The curtain has now come down on the truly spectacular 2022 NBG Annual Conference & Exhibition. In our first report from the event, PBM details the Awards Winners from a sensational Gala Dinner extravaganza.
From the ever-impressive surroundings of the Celtic Manor Resort and its near-neighbour of the ICC Wales, the 2022 NBG Annual Conference & Exhibition offered delegates a comprehensive and tightly packed business agenda across two days in mid-November. A balanced programme delivered an informative, conference-style ‘Supplier Summit’ on Day 1, with speakers addressing some of the industry’s key concerns — including packaging waste regulations, opportunities in digitalisation and driving profit from change — in addition to the specific challenges facing merchants and suppliers in the independent market.
Following an evening of fantastic networking opportunities afforded by a retro, Back to the Future-themed Welcome Dinner (including the literal centrepiece of a DeLorean time machine…!), the doors at the ICC Wales were opened up for Day 2’s substantial Exhibition with over 150 Suppliers in place to showcase new products, answer queries and discuss the training and marketing support services on offer for NBG partner merchants.
In the evening, delegates returned to the halls of the ICC Wales which had been transformed into an elaborate circus ‘Big Top’ — the home for the night of the stunning ‘NBG’s Greatest Show’ cabaret, taking its inspiration from the 2017 Hugh Jackman movie spectacular.
Throughout the Gala Dinner, hugely talented singers and performers wowed the diners, all weaved around the NBG’s annual Awards presentation. Featuring a number of new categories — hitherto exclusively the buying group’s Supplier Awards as nominated by the partners and Category Management Teams, this year included accolades as voted for by Suppliers to reward the ‘most engaged’ merchant partners — the winners were as follows:
2022 CMT Supplier of the Year Awards
Brick & Block: Forterra Building Products
Civils & Landscaping: Joint It (Highly Commended — Acheson & Glover)
Decorating, Hardware & Kitchens: TIMCO (Highly Commended — Symphony Group Plc)
General Build: Mannok Cement (Highly Commended — Siniat)
Plumbing, Heating & Showrooms: QX Bathrooms (Highly Commended — Altecnic)
Roofing & Insulation: Knauf Insulation (Highly Commended — Cromar Building Products)
Timber: Caledonian Plywood Co (Highly Commended — MDM Timber)
Tools & Workwear: Toolbank (Highly Commended — Haemmerlin)
NBG Supplier of the Year 2022 — more than £5million turnover: Mannok Build
NBG Supplier of the Year 2022 — £1m to £5m turnover: QX Bathrooms
NBG Supplier of the Year 2022 — less than £1m turnover: Joint It
NBG PIM Supplier of the Year 2022: ForgeFix (Highly Commended — Talasey Group)
Supplier Voted Awards
Most Engaged NBG Partner 2022 — more than ten branches: PGR Timber
Most Engaged NBG Partner 2022 — 2 to 9 branches: Inter-Line Building Supplies
Most Engaged NBG Partner 2022 — single branch: McNair Building Supplies
The evening also raised over £28,000 for the industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust.
Click here for more information on NBG, including on how to become a partner.
