Bradfords Building Supplies is helping to build sustainable communities in the South West
Bradfords understand the scale of the transformation required to the way in which we build to meet targets on decarbonisation, biodiversity, and environmental impact, whilst making sure that what we do build is fit for communities in the future.
At Bradfords we want to be the first and only place our customers need to come to get advice and the building materials they need to build sustainably.
Giles Bradford, Head of Sustainability at Bradfords, explains more:
Bradfords has been proudly serving communities across the South-West for over 250 years. Since day one, we’ve always been family owned and today, with 48 branches across the West Country and a team of over 850, we’re just as committed to helping you find the right product for the job as we were back then. Our proposition has always evolved with the times, adapting to emergent needs and technologies. The ‘right building materials for the job’ has evolved too, and it’s our job to make sure that’s still what we provide.
At Bradfords, we understand the scale of the transformation required to the way in which we build to meet targets: on decarbonisation, biodiversity, and environmental impact, making sure that we help builders be able to build what is fit for communities in the future.
Giles Bradford, Head of Sustainability at Bradfords, explains: ‘as a merchant we have to be helping our customers; providing the right materials, supporting data, and guidance. To deliver the highest quality and performing buildings requires a detailed systems approach to ensure that they can meet the requirement, whether that be community sentiment, regulation or design.
Meet Louise – Marketing Manager at Collier and Catchpole
Louise is Marketing Manager at Collier & Catchpole, an independent builders merchant with depots in Colchester, Ipswich and Lawford. She is an inspiring, highly creative individual and loves working in the fast-paced world of merchant marketing.
Louise creates marketing plans and makes sure everyone sticks to them, implements online and offline marketing campaigns, creates content for the Collier social media channels, works with outside agencies on design and print projects, organises events and makes sure the brand is always improving, focusing heavily on customer experience.
Collier & Catchpole is an independent builders merchant with an exciting history going back almost 2 centuries. With 3 branches across Essex and Suffolk, there is always something to do. Louise works closely with the team to ensure each branch has the best support and guidance available, directly impacting sales, profits and success.
Louise came into the industry after completing her Photography and Sociology A Levels, a marketing apprenticeship, and 10+ years in professional marketing, covering Tourism, Advertising, Hospitality, Communications and more.
“I didn’t know a thing about the Building Materials Industry when I was invited to interview, it felt like a secret that was left out of the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” conversations. Without materials, there is no construction. Without construction, our world stands still. It’s finally time to shout about how many exciting opportunities are available within the industry”
What is Clean Heat Market Mechanism? City Plumbing explain what it is and why it’s important
Also referred to as CHMM, the Clean Heat Market Mechanism is a UK government policy that will be implemented in April 2024. Brought on by the government’s drive to hit net zero emissions by 2050, it’s been introduced to meet those ambitious energy-efficiency targets set out by Boris Johnson in 2019.
As heating experts with vast expertise in this industry, City Plumbing is working with the trade to make the introduction of CHMM as smooth as possible. While we’re fully committed to working towards achieving net zero, we’re aware that both gas boilers and oil boilers are still in high demand and favoured by many homeowners.
Heat pumps remain a long-term goal and are primarily behind the UK government’s drive to boost the decarbonisation of the heating industry. But there’s still some way to go and, coupled with a limited demand for heat pumps from homeowners and a lack of MCS-accredited heat pump installers available, boilers continue to play a significant role in how most homeowners heat their homes and water.
At City Plumbing, we’re committed to helping those in the trade navigate the net zero journey, working together with you to keep you informed every step of the way. Here, we offer a quick breakdown of what the Clean Heat Market Mechanism is, summarising everything we know so far.
Clay brick could be the turning point in helping to decarbonise construction
But, why is it so important? Take a look at #BetterWithBrick campaign to find out more. They will be exploring how natural clay beneath our feet has the edge over other construction materials. Sustainability is and has been at the forefront of people’s minds and manufacturers are already taking huge strides in decarbonising construction, with the brick industry investing £290 million over the past 5 years to upgrade clay brick processes and technologies.
Keith Wright is the founder and owner of a service provider business operating in the Building Materials sector. His consultancy helps businesses improve their procurement and category management.
He is an entrepreneur on a mission to positively impact the building materials industry. Renowned for his strategic approach, he has saved millions of pounds throughout his 30+ year career as a procurement expert and has no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Keith’s passion and focus on value creation has driven his success, continuously seeking growth opportunities for his clients. As a trusted business consultant, he has collaborated with multiple market-leading companies, developing tailor-made procurement solutions aligned with their unique needs and goals.
Beyond his consulting work, Keith also acts as a non-executive director and as Chair of a local charity that helps families in his local community. He is deeply committed to leveraging his experience across industries to drive organisational success in an ever-changing landscape. His expertise spans strategic planning, making him a trusted advisor to executives.
In 2021, Keith founded K Wright Consultancy with a mission to share his procurement knowledge and expertise with business owners, leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors serious about taking their business to the next level. Within 2.5 years, his consultancy firm has supported 26 organisations creating value in the multiple millions.
With a forthcoming book on procurement set to be published in 2024, Keith is passionate about shedding light on this often overlooked area of value. While many may prioritise sales, Keith emphasises the significance of a robust procurement strategy to ensure your business has both happy customers and a happy team.
Here he shares his story about his 32 year journey in Building Materials.
My 32 year Building Materials Journey
32 years in Building Materials and still going strong…and I am very grateful.
Who knew it would start by shovelling sand into 40kg bags, 5 days a week, in my first role at a builders merchants!
But that’s where my journey started. It taught me about hard work, commitment and showing up.
And it opened doors.
Doors that have since led me to 12 promotions and 1 lost job (you can’t win them all) – not a bad ratio and you have to keep moving forward.
I’ve matured with age, but I was a hard-nosed buyer back in the day and have learnt so much about culture, not just the numbers, but the importance of teamwork to get a winning and lasting result. I’ve been blessed to be able to share many cool things with family and friends, including seeing major music artists and many, many sporting events like the NFL, cricket, golf, tennis, football, rugby and F1. Things I could only dream about doing, and made possible by this great industry.
The power of sharing these, not just with my family and friends but industry colleagues, has helped forge relationships outside of the hustle and bustle of the day job.
I’ve had too many supplier visits to mention them all, but some of my favourites include the world of timber, having visited operations in Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Brazil, China, Uruguay and Chile. Brazil was interesting as we were hosted by a very wealthy plant owner at his private home and got to fly across Brazil in a twin turboprop plane!
3 of my most random but memorable moments include having dinner with a billionaire (super nice guy), playing in a pro-am golf tournament with spectators (I am not a good golfer – apologies to those who paid to watch that day) and playing cricket against a local village team in India.
In the last 3 years I have been a guest on 10+ podcasts and counting, I’ve written a soon to be published book, and transitioned from a corporate employee to a self employed owner of a consultancy business. My passion for sharing what I’ve learnt and helping others on their journey is as strong as ever. We have to do our bit before we pass on the baton.
My biggest piece of advice? Don’t take yourself too seriously, smile, laugh, and remember to have fun along the way
procurement strategy | category management | value creation
JCB’s £100m project to produce hydrogen combustion engines is making progress thanks to a dedicated 150-strong team of British engineers.
More than 75 prototypes have already been manufactured at JCB’s engine plant in Derbyshire and, as well as powering backhoe loaders and telescopic handlers, the engine is being showcased on the international stage at trade fairs across North America and Europe.
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, said: “The JCB engineering team has completely re-designed the combustion process to work for hydrogen. In doing so, they have secured the company’s place in history as the first construction equipment manufacturer to develop a fully working, hydrogen fuelled combustion engine.”
JCB has also been at the forefront of electric technology development. However, while battery-electric is suitable for smaller machines working fewer hours, larger machines have higher energy requirements. This would result in larger batteries that would take longer to charge, making them less suitable for machines that work multiple daily shifts and do not have the available downtime to recharge.
JCB has therefore concentrated its development of E-TECH machines on its compact range, including the 19C-1E, the world’s first electric mini excavator, and the 30-19E and 35-22E electric Teletruks.
JCB’s examination of future fuels that deliver zero emissions has left no stone unturned. In the search for a mobile fuel that can be taken to the machine, ensuring maximum uptime and fast refuelling, HVO, biogas, E-fuels, ammonia, and hydrogen were all scrutinised.
Lord Bamford said: “The majority of alternative fuels require the production of hydrogen to make, so it makes sense to use hydrogen in the first place; it is a clean, zero-carbon fuel that can be produced from renewable energy. Hydrogen also potentially solves the challenge of using batteries on larger machines.”
As part of its hydrogen development, JCB also investigated the use of fuel cells, unveiling the first ever hydrogen powered excavator in July 2020 – a 20-tonne 220X. However, JCB has concluded that fuel cells are too expensive, too complicated and not robust enough for construction and agricultural equipment.
In challenging the engineering team to think differently using existing technology in a zero-carbon way, the JCB hydrogen engine was born.
Lord Bamford said: “The unique combustion properties of hydrogen enables the hydrogen combustion engine to deliver the same power, torque, and efficiency of current JCB machines, but in a zero-carbon way. Also, by leveraging diesel engine technology and components, they do not require rare earth elements. Combustion technology is cost effective, robust, reliable and already well proven throughout not just the construction and agricultural industry, but the whole world.”
Find out how from ADEY how good water quality reduces carbon emissions, lowers energy use & stops waste
How good water quality reduces carbon emissions, lowers energy use & stops waste
In response to the energy and environmental challenges we all face, the Government has been focused on supporting homeowners to improve energy efficiency and prepare for the adoption of renewable technologies.
Water treatment in heating systems is a low-cost intervention, available now, that will have immediate and sustained positive impacts on energy consumption and carbon reduction.
The escalation of energy prices and the onset of winter puts attention on the need to address increased fuel poverty in our communities. There are many contributing factors, but it is clear through independent research that inefficient heating caused by poor system water quality is a significant part of the problem. The HVAC sector are working together to not only put forward solutions for boiler efficiency but provide whole house heating system care (including water treatment) to reduce energy usage (dependence) and reducing carbon in the home.
Independent research carried out by KIWA Gastec based on average usage in the UK, shows that a significant deterioration of energy efficiency in central heating systems is caused by poor system water quality. This happens when the process of corrosion causes sludge to build up in the system, meaning more energy is used by the boiler but less heat is produced by the radiators.
In the winter months, people living in these homes may be getting 47% less heat from their radiators simply because of poor water quality, which can be easily resolved. Without effective system testing, cleaning and protection from corrosion, research shows that energy efficiency drops by up to 7% and up to 7% more carbon is emitted. Poor water quality is also the biggest cause of boiler breakdown, reducing the lifespan of a domestic gas boiler by up to 7 years.
Additional research of 200,000 homes shows that 42% of homes are not working to the required efficiency and are not protected from the risk of rising bills and breakdown. This rises to 70% of homes that are tested during an annual service.
What does this mean?
Any heating (and cooling) system that uses water needs protection; whether residential or commercial buildings, heated by radiators or underfloor heating, powered by gas boilers or heat pumps.
This is critical; without system protection, even the newest, most efficient technologies (such as heat pumps) and assets will fail to achieve their factory-tested levels of energy efficiency, negatively impacting upon the attainment of Net Zero in the UK by 2050.
A best practice approach to water treatment helps tackle climate change and support the UK’s target of reaching Net Zero by 2050.
See how VELUX are building for a sustainable tomorrow
The global conversation about environmental sustainability and the urgent need to combat climate change has given rise to the concept of ‘green collar’ jobs. These jobs play a pivotal role in realising our ambitions as a nation and as a planet to shift towards a more sustainable future. They encompass a wide range of professions, from experts in sustainable transportation and green finance to heating engineers transitioning from installing gas boilers to heat pumps.
It’s important to note that green jobs are not entirely new vocations but rather a transformation of our existing and future workforce as they acquire new skills to meet the demands of the net-zero transition. In essence, green jobs are the jobs of the future.
To make this transition successful, we must establish the necessary learning and training infrastructure. However, this doesn’t operate in isolation; it’s an integral part of workplace training, college curricula, and professional standards. What truly propels this transformation is the demand from industry, which, in turn, is driven by the expectations of customers. At a government level therefore, it is important that we
Predicting the exact nature of these skills can be challenging. What will the houses of the future look like? Which materials will dominate new construction? Will there be mandates for retrofitting existing buildings? Will timber or other materials take precedence? Will certain construction methods become obsolete? Is offsite construction the way forward? Regardless of the answers, what’s crucial is a demand-driven certainty that allows industries to make long-term investments in their future workforce.
Leading by Example: Living Places
At VELUX, we are actively contributing, in our own way, to shaping this sustainable future. In 2020, we launched our 2030 sustainability strategy with ambitious targets to dramatically reduce both our own carbon emissions and those of our entire value chain. A core component of our strategy is to show others how to build sustainably.
Our founder, Villum Kann Rasmusen, once said that “one experiment is better than a thousand expert opinions.” Staying true to this philosophy, we collaborated with our design and engineering partners to create a concept called Living Places, a prototype village in Copenhagen. These homes were built using 3x less embodied carbon than a typical Danish home, and estimated to be 6x lower than a typical British house.
These homes are designed to the ActiveHouse standard, which harmonises indoor comfort with environmental impact and energy efficiency. What sets these homes apart is that they are constructed from readily available, everyday materials sourced from local builders’ merchants. Moreover, they are designed for easy disassembly, repair, replacement, or recycling.
Living Places Copenhagen will be open to visit until September 2024 or you can take a virtual tour and find out more at buildforlife.velux.com.
Neil Freshwater, Public Affairs Manager, VELUX GB & Ireland, neil.freshwater@velux.co.uk
See how Marsh Industries are delivering low carbon solutions
Marsh Industries, a leading manufacturer of off-mains drainage products based in Northamptonshire, continues to ensure that its range of wastewater products are at the forefront of industry compliance and environmental sustainability.
In seeking to deliver low carbon solutions, Marsh have assessed various options throughout the journey from customer order to products entering their working life. The innovative “Trade-Talk” concise video series has enabled remote delivery of product training to take place, reducing travel and the associated emissions for both Marsh staff and their customers. Whilst Marsh has aligned itself to the industry wide move towards video conferencing and meetings since 2020.
As a certified ISO14001:2015 (Environmental Management) company, staff are encouraged to put forward their own suggestions for more sustainable ways of working. These have included the introduction of recycled cloths to carry out the polishing of product moulds in the factory. With staff also challenged to minimise waste and recycle materials whenever possible.
In looking at their environmental impact, Marsh have already worked alongside VOSA to ensure the most efficient and optimal delivery methods are provided whilst doing so in a safe manner. Helping reduce vehicle movements in the distribution of their products to customer sites.
Once Marsh Sewage Treatment plants are operational, they deliver efficient power utilisation. With the Ultra:Polylok commercial sewage treatment plant providing the ability for sites to utilise the process control mechanism. This reduces energy consumption depending on seasonal utilisation. Whilst the Ensign and Portapura range deploy the Submerged Aeration Filtration (SAF-MBRR) approach for wastewater treatment. Which minimises power usage, without compromise on effluent quality. This economical, but reliable approach, places the EN12566 compliant Ensign range as a market leader.
The Portapura is a portable above ground treatment plant option, reducing the need for groundwork to facilitate larger scale Cesspool’s, and enabling future use at ensuing projects for contractors. This approach also reduces the volume of waste to remove from a given site. Consequently reducing vehicle movements, and enabling a lower carbon footprint.
Marsh invest heavily in product research and development, and this ethos ensures continuous improvement is high on the agenda. With reviews carried out to ensure opportunities for optimising carbon reduction strategies are identified and actioned. This approach has facilitated a new scheme to provide a tree sapling with every Sewage Treatment Plant purchased. When a tree has been living for 20 years it is anticipated, it will have absorbed 350 kg’s of CO2. With Marsh expecting to provide 50,000 saplings in the next 5 years. Carbon offsetting through tree planting can be a valuable tool in the fight against climate change when used as part of a broader strategy for reducing emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable future.
With offsite construction and a 50-year product lifecycle, Marsh Industries are proud to support UK construction with its wide range of off-mains drainage products. Alongside the previously referenced Sewage Treatment Plants, this also extends to Oil Separators, Pump Stations, Phosphate Reduction and Tertiary treatment units.
See how E.Tupling are developing optimum heating solutions
E.Tupling are the leading distributor to independent merchants with Heat Pumps, Underfloor Heating and Ventilation Systems at the heart of our offering:
Third generation family business and 57 years strong.
Route to market – proud to serve Independent Merchants across the UK.
Head office and main distribution centre located in Warrington and a further fulfilment centre in Charlton.
Partner quality assured and leading manufacturer brands including Danfoss & Panasonic.
To truly achieve low carbon, via renewable and sustainable means, HEATING within current housing has to, and is, evolving. The opportunity to generate greater efficiencies with the voluminous existing housing stock in the UK is abundantly clear. Our mission is to deliver renewable and sustainable products – Heat Pumps, Underfloor Heating & Ventilation – working harmoniously to attain low carbon. This is E.Tupling’s CLOSED LOOP solution providing optimum heating efficiency into the vitally important retrofit market.
As low carbon solutions become a prominent strategic focus, driven by Government policy, the challenge is for them to become understood and available. We have taken a considered and meticulous approach with our manufacturer partners to facilitate the delivery of their products to independent merchants who in turn make these readily available to heating engineers and installers nationwide. Our consultative and technical approach bridges accessibility, best practise, knowledge, and quality assurance across our CLOSED LOOP solution. We have a unique role to remove the disconnect between the Heat Source, Floor Preparation, Underfloor Heating and Ventilation. It sets apart from that of single system suppliers within the Construction industry and one that our expert team take exceptional pride in.
E.Tupling are immensely proud to represent our Independent Merchant customers, and the wider industry, to Government officials. Our overriding message to MP’s is that both a lack of regulation and qualified heating engineers and installers for Renewables are the greatest challenges. We recognise we have an active and important part to play as we work together with the BMF, Government and other stakeholders to overcome these critically influential barriers. Our position to strategically support the essential drive for greater heating efficiencies within existing UK housing stock is clear and it’s one we are immensely passionate about.
