Products & Materials : Building Trade Materials News

Mace Donates Makeover to YHA London St Paul’s Youth Hostel

The Mace Foundation, the charitable arm of the international consultancy and construction company, Mace has delivered a £20,000 makeover to the London historic youth hostel, YHA London St Paul’s. The youth hostel is 200 years old and is owned and run by YHA, which is a leading youth charity in

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GPH Builders Merchants Expand to Spurryhillock

GPH Builders Merchants has invested more than half a million pounds into the creation of a new facility which is located in Stonehaven, north-east Scotland. This new facility is designed to give customers easy access to professional and DIY building and landscaping materials. The company also has branches in Inverurie

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Devoran Materials Reaches Fit for Nuclear Status

Devoran Metals has become the first reinforcing steel company operating in the UK to achieve the Fit for Nuclear status. The company has been working tirelessly for two years to adjust their processes and products in order to improve to this accreditation level. The steel company is the leading supplier

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LAR Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Rebrand

LAR has been celebrating their 20th anniversary recently with a new company brand identity. The leading ambatement specialist maintained a consistent brand image for its first 20 years, and have now released a new, refreshed image that acts as a better reflection of the company’s values and central attributes. LAR

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Saint-Gobain Weber Products Used to Complete Balcony Reapirs

Saint-Gobain Weber high performance technical mortars have been specified for the repair of a number of concrete balconies with metal railings featured on apartment buildings in Northwood, Middlesex in the London borough of Hillingdon. The metal railings of the Middlesex apartment buildings have rusted at the base over time. This

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Pave Aways Expand as They Aim for 25% Increase in Turnover

Pave Aways, the Midlands based building contractor has revealed that they have plans for an increase in turnover. The construction company has ambitiously set the target for a 25% increase in their already multi-million-pound turnover. It is thought that this increase will be connected to their plans to expand their

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UPVC Maintenance Supplies Open Third Trade Counter

The opening of the new UPVC Maintenance Supplies trade counter will be taking place on Wednesday the 4th October. UPVC Maintenance Supplies will be opening their third counter on the Team Valley Trading Estate which is located in Gateshead. The combination of 25 years of expertise in the window and

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Howarth Timber and Building Supplies Local MP Visit

Howarth Timber and Building Supplies has welcomed the Wakefield MP, Mary Creagh to their branch at Doncaster Road in Wakefield. Mrs. Creagh is currently serving as the chair of the Environmental Audit Committee and during her visit to the branch met up with the long serving branch manager David Storey.

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Trimo UK at London Build Expo

Trimo UK is one of the leading composite panel manufacturers in Europe and will be exhibiting their new façade systems at the London Build event which will be taking place on the 25th and 26th October. The manufacturing company will be showing their range of world class solutions for visitors

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Latest Issue
Issue 339 : Apr 2026

Products & Materials : Building Trade Materials News

Mace Donates Makeover to YHA London St Paul’s Youth Hostel

The Mace Foundation, the charitable arm of the international consultancy and construction company, Mace has delivered a £20,000 makeover to the London historic youth hostel, YHA London St Paul’s. The youth hostel is 200 years old and is owned and run by YHA, which is a leading youth charity in England and Wales. The makeover was carried out at this site by volunteers from Mace as a part of a week-long corporate volunteering event. The team of 70 volunteers from the construction company managed to redecorate six of the youth hotel bedrooms as well as a reception and the main staircase in the building. The site of YHS St Paul’s is a Grade 2 listed building was once the home of St Paul’s Choir School. Now the building has 213 bedrooms which are offered as accommodation for young people and their families who are visiting the capital. YHA London St Paul’s is well-known for being one of YHA’s most popular Youth Hostels and experiences nearly 100% occupancy every night. It is thought that there are around 150 suitcases dragged through the halls of the youth hostel each day and up the spiral staircase. The carpet on these stairs were in desperate need of replacement and now, thanks to the selfless actions of the Mace volunteers and the Mace Foundation. As well as donating more than 500 hours of manpower to carry out the work, Mace also supplied all of the equipment and materials such as paints and carpets. These materials were donated through Mace’s supply chain partners Lucas Group and Rees Flooring. Mace has a commitment through the Mace Foundation to support local people and to deliver a real and sustainable difference when doing so. Each Year the construction company gives 1% of their pre-tax profits to communities and employees for the company are encourages constantly to take a volunteer day each year.

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GPH Builders Merchants Expand to Spurryhillock

GPH Builders Merchants has invested more than half a million pounds into the creation of a new facility which is located in Stonehaven, north-east Scotland. This new facility is designed to give customers easy access to professional and DIY building and landscaping materials. The company also has branches in Inverurie and Westhill. This new location will be on Spurryhillock Industrial Estate after acquiring MacDougal & Masson in 2015. The third GPH Builders Merchants was opened officially on Friday 3rd November 2017 by the Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart MSP. At the opening of the facility, Mr. Stewart was available to answer questions from local business people on topics such as planning consent, local infrastructure and affordable housing. The independent builder’s merchants has been working to serve the building and DIY markets in the north east for nearly 35 years. The company works to offer a complete range of materials and also runs an extensive plant hire business. GHP have worked to enhance their Stonehaven site in 2016 with the addition of extra racking that means the company is able to hold a wider range of products. The facility has also been altered to offer improved lighting and larger bays that makes delivery and collection of loose materials easier. The next phase of the business’ £500,000+ investment included the expansion and upgrade of a new two-storey, state-of-the-art facility. This purpose built building will include a new retail space as well as a bright and larger stock area with additional improvements made to the yard and further expansion in this area. This investment will also create a dedicated plant and tool hire site. GPH has received a warm welcome in Stonehaven despite the challenging economic circumstances that have been experienced in the area, all of the employees that worked at the location for MacDougall & Masson have continued to work for GPH which has been beneficial during the renovation works as well as an attraction for old and new customers.

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Devoran Materials Reaches Fit for Nuclear Status

Devoran Metals has become the first reinforcing steel company operating in the UK to achieve the Fit for Nuclear status. The company has been working tirelessly for two years to adjust their processes and products in order to improve to this accreditation level. The steel company is the leading supplier of reinforcing steel and concrete reinforcement products. Devoran Materials also offers a range of construction accessories, chemicals and formworks products. The business has more than 50 years of experience supplying the construction industry with these products and also offer customers a full automated production for fast and efficient processing of orders. The Fit for Nuclear programme has been set up in order to help UK manufacturing companies get into the right position to bid for the work on offer in the civil nuclear supply chain. The nuclear supply chain has a range of opportunities for manufacturers and businesses that comply with the Fit for Nuclear accreditation, such as new build, operations and decommissioning. In order to obtain the Fit for Nuclear status, interested companies need to measure their operations against the rigorous standards that would be required to operate in the nuclear industry. Achieving this status means that Devoran Metals have been recognised for their hard work and commitment. The awarding of the new standard also means that Devoran will have access to a wide range of new opportunities for the company to make the most of. A number of industry leaders are starting to use the Fit for Nuclear status in order to find potential companies to join their own supply chains. Having the Fit for Nuclear status means that Devoran have compared their performance against the top tiers of the nuclear industry. Devoran Metals is one of only two businesses in Cornwall to have been given the Fit for Nuclear recognition.

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LAR Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Rebrand

LAR has been celebrating their 20th anniversary recently with a new company brand identity. The leading ambatement specialist maintained a consistent brand image for its first 20 years, and have now released a new, refreshed image that acts as a better reflection of the company’s values and central attributes. LAR are committed to delivering high quality service that is trusted and professional to their customer, and wanted to create a more up to date brand image that was an illustration of this. The colours for the company’s branding has remained the same however the logo and marketing materials used by the business have been altered. Over the course of the last ten years, LAR has steadily grown, and is now ten times the size it was 20 years ago. The company has recently consolidated their position and have decided that it was time for the company to receive a fresh new look after two decades of operation. Alongside this new branding in celebration of the company’s milestone, LAR will also be holding several events. These different celebratory events include a charity bike ride that has recently taken place as a part of ARCA charity week as well as a corporate event at York races. A team from the company will also exhibit at the Asbestos: The Truth Conference which takes place in Manchester in November. As well as this momentous milestone, LAR has yet another reason to celebrate, as the business has recently been named awarded the ARCA Gold Training Award, the National Training Award and the ARCA Gold Site Audit Award. These accolades have been given to the company as recognition for the significant efforts that are put in by the LAR team. The company has managed to secure the ARCA Gold Site Audit Award for the fourth year in a row, and is the only contractor in the UK to manage this. The company are keen to continue developing and investing in the business and see that the company continues to deliver high quality service to their customer for the next twenty years.

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Saint-Gobain Weber Products Used to Complete Balcony Reapirs

Saint-Gobain Weber high performance technical mortars have been specified for the repair of a number of concrete balconies with metal railings featured on apartment buildings in Northwood, Middlesex in the London borough of Hillingdon. The metal railings of the Middlesex apartment buildings have rusted at the base over time. This rust has led to spalling taking place on the surrounding concrete. The high performance mortar has been specified for the repair of the concrete in these areas in order to improve the attractiveness of the balconies as well as reduce any potential safety risks for the residents of the apartments. Saint-Gobain Weber offered technical advice on the project through specialist team member Barry Ephgrave. The main contractor for this repair work was Alfred Bagnall & Sons Limited. The team from Alfred Bagnall got to work cutting away the spalled concrete and the carried out work to repair the metal barriers before reinstating the concrete. The contractor for this repair work used the webercem concrete repair system from Saint-Gobain Weber. This solution has multiple components and is compliant with the BS EN 1504, making it suitable for concrete patch repairs. The solution includes the webercem HB40 which has been developed to be used for high-build repair and levelling. The associated webercem bondcoat bonding slurry was also used and finished with a coat of webercote smooth. The bondcoat is a cementitious bonding aid that delivers a high initial grab which can be used to improve the build of the repair mortar as well as increasing the bond to the concrete. The new life expectancy of these balconies after the repair work has been carried out is 15 years. This means that for the next 15 years, residents are assured that the building will continue to look as tidy, safe and secure as they are now.

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Pave Aways Expand as They Aim for 25% Increase in Turnover

Pave Aways, the Midlands based building contractor has revealed that they have plans for an increase in turnover. The construction company has ambitiously set the target for a 25% increase in their already multi-million-pound turnover. It is thought that this increase will be connected to their plans to expand their own headquarters. The building contractor works on projects across the Shropshire, Mid and North Wales area and is currently in the process of constructing an office extension at their headquarters in Knockin, close to Oswestery. This new extension has been valued at £200,000, but there will also be a further investment of £250,000 in to hiring new staff. This expansion should hopefully help the company to reach their target of £35 million turnover by 2025. More than 100 construction and administrative staff are employed by Pave Aways and the turnover for 2017 is expected to be around £28 million. This figure, if achieved will be £3 million higher than last year’s turnover. The company started as a civil engineering company in 1973 that focused primarily on groundworks, hard landscaping and the construction of paths, drives and roads. The company has since expanded into the building construction sector, with a management buyout taking place in 2011. At the time of the buyout, the business turnover was only £13 million. Now the building contractor has a £8.3 million new production facility in their portfolio, a project being carried out for an automotive manufacturer as well as a £4.6 million warehouse and production centre in Welshpool and a number of other large scale projects. The company have expanded over the years and has now covers a range of full building construction services, despite the simplicity of the name. However, the company has developed a strong reputation with their Pave Aways name, and will remain as the company carries out a range of sustainable growth strategies.

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UPVC Maintenance Supplies Open Third Trade Counter

The opening of the new UPVC Maintenance Supplies trade counter will be taking place on Wednesday the 4th October. UPVC Maintenance Supplies will be opening their third counter on the Team Valley Trading Estate which is located in Gateshead. The combination of 25 years of expertise in the window and door repair market of the industry, the company will be opening their new trade counter in order to serve Gateshead and the surrounding area. UPVC Maintenance Solutions are looking to expand their business according to the location of their loyal customers. The business will be developing on the work they have already carried out at the location of their other two trade counters in Leeds and Rotherham. The company has already established a customer base prior to the official opening, while already in the process of developing a range of new relationships. The windows and doors repairs specialists have a wide range of products to offer the marketplace. UPVC Maintenance Solutions has three trade counter branches, and their services here are also supported by a hard copy catalogue that is available from the company. The business also offers an extensive selection of products and services as a part of their online shopping experience. Through the online platform, customers are able to order 24/7 as well as access free technical helpline which is available to use during office hours. The trade counters however offer the additional benefit of allowing customers to come into the store with a broken or damaged part and request the help of the staff available to provide the correct replacement. It is this hands on service that is a key part of UPVC offering. UPVC was first established in 1992 and is a leading supplier of hardware for window and door repairs including handles, hinges, locks and consumables. The company offer an extensive range of products as well as a range of different ways to access these products; online or in store, in order to make sure that they can meet the requirements of their customers.

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Fixmart Partner with CADDY PYRAMID to Offer Bespoke Access Solution

Fixmart is a leading supplier to the construction, M&E and HVAC sectors. The company has announced that they have recently partnered with Caddy Pyramid in order to develop a bespoke solution that will lead to an increase in the efficiency of navigation over rooftop obstacles as well as a solution that would meet health and safety standards. This bespoke navigation solution could also lead to the reduction of labour time spent on installation. The partnership between Fixmart and CADDY PYRAMID will last for five years. Fixmart will be offering dedicate site visits for their potential customers and those interested in the manufacturer’s Step Over and Walkways systems. Fixmart will offer these dedicated visits in order to get a better understanding of the exact requirements before the design and build of the product. CADDY Pyramid is a brand of the leading global manufacturer Pentair and already carries a collection of their products. The Step Over and Walkways systems will be the latest products to join the company’s portfolio, and the solutions are thought to offer service engineers and other personnel safe and comfortable access over a range of rooftop obstacles like pipes, ducts and cable trays. Caddy and Fixmart have worked together for a number of years, and it is great news that the leading construction M&E and HVAC supplier has added the Step Over and Walkways solution to their product offerings.  Fixmart understands how important the safe access offered by these solutions is on site and by working with the manufacturer it is hoped that the solution offered is more comprehensive and efficiently delivered. The partnership means that Fixmart can offer their clients a tailor made modular solution that will provide full assurance and meet specification. The new solutions that will be offered as a result of this partnership will reduce the amount of labour required to install similar walkways and access, with a world-class, safe and easy to assemble solution.

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Howarth Timber and Building Supplies Local MP Visit

Howarth Timber and Building Supplies has welcomed the Wakefield MP, Mary Creagh to their branch at Doncaster Road in Wakefield. Mrs. Creagh is currently serving as the chair of the Environmental Audit Committee and during her visit to the branch met up with the long serving branch manager David Storey. David Storey provided an overview of Howarth Timber’s recently-completed investments that have been made in order to give Howarth at Home kitchen, bedroom and bathroom showrooms a makeover. The investment into the show rooms has made it easier for the company to fulfill customer’s orders. The local MP, Mary Creagh has also spoken to young people that are benefitting from Howarth Timber’s graduate scheme, and discussing with the marketing and product development manager, Neale Brewster and Nick Howarth, the managing director about the different ways that the company is meeting the construction industry challenges being faced by the company. Mary had at tour of the two and a quarter acre site and has said that her visit was interesting. It is great to see the government get behind an established company management to meet a range of different needs and requirements. Howarth Timber was operating at the cutting edge of the construction industry and is able contribute to the economy in Wakefield as well as the national economy. The MP was pleased of the work put into the branch by the Branch Manager, David Storey and the rest of the staff working there. Howarth Timber is a company that will be impacted by Brexit, the skills gap apparent in the construction industry, and the pending implementation of Clean Air Zones in cities across the North of England. If these challenges do impact on Howarth Timber, there could be a number of smaller construction companies and contractors who rely on Howarth as a local merchant.

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Trimo UK at London Build Expo

Trimo UK is one of the leading composite panel manufacturers in Europe and will be exhibiting their new façade systems at the London Build event which will be taking place on the 25th and 26th October. The manufacturing company will be showing their range of world class solutions for visitors to the event to see at JD9. The London Build event will take place at London Olympia. Trimo UK will have a team on hand to demonstrate the innovative products on offer by the company. Trimo will be promoting the functional features of their market leading composite control panes as well as their aesthetic properties. The panel systems manufactured by Trimo UK and on display at the exhibition will be the Qbiss One and Trimoterm. The products mentioned above that have been created by Trimo have been praised for their non-combustible cores and their simple and stylish look. The solutions delivered by Trimo UK have been used in the past by architects that include Mecanoo and Grimshaw. London Build is the largest expo for construction in the UK and focuses entirely on offering opportunities in the London and the South East. The expo is now in its third year and is attended by thousands of professionals from a range of different industries such as contractors, developers, architects and manufacturers. The London Build expo is a great opportunity for Trimo to exhibit alongside a range of other industry professionals. Having the opportunity to exhibit at events like this will help the company to expand and network while also demonstrating their commitment to creating market challenging solutions for today’s market. The company uses their specialist knowledge, sustainability, reliability and a focus on the future. Trimo UK has a portfolio of well-known partners including Airbus, London Heathrow Airport, Nestle, Philips, DHL, Porsche, McLaren, IKEA, Mercedes Benz, Coca Cola and Prologis.

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