The BMF’s four Regional Managers (RM) play a vital role in engaging with members, proactively working with them to identify relevant services, forum events and training. Over the next two months they will be sharing their experiences with PBM readers and this month we hear from both the BMF’s longest serving and newest RMs.
A BMF RM since February 2013, Richard Jones is based in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, and currently works with members in the South West, Wales and Northern Ireland. When asked which aspects of his work he found the most rewarding, Richard said: “Building and maintaining long term relationships with our members and helping them by providing learning and developing opportunities for their colleagues.”
He added: “It’s a privilege to watch people of all ages and backgrounds engage in training and grow in confidence, which in turn gives them an opportunity to reach their full and sometimes unseen potential.”
A good example of this is LBS Builders Merchants, which operates in South and West Wales. The firm was looking for a tailored training approach to meet both individual and business needs.
Raymond Laidlaw, the merchant’s Learning and Development Manager, explained: “We know from experience that ‘off the shelf’ solutions are not suitable for every learner. It is essential for us to have LBS-tailored and role-specific initiatives to deliver the quality of outcome that gives the best value for both the individual colleague and the business.
“The BMF has helped us achieve this with courses that are designed around our people and our business. A great example of this is the Essential Sales Management Course run by Sue Reed. Its success is down to the fact that a full training needs analysis was completed by the trainer at the outset, to fully understand the learning needs of our team, with the course designed around these findings. We have seen individual personal skills improving and increased sales from this new confidence.”
Across the country in Darlington, Co Durham, David Millward has been a BMF RM since 2019, covering the North East, Yorkshire and Scotland. Although a relative newcomer to the BMF, David began his merchanting career aged 17. Thirty-eight years later, he is thoroughly enjoying a different aspect of the industry.
David said: “My RM role gives me the opportunity to meet many different merchant businesses and hopefully my experience in the sector is useful to all. The thing they have in common is their people: a vital asset in any merchant business, which underscores the importance of the right training.”
One of David’s clients, Merritt & Fryers, has just celebrated 85 years serving the building community in Skipton. The family-run business won Lightside Showroom of the Year in the Builders Merchants Awards. It also leads the way in training.
Director Rachel Fryers said: “The first-rate training provided by the BMF had a positive impact on our business almost immediately. A recent candidate said ‘every new starter needs to go on How a House is Built. It was brilliant.’ As a result, we will be offering a rolling programme of BMF training going forwards.”
How a House is Built, a CPD Certified course, is just one of the BMF courses designed for new starters.
Next month we hear from BMF RMs, Alex Clifford and James Spillane.
To discover the 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).
