Concluding our look at the essential role BMF Regional Managers (RMs) play in helping members identify the right development programmes, this month we hear from Alex Clifford and James Spillane.
Alex Clifford looks after BMF members in London, the South East and Anglia. His 50+ years in building materials has taken him from general merchanting to plumbing and heating, encompassing independents and director level roles at Travis Perkins before moving into manufacturing with John Guest Speedfit. Launching the firm’s push-fit plumbing range in the UK, he subsequently moved to Polypipe Building Products as Business Development Director before joining the BMF in 2016.
Stating that his wide experience puts him in prime position to advise and assist members to identify training opportunities that not only help individuals advance but also benefit their business, Alex said: “It gives me enormous satisfaction to jointly design training development programmes that I know will help that business.
“There is no one solution to getting the desired result. On-site or off-site, face-to-face or online, packaged or bespoke — all have been key in achieving results that help BMF members stand out from the crowd from entry level through to director, and one of the reasons for this is our tutors’ industry knowledge.”
For Essex-based Chandler Material Supplies, the value of tutors who really understand the merchant business was an important factor in its decision, as Finance Director Ben Chandler explains: “When we recognised that we needed to invest in a programme to develop and empower our managers it was a logical choice to partner with the BMF, whose tutors have always shown a good understanding of our sector. In particular, they appreciate its unique qualities around branch relationships with customers and our staff’s flexible roles across the business.”
At 29, James Spillane, whose role covers the North West, Midlands and Ireland, may be the BMF’s youngest RM but he knows a great deal about the wide range of training opportunities available, having previously spent five years as BMF Training Manager.
As an RM, James enjoys meeting with merchants and suppliers in his region to find out about their specific goals and challenges. He says: “One of the most rewarding things is working with them to find effective solutions to help improve their businesses. This is always varied as every member is unique.
“For some it could be a targeted training programme; for others networking opportunities or access to market data. The BMF Young Merchant Group, which I help to run, is another informal vehicle that can help the next generation learn and develop.”
In particular, James highlights the Diploma in Merchant Management as an excellent tool to fast- track young managers and BPS in Leamington is just one of the merchants using the Diploma for this reason. Its HR Manager, Laura O’Keeffe, said: “We have used the BMF Diploma in recent years for our trainee managers to equip them with the operational and leadership skills needed to help run a merchant branch. The training is industry-specific and delivered on a modular basis and has proved extremely beneficial for succession planning within our business.”
The Diploma is now incorporated within the BMF’s Level 5 Management Apprenticeship, which means it is eligible for funding via the Apprenticeship Levy.
To discover the BMF’s latest full prospectus, or to tailor your own programme, visit www.bmf.org.uk/training or contact your BMF Regional Manager (firstname.lastname@bmf.org.uk).
