Christine Harding, who retired from the BMF last year, was honoured with the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Builders Merchants Awards for Excellence in November. She is the first woman ever to have won this prestigious Award.
Christine’s natural skills as a “people person” singled her out for success in an organisation dedicated to helping its members. Her achievements during her 25 years at the BMF, latterly as Marketing & Communications Manager, are too numerous to mention. She will, however, be best remembered for creating the Young Merchant Group in the 1990s and nurturing it through several generations. Many of the original members now hold pivotal roles within their organisations, and all hold Chris in the highest regard.
More recently, she was instrumental in creating a 2-day training forum for Branch Managers, which now runs regularly. Much of the success of the BMF All Industry Conference is also down to her organisational ability and, despite her retirement, she continues to work on the 2017 event as a consultant.
Jennie Ward, Group Editor of Builders’ Merchants News and chair of the BMN Awards Judging Panel, said: “We were thrilled to name Christine Harding as winner of the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. Her nomination was supported by more testimonials from merchants and suppliers than any other nomination. The rapturous standing ovation she received on the day is testament to the high regard in which she is held.”
Adding his congratulations, BMF MD John Newcomb said: “Chris is a modest lady and says she was just doing her job, but few could have done that job as well or made such a lasting impact. I’m delighted that someone whose lifetime of dedicated service has made such a difference to others has been recognised with this Award.”
