The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) unveiled its strategy for the next three years at its Members Day Conference on 27 September, promising to help members to ‘build excellence’ within every aspect of their business.
At the event, the BMF revealed a new strapline, Building Excellence, alongside its mission and vision through to 2020, by which time it aims to be regarded as the leading trade association in the building materials industry for merchants and suppliers. The BMF also set itself a target adding almost 150 members, increasing total membership from the current figure of 655 to 800.
Success will see BMF members excel at providing materials and services and the BMF itself representing 90% of the merchant sector and successfully promoting the sector’s vital contribution to UK economic growth.
The strategy was finalised following extensive research with members to find out what matters most to them. The result will see the BMF extend its widely respected training and business services and recharge its youth recruitment campaign to help the Federation’s diverse membership gain, and retain, business advantage at a time when the challenges facing the industry have never been greater. The BMF will also increase its political campaigning, focusing on priority issues identified by its membership.
Speaking at the event, BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “Our mission for the next three years is to help members to excel at providing materials and services for building a better future. This is evolution rather than revolution but our new strategy encompasses a bold vision. It represents a move away from just being the glue that sticks a diverse and sometimes fragmented industry together, to a role of greater leadership as the backbone of the industry standing up for members’ interests in the political arena.
“Just as importantly, we will be building on our successful training and business service offers to deliver even better value to our different member groups, by providing individual companies with a personalised service package tailored to their specific needs.”
The BMF also announced a closer relationship with the Institute of Builders Merchants (IOBM), that will complement the trade body’s work by helping BMF members’ employees to build sustainable careers.
