BMF Members' Day looks to help merchants accelerate towards a successful future by teamwork

The Builders Merchants Federation has announced that Dr Mark Jenkins, Professor of Business Strategy at Cranfield School of Management and the author of Performance at the Limit: Business Lessons from Formula One Motor Racing, is to speak at BMF Members' Day this coming September, where the theme is 'Together Towards Tomorrow' which is how teamwork can power us to success.

This is the first time that BMF Members' Day will feature a speaker from Cranfield, a world leader in management education and research that helps both individuals and businesses learn and succeed by transforming knowledge into action.

Mark’s teaching, research and consulting activities focus on the areas of competitive strategy, and innovation.  He is also a keen motor racing fan and his research using Formula One Motorsport to understand how strategy, teamwork and innovation creates high performance provides real insights for organisations and their managers to learn from. 

BMF MD John Newcomb said: “This year our Members’ Day business conference takes the theme Together Towards Tomorrow focusing on using the power of teamwork to create success. Mark Jenkins is one of the country’s leading authorities on management strategy and his work with Formula One teams including Williams, McLaren and Manor has many interesting lessons for organisations in our industry to take on board.”

If you are would like a new career challenge in the builders merchant sector, find out more here>> 

BMF Members’ Day will be held on 20 and 21 September 2016 at a convenient central England location, Jurys Inn Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire.  The two-day event will combine informal networking opportunities, a black-tie Awards Dinner, and informative business sessions with a range of thought-provoking guest speakers. The event's main sponsor is ACO.

The BMF is offering early bird discounts on all Members’ Day tickets booked by merchants before 31 March 2016.  For more information, and to book your place, please contact june.upton@bmf.org.uk.


Picture: Steering Wheel Of Mercedes Formula 1 Car. Photo by franky242 via http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

It is that time of the year to be proud of your products..

The prestigious Housebuilder Product Awards 2016 are now open for entries and look to reward excellence and innovation for products and systems which aid new home development in the UK.

So if you're a building product manufacturer and you've developed or enhanced an innovative product in the last 12 months, why not tell everyone of its success and remind the industry of its benefits and why it has made a difference to the industry. 

There are many product categories available to enter, which are all detailed below. The awards will be presided over by a panel of judges encompassing all areas of the housebuilding industry.

Please download the entry form now to enter these awards and give your product the recognition it deserves.  The deadline for entries is FRIDAY 19th FEBRUARY.

The finalists will be announced in Spring 2016 selected by our panel of esteemed judges.

Winners will be announced at a gala lunch in Summer 2016.

Judges

• Peter L. Caplehorn – Construction Products Association
• Claire Curtis-Thomas – BBA
• Graham Hutton – Linden Homes
• Dave Mitchell – HBF
• Rob Pannell – Zero Carbon Hub
• Sarah Pasco – Taylor Wimpey South Thames
• Neil Smith – NHBC
• John Tebbit – Robust Details
• Steve Wielebski – W.A Consultancy

Housebuilder Product Awards 2016 - Categories

• Best building fabric product This category will focus on the fabric of the building including external doors, windows, roofing and walls
• Best internal / interior product This category will focus on all internal/interior features of a home.
• Best services product This category will focus on the services side of a development looking at products which aid heating, hot water or ventilation, including renewables
• Best kitchens and bathrooms product This category will focus on products used in the kitchens and bathrooms of new homes.
• Best external product This category is aimed at products which focus on the external area of a new development and includes products developed for landscaping, gardens and driveways. This category also incorporates below ground including drainage.
• Best site product This category is aimed at products which focus on the building process itself helping in the onsite construction and delivery of new homes.
• Best health and safety product This category is aimed at products or systems designed to improve health and safety on site or in the home.
• Best business product This category is for products or systems designed to aid the business side of the housebuilding process such as IT, finance, office systems or customer care systems.
• Best brand new product This category is open for products which are brand new to the industry. Products may enter which have not yet been used on site but must display its credentials in how it plans to aid new home development.

How does the talent short marketplace affect you as an employer?

As the UK economy and more specifically the Building and Construction sector has improved, so has the confidence of manufacturers and distributors of building products.

This confidence has been one of the main drivers in the significant increase of high quality and more diverse job opportunities. It has also highlighted the importance for companies to invest in retaining and developing their best talent.

These changes are positive, with just one major problem - actually finding the required high-quality and available talent. 

But why is this so difficult?

Move quickly!
Our findings have shown that companies are continually losing the best talent by taking too long with the recruitment process. When they hesitate, the best options slip by. Not having a structured recruitment process in the first place can be the cause of this hesitation.

Delaying initial interviewing just to ensure a sufficient number of candidates or reluctance to employ the very best candidates – who often command high salaries - may result in expensive mistakes.

Once the decision is finally made to interview, coordination and scheduling of multiple diaries of the hiring team can result in potentially longer delays. These delays can be incredibly damaging, especially when the window of availability of the very best candidates in the improving market is now even shorter. Some of the top talent is only available for a matter of days after entering the job market – some do not even actively enter the job market.

Most employers are unaware that their own process is often unintentionally the cause of missing out on the people who will improve their businesses. It is essential that the recruitment process is approached with urgency and decisiveness, reacting to high calibre candidates immediately.

Remember when you’re interviewing, you’re being interviewed too!
A damaging misconception is that interviews are a one-sided review of the candidate. If you maintain this mentality in a talent-short marketplace, it will lead to a major obstacle in attracting and securing the best talent.

Due to the growing number of quality opportunities and the sense of security created through increased confidence of employers, the best candidates are now even more discerning in making their choice. They command higher compensation, career progression opportunities and more positive pull factors for joining a company.

It is essential for all employers to remember that an interview is a two-way process; it is equally the responsibility of employers to present the benefits of joining their business.

Treat the process as you would any major contact pitch
When the offer stage is reached, it is also very important that it is pitched at an attractive level. Once accepted, the onus is on the employer to react quickly in providing the offer and contract in writing. Once in place, maintain frequent contact to engage the new candidate and fend off interest from any competition – treat them like a new product, protecting and benefitting from its USPs.

The process of securing the candidate and the reaction time should be viewed with the same care and attention as winning a contract for a product on a major building project. In fact, the whole process from start to completion should be considered with the same importance – after all, it is an investment in someone who will secure future product specifications.

There will always be an abundance of ‘active’ candidates but high quality ‘passive’ talent will no longer fall on the lap of the employer.

So how do you access and secure the best talent in the current market...? Talk to us to discuss how we can help you in this process.

Seek professional advice and support to succeed
Companies shouldn't feel that they have to go it alone – as with any other type of large investment, expert specialist advice should be sought and the necessary time should be allocated to the decision-making process. The same should be applied to recruitment: the use of a specialist recruitment agency will help to maximise the chances of finding and developing an effective employee.

At Pinnacle Consulting we understand the dynamics of the current recruitment market as well as the building and construction industry. 

We invest heavily in proactive search, networking, and headhunting, enabling us to provide our clients with access to the very best talent, from graduate and entry-level through to key executives at board or senior management level.

In addition to our search and attraction methods, we engage with potential candidates daily through our extensive in-house, online and social media networks as well as by pre-interviewing and assessing candidates throughout the country.

So if you are looking to attract and secure the very best talent, please get in touch on 01480 405225.

www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

Image: Shutterstock ref. shutterstock_85385020

Roofing, Cladding and Insulation show. We're visiting. Are you?

The RCI  (Roofing, Cladding and Insulation) Show 2016 is the number one event for the RCI sector.  It takes place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, between 27-28th January.

At the exhibition, you will be able to see many of leading International and UK-based names from the sector and all under one roof,  allowing you to see the very latest that the best in the industry have to offer; compare and source new products; pick the brains of the experts from leading associations; and hear about the key issues that are going to impact on your business and the sector moving forward.

Consultants from Pinnacle Consulting will also be visiting the show, so if you are looking for a new job in the sector or would like to meet to discuss your career, contact us and we can arrange to catch up over a coffee. Please call us on 01480 405225 or by email recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

Take a look at our latest sales jobs in the building products industry >>>

As well the possibility of seeing us at the show, here is what you can expect to see at the show!:

• 130 exhibitors including manufacturers, suppliers, installers and the leading trade associations
• 100s of products and services including the very latest the industry has to offer

Two Seminar Theatres:

• Seminar theatre 1 will showcase 15 RIBA approved CPDs from leading manufacturers in our industry.
• Seminar theatre 2 will host a 1 hour debate each day chaired by leading industry figure Ray Horwood (topics to be confirmed)
• Two large demonstration zones, where visitors can get up close to the latest innovations, and see them in use.
• The CITB skills/apprenticeship drop-in clinic, where contractors can ask the experts key questions, plus get all the advice they need with regard to taking on an apprentice and up-skilling their workforce.
• Numerous competitions and prize giveaways.

So don’t miss out on this opportunity to see, touch and hear about what’s current within the sector, plus get an idea of what the future holds for your industry and your career!

You can book your FREE ticket here.

Commercial building and housing activity show growth as December PMI figures are released

Commercial building activity growth ensured that construction industry recovered from its November dip last month, according to the latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers' Index.

Commercial construction rose at its fastest rate since last October while output growth increased from its seven-month low in November.  The index, where a figure above 50 indicates expansion in the sector, registered 57.8 in December up from 55.3 recorded in November. 

Survey respondents attributed improving economic conditions to higher demand for commercial projects, although housing activity also increased at a robust rate, the survey showed.

However, civil engineering activity declined marginally, ending a seven-month period of sustained growth.

New business increased with survey respondents reporting improved willingness among clients to commit to new projects. This boosted job creation in December, causing the rate of employment growth to rebound from its 26-month low in November.

Just over half of those surveyed anticipated a rise in business activity this year, with only 7 per cent forecasting a fall. The survey noted this was the weakest amount of positive sentiment since February, but well above its post-crisis average.

Bigger client budgets, improving economic conditions and a strong pipeline of new projects were the reasons for business confidence in December, according to respondents.

David Noble, group CEO, CIPS, said: “With both new orders and general business activity on the rise, this month saw a considerable spike in purchasing activity and the second fastest increase since January 2015, amid an environment where suppliers struggled more as lead times lengthened.

Search for a Sales Job in the Construction Industry >

“This was a welcome surprise to the end of the year. The perfect conditions of lower commodity prices, helping bring cost inflation close to April’s six-year low, and a supportive UK economy have given the sector a solid foundation to build on with continued positive sentiment for the year ahead.”

Tim Moore, senior economist at Markit, said: “Civil engineering remained the weakest performing area of construction in December. Nonetheless, civil engineering activity looks set to experience a near-term spike at the turn of 2016 from spending related to flood relief and additional capital budgets. In the immediate aftermath of the winter 2013/14 floods, UK civil engineering activity picked up at a survey-record pace.”

Image courtesy of bplanet.at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Job in Focus for Jan 2016: Regional Sales Manager for Bathroom Products in Midlands/East Anglia

Our first Job in Focus for 2016 is a superb opportunity with a high profile and premium brand within the bathroom sector. As a Regional Sales Manager for the Midlands and East Anglia regions you would lead a team of Area Sales Manager's to drive growth with the Retail and Merchant channel.

Our Construction & Building Industry Job in Focus feature takes a detailed look at some of the fantastic sales & marketing construction and building materials job vacancies currently on our books. Job in Focus is also promoted on the home page of our website. www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk 

Job Title: Regional Sales Manager
Job Ref: J6892
Product: Bathroom Products
Location: West Midlands
Salary: £45k

EMPLOYER: Our client are a market leading, high profile premium brand within the Bathroom Product Sector. 

JOB DESCRIPTION: Regional Sales Manager - You will be tasked with leading, motivating and managing a team of Area Sales Managers, marketing an industry leading portfolio of premium consumer bathroom products, driving sustainable sales growth via Retail and Merchant channels. The role will be focused on structured management and development of the region and the sales team, with additional responsibility for senior level negotiation and development with select key accounts. 

LOCATION: Midlands - Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk. 

CANDIDATE: We are seeking an exceptional calibre field sales management professional. You will be a structured, professional and experienced manager and coach, competent in Leading, Managing and Motivating a field based sales team. Product and Industry knowledge is not required, however strong preference would be in Bathrooms, Kitchens, Heating, Plumbing, Consumer Electronics, FMCG. Experience dealing with Resellers, Retailers, DIY Chains, Wholesale or Distribution channels would be a significant benefit. 

PACKAGE: On offer is a basic salary of £40k - £45k plus commission scheme, quality car, pension, private healthcare, life cover and other benefits 

For further information or to discuss your career options contact Steve Brennan on 01480 405225 or apply online

Search for more building products sales jobs >>>

New Government measures brings New Year cheer to Home Builders Federation

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has welcomed the government’s announcement that it will directly commission thousands of affordable new homes, streamlining the process of building on publicly owned land.

“Allowing smaller builders to access publicly owned sites is a welcome move that must be part of a wider set of measures to assist SME builders and get more ‘players on the pitch,’” said HBF’s executive chairman Stewart Baseley, referring to the government’s proposal to offer smaller developers the chance to build on the government-owned sites which will have planning permission in place.

However, Baseley warned: “Direct commissioning will only be successful if it speeds up the release of public sector land and results in more housebuilding than would have happened using the more traditional methods of public sector land disposal.”

He indicated that both large and smaller housebuilders could benefit from the government’s approach: “A lower risk model could allow larger builders to increase their output still further, while also enabling smaller housebuilders to increase input. Both have an essential role to play. It is not a question of either/or.”

“If starter homes can increase demand by targeting a new section of the market, this will complement the supply measures announced today,” Baseley added.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

New Year...New Job? 

If you are looking for a new challenge in construction sales, send us your CV. 

Make sure your dreams are realised in 2016. It is easier than you think.

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