As outlined in a new set of guidelines for procurement (as put together by Sajid Javid, Business Secretary), areas of corporate social responsibility and economic accountability are to be placed on the shoulder of key, large-scale public sector bodies. To include organisations such as the NHS, Highways England and Network
Four members of the H&B Buying Group have become the first to take advantage of the group membership terms agreed with the BMF last month. Thirty five H&B members are now part of the BMF, with others expressing interest and poised to join. Of the four new merchants, three are
As outlined in a new set of guidelines for procurement (as put together by Sajid Javid, Business Secretary), areas of corporate social responsibility and economic accountability are to be placed on the shoulder of key, large-scale public sector bodies. To include organisations such as the NHS, Highways England and Network Rail, the guidance will see responsibility for social and economic impacts laid upon such organisations for the importing of steel; instead, encouraging the use of British steel. To be applied to all projects greater in value than £10m, clients will also be expected to look at other core areas of corporate social responsibility such as: carbon emissions, sourcing standards, the transportation of materials abroad, as well as areas of social importance such as health and safety – specifically for the staff of the suppliers themselves. As such, those organisations successful in securing public sector contracts will then also need to promote steel requirements direct to UK-based producers so as best to ensure that British businesses are provided with ample opportunity to both compete for, and secure supply contracts on an equal playing field. The guidelines themselves are expected to bring a level of assurance to the continuity of the UK steel market, allowing those organisations in the sector to better tap into the colossal £300bn expected to be spent on the major UK infrastructure developments already highlighted for across the country over the next few years. The announcement itself follows swiftly after Tata Steel’s expression of interest in selling its UK businesses, which presently includes the biggest steel mill in the country; something which heralded great concern for the future prosperity of the wider industry. Sajid Javid explained: “By changing the procurement rules on these major infrastructure projects, we are backing the future of UK steel – opening up significant opportunities for UK suppliers and allowing them to compete more effectively with international companies.”
Four members of the H&B Buying Group have become the first to take advantage of the group membership terms agreed with the BMF last month. Thirty five H&B members are now part of the BMF, with others expressing interest and poised to join. Of the four new merchants, three are family firms spanning several generations and all four pride themselves on customer service and strong links with their local markets. Between them they operate from 8 branches, with annual sales of £15m. AR Aspinall & Sons was founded in the 1930s by MD Andrew Aspinall’s grand-father as a building contracting firm. His father developed the merchanting business in the 1990s, which is now based in Over, Cambridgeshire. Three generations of Branch Bros work in their expanding Lincolnshire business, with Ashley Branch at the helm. Currently trading from branches in Bourne and Market Deeping, a third branch is due to open in Holbeach next year. With a name reflecting its early manufacturing origins, Manningham Concrete is now one of Bradford’s largest independent builders merchants with four outlets. It has been owned by the same family for two generations and is now in the capable hands of brothers, Alan and Andrew Tomlinson. Totem Timber, now run by Shaun Parnell and Graham Jeffery, was the brainchild of a builder specialising in animal houses for zoos and safari parks forty years ago. He had great difficulty finding all the materials required in one place so created his own one stop store. Welcoming them to the BMF, managing director John Newcomb said: “We are delighted to welcome such longstanding family firms to the BMF. They have a strong relationship with H&B and they will find the BMF equally supportive. I encourage other H&B members to join them and enjoy the many commercial benefits offered by the BMF.”