for the annual BMF Awards for individuals and companies who have excelled in this field is increasing every year.
At the BMF Members’ Day Awards Dinner in September, the following achievements were celebrated:
BMF Training Company of the Year
In a category sponsored by PBM, the nominations included Haldane Fisher, McNaughton Blair, Howarth Timber, MKM and Lawsons who all presented a strong challenge to the eventual winner, Parker Building Supplies. Parkers showed an exemplary commitment to training and development throughout the company. It currently has two students studying for a BMF Post Graduate Diploma in Merchanting. Two others, who recently completed that course, have moved onto their Masters Degree. Three more employees are taking the BMF Foundation Degree in merchanting, with 18 more studying for the BMF Diploma in Merchanting.
In addition, Parkers has sent delegates to the four-day Sales Training for Sales Reps course and has run in-company courses on the Principles of Merchandising, Transport for non-Transport managers and Effective Time Management. It is also heavily involved in the BMF’s two-day Branch Manager Forum and Apprenticeship scheme, and has regularly sent teams to compete in the annual Master Merchant event. Jamie Pierce, Parkers’ Marketing Manager, is also Chairman of the BMF Young Merchant group.
BMF Supplier Engagement Award
There were six nominations for this new Award, sponsored by MRA Marketing, which recognises supplier companies that have successfully integrated membership of the BMF as a core element of their sales and marketing strategies. In a field that included ACO, Alumasc, Fakro, Monument and Reisser, the first-ever winner was JCB.
The firm has engaged with the BMF in almost every area of its business and was the only company to attend every Regional meeting, as well as the BMF Conference. It hosted three major BMF events at its Staffordshire HQ and is the first supplier member to capitalise on the strength of the BMF brand by putting the BMF logo onto every one of the products it sells into the merchant sector.
BMF Apprentices of the Year
This year two apprentices won Awards for their outstanding achievements. Daniel Bartos of Buildbase in Farnworth, and Kelly-Lea Wooley of Parker Building Supplies in Crowborough. Both were nominated by our Apprentice provider Didac and, thanks to our generous sponsors Siniat and the Institute of Builders Merchants, they each receive £1,000 towards further BMF training along with their trophies.
Young Achievers
Together with BMJ, the BMF introduced the Young Achiever Awards to recognise talented individuals who are making their mark in our industry. James Rowlands of Encon scooped the Young Supplier of the Year Award, while TIMco’s Rebecca Fortescue was highly commended.
There were three finalists for the Young Merchant of the Year Award and in an Olympic year, it seemed appropriate to award Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes. Bronze went to MKM’s Darren Smith with the Silver Award, and an Apple watch courtesy of Bostik, going to Alix Haddleton of Howarth Timber.
In first place, Bart Murphy of M P Moran took the Gold Award and a cheque for £2,500 along with a trip to Sweden courtesy of SCA Merchant Services.
The main image shows the winning team at Parker Building Supplies, with PBM’s Paul Davies (left) and BMF Chairman Peter Hindle MBE (right of centre)
