Building excellence into a business starts by building professional, competent, motivated people. The Builders Merchants Federation says that its training has always reflected these principles, offering a wealth of training courses developed and delivered by people with real-life experience of the merchant industry and tailored to our sector’s requirements.
The courses are regularly reviewed and updated to make sure that they meet current needs and we have just published the latest Training Prospectus, which contains details of all BMF courses for both merchants and suppliers. The Prospectus is designed to make it simple to find the right course for individuals, or teams, at any point in their career. Don’t forget, there is always the option to mix and match courses to create a complete programme.
For ease of use, courses are grouped into one of seven defined sections, with colour coded symbols on each course page to indicate the key information required to select the best course(s) for different needs.
For example, Management & Development includes the ever-popular BMF Diploma in Merchant Management plus sales management and margin improvement skills courses. The Leadership section, meanwhile, is geared to helping future managers develop their supervisory and leadership skills ranging from managing teams, data protection, time management to HR skills/sickness absence. There is also a specific course for Yard Foremen.
Sales courses include a fast-track programme that’s ISM Education accredited. There are also specific courses on telephone selling, account management, maximising margin and negotiation techniques.
Induction & Operations courses include driving, transport, customer service, finance, stock control, purchasing, merchandising, safety, first aid, and not forgetting “How to Build a House”, which gives new recruits a sound foundation and understanding of the building process. These courses are ideal as part of an induction programme for new staff.
In addition, the Marketing section covers strategy, online trading, social media and SEO courses to enhance colleagues’ skills in this ever-changing area.
“The BMF Training Prospectus is designed to make it simple to find the right course for individuals, or teams, at any point in their career. Don’t forget, there is always the option to mix and match courses to create a complete programme.”
The Prospectus also explains BMF’s Online Learning options available through the BMF Campus platform, and the Virtual Learning courses offered in business writing, selling virtually, estimating and quoting, digital marketing and kitchen design.
Another option that is increasingly used by merchants is to work with BMF trainers to develop a Bespoke Training programme or package of courses that embraces the culture of a particular company. In designing such a programme, the BMF trainer would have pre-course engagement with the company to gain a full understanding the business’ needs before preparing training that specific to those needs.
Bespoke programmes have been used by several of the merchants shortlisted for BMF Training Company of the Year. Harlow Timber, for example, is developing team leadership skills with a bespoke Supervisor Toolkit programme delivered by BMF Trainer, Jason Routley. Meanwhile 20 managers at Robert Price gained their ISM Leadership qualifications having successfully completed a bespoke Excellence in Branch Management programme created for them by BMF Trainer, Sue Reed.
To order your BMF Training Prospectus or to find out more contact Kerry.wilson@bmf.org.uk or tina.skinner@bmf.org.uk, telephone 0247 685 4982 or 0247 685 4989.
A version of this article appeared in the July/August edition of Professional Builders Merchant. Click here to view the full issue online in flickbook format via the PBM website.
