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BMF News
BMF shortlisted for multiple awards
Memcom Awards
The BMF( Builders Merchants Federation) has been shortlisted for the Best Trade Association Award for the second consecutive year in the prestigious Memcom Excellence Awards, which recognise innovation and creativity in UK Trade Associations and Professional Membership Organisations.
Best Trade Association is one of two Memcom category nominations the BMF achieved this year. The 2025 BMF All Industry Conference in Barcelona was also shortlisted for the Best Non- Celebratory Event Award.
This is a significant achievement as the Memcom Awards attract a huge number of entries from a diverse range of membership organisations, from professional bodies and trade associations to learned societies and charities.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said:
“ We are once again honoured to see our efforts recognised by our peers in the membership community. Our goal is to ensure that our members gain real value from their membership,
and I am proud that the dedication of the entire BMF team has been acknowledged with our nomination as the Best Trade Association.
“ I am also delighted that the impact of the BMF All Industry Conference has been recognised in these Awards. It exemplifies the BMF’ s role at the heart of the industry, creating a platform for collaboration that extends beyond day-to-day business interactions.”
The Memcom Award winners will be announced on 24 September 2026 at a ceremony in London.
Association Excellence Awards
The BMF( Builders Merchants Federation) has also been shortlisted in three categories of the highly regarded Association Excellence Awards, which celebrate the essential work of trade associations and professional membership bodies across the UK and Europe to ensure members’ voices are heard, and their causes are championed.
The BMF has been nominated for the Best UK Association and the Best Longstanding Association Event, for the All Industry Conference. BMF
CEO, John Newcomb, has also been shortlisted as Association Leader of the Year.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said:
“ We are extremely proud to be acknowledged in several categories at the Association Excellence Awards. This success highlights the commitment and effort of our entire team as we continue to support our members and advocate for the building materials industry.”
The AEA Award winners will be announced on 13 November at a ceremony in London.
BMF welcomes West Midlands Mayor to discuss Jobs, Growth and Steel Tariffs
THE Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, visited the BMF’ s( Builders Merchants Federation) headquarters in Coventry recently for talks on jobs, regional growth and the pressures facing the region’ s building materials supply chain.
The Mayor was welcomed by John Newcomb, BMF CEO, and Brett Amphlett, Policy and Public Affairs Manager. Mayor Parker set out his focus on the“ everyday economy” and on creating“ good” jobs, highlighting a £ 75 million fund to create and train 12,000 jobs across the construction sector to help tackle regional shortages, as part of his Building Growth Action Plan.
The discussion also covered the impact of new UK steel tariffs and quotas on West Midlands SMEs. Jonathan Thacker, Operations Director at The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company, a BMF member, joined the
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L-R: Jonathan Thacker, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company, John Newcomb, BMF CEO, West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, BMF’ s Brett Amphlett and Joseph Salmon
discussion to explain the effect on his business. Mayor Parker said he is compiling a shortlist of priority issues facing the region, including the impact of steel tariffs, to raise with senior figures in Westminster in the coming weeks.
John Newcomb said:“ It was a pleasure to welcome Mayor
Parker to discuss the importance of the building materials supply chain to the West Midlands economy. His focus on good jobs and opportunities for young people, and his willingness to take our sector’ s concerns directly to government, is exactly the engagement our members want to see.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:
“ The Builders Merchants’ Federation and its members are at the heart of the construction sector. They’ re vital to our growth mission. My Building Growth Action Plan is about making sure we have the skilled workforce and strong supply chains we need to build more homes and major infrastructure projects. I’ ll continue making the case to Government on the issues affecting the sector, so members have the stability and confidence they need to keep driving our future prosperity.”