More than 1,000 independent builders’ merchants and suppliers came together to network and celebrate at the NMBS annual Dinner Dance on 26 October 2024, featuring entertainment from Tony Hadley and others!
Held in the sumptuous Great Room of the Grosvenor House hotel in London, guests were welcomed by NMBS CEO Chris Hayward who called on both merchants and their suppliers to focus on “our people, what defines our industry and what makes it such a great and fun place to work.”
In support of this, he reported that during the year NMBS has been at the forefront of supporting the Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC), noting that “Together we are taking great strides towards attracting a more diverse and inclusive workforce to our industry and improving the working environment for everyone.”
Chris added: “We have also continued to work with the BMF to drive and encourage more apprenticeships, and it is great to see so many young people developing and growing both personally and professionally within our sector.”
The headline entertainment of the evening was pop legend and former Spandau Ballet lead singer, Tony Hadley. The guests were also wowed by Westend Live and danced into the late hours of the night with the house band, Fully Funktional.
During the evening, guests raised £10,000 for CRASH, a charity that tackles homelessness and supports building projects and caring environments for hospices.
Chris commented: “The NMBS Dinner Dance allows our members and suppliers to continue developing their industry relationships, create new ones and share their industry perspectives. When coupled with great entertainment and a delicious meal, it is always a highlight in many calendars.
“This year has been our Year of the Independent Merchant to help draw attention to the amazing work our sector is carrying out and the value it delivers via high-quality customer service, product knowledge and local community support.
“Our NMBS team created another unforgettable evening through their hard work and dedication, which was greatly helped by our Dinner Dance sponsors.”
Sponsors on the night included Metabo / HiKOKI Powertools UK, Makita, Marshalls, Portwest, Mannok, Owlett Jaton, Ideal Bathrooms, Polypipe Building Products, CT1, British Gypsum, First Event, Talasey, Toolbank, Ox Tools, IKO, SIG, Velux, Okarno, Forterra, H+H and Heidelberg Materials.
Find out about future NMBS events via www.nmbs.co.uk/events
