MKM Building Supplies is set to open the gates to its latest new branches on 2nd October, with the sites in London Colney and in Thame, Oxfordshire becoming the 122nd and 123rd depots in the independent merchant’s growing network.
Sitting on a 1.3-acre plot with a 30,000 sq. ft warehouse allowing timber to be dry stored, MKM London Colney has been designed to offer specialisms across a range of products and services including plumbing & heating and tool hire. The branch will also feature a state-of-the-art kitchen & bathroom showroom.
Creating 20 new jobs, the depot will be headed up by Branch Directors Kelly Collins and Laurence King who are local to the area with a deep understanding of the local community and extensive experience in the merchanting industry.
Kelly said: “It’s a privilege to lead MKM London Colney. We’re intent on building a local merchant for local people, something the area has needed for years. Beyond business, the branch aims to weave itself into the fabric of London Colney’s community, we’ve recently sponsored the women’s team Colney Health FC and we’re supporting for the London Colney Parish Council community group. We’re in talks with local charities we also hope to assist.”
Laurence added: “It’s a dream come true to open the MKM London Colney branch and support the customers who’ve been by my side throughout my career. As the son of a local tool hire manager, I started out at age 14 helping scrape ice off vans on winter mornings. Some 20+ years later I’m still great at ice scraping but I’ve also worked in high profile roles at several other builders’ merchant companies including Jewson and Travis Perkins.
“Our already experienced team of specialists has completed over 100+ hours of training before the opening, ensuring our customers receive the warm, expert advice that has become the blueprint of MKM branches across the country. We have our own fleet and with services like same-day delivery and the ability to source whatever our trade customers require; we’re poised to be the premier builders’ merchant in the area.”
With Branch Director Kelly Collins exemplifying the growing representation of women in construction and leadership roles, MKM’s CEO, Kate Tinsley, noted: “I’m proud to say that we now employ more than 500 women across the business, accounting for 20% of the total workforce – higher than the 15% average for the construction sector.”
The new branch in Thame, meanwhile, has created 18 new jobs whilst Branch Directors Aaron Campbell and Jake Sherwin each have extensive ties to the local community in addition to expertise in the merchanting industry.
For example, from a career that began as a Yard Assistant at the age of 20, Aaron evolved into roles of increasing responsibility, most notably at John Nicholls and Grant & Stone. Similarly, Jake started out in the industry at 18, working in a yard before moving to sales positions and eventually running his own branch.
As with the London Colney branch, the site in Thame features a 30,000 sq. ft warehouse (again allowing timber to be dry stored) in addition to a specialist professional kitchen & bathroom team and a 2,000 sq. ft kitchen & bathroom showroom.
Founded in Hull in 1995, MKM’s “unique business model” allows each site to operate independently under its Branch Directors, giving them full autonomy to stock the products and set the prices that are right for their local community. Each branch has continuous support of a Central Support office based in Hull.
The company also notes that it will continue with its expansion plans and “open another ten branches across the UK over the next 12 months.”
