Job in Focus: Office Furniture to Architects and Designers in London - £100k OTE

Our new Job in Focus is a superb opportunity to become the Sales Manager for a high end provider of Office Furniture selling to architects, designers and corporate end-users in London. The role has an OTE of £100k.

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 our website. www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk 


JOB IN FOCUS FULL DETAILS

Job Title: Sales Manager
Job Ref: J9495
Product: Furniture
Location: London & South East
Salary: £70k (100k OTE)

HIGH END PROVIDER OF OFFICE FURNITURE TARGETING ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS AND CORPORATE END USERS 

PACKAGE: On offer is a basic salary of up to £70K with a realistic OTE of £100K, plus pension, healthcare, mobile phone, laptop and 25 days holiday 

EMPLOYER: A global market leader in the design and supply of office furniture. 

JOB DESCRIPTION: Area Sales Manager: This is an exciting opportunity to join a recognised brand with a fantastic name in the sector. You will be tasked with developing business and growing existing accounts in a role that is roughly 70% account management. Products include high end office furniture such as tables, desks and chairs with the client base including architects, interior designers, corporate end users such as law and finance companies. 

LOCATION: Covering London - you must live within easy commute of the office so ideally in Middlesex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Oxfordshire or Kent 

CANDIDATE: You must have experience working in a field sales role within the interiors market and be used to working with architects, interior designers or corporate end users and want to join a flourishing brand great opportunities for career advancement. Any knowledge of high end products would be an advantage but is not essential. 

For further information or to discuss your career options contact Natalie Matthews on 01480 405 225 or apply online.

Builders Merchants given boost by MP at BMF Members' Day

The Housing and Planning Minister Alok Sharma has told builders merchants that housing is a major priority for this Government and welcomed plans by brick maker Ibstock to invest £50 million in a new factory in Leicestershire.

Sharma, who is MP for Reading,  was the headline speaker at BMF’s annual Members’ Day event in Leicestershire last week and emphasised the vital role builders’ merchants play in getting more homes built in this country.

He said: “Delivering more homes is a key priority for this Government. Builders’ merchants have an absolutely vital role to play in this, supplying the essential materials we need to get our country building faster.  I congratulate the resilient performance of UK builders’ merchants over this year, and I look forward to working with the sector to put into action the far-reaching reforms of the Housing White Paper. By working together, we will ensure we have the right building blocks in place to meet local housing needs and promote growth across all areas of the country.”

According to the latest figures released by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) through their Builders Merchants Building Index, sales in Q2 2017 were 5.3% higher compared to the same period last year (when adjusted for there being two less days trading in the period). The data also states that builders’ merchants year-to-date sales are 3.8% higher compared to the same time last year.

Interested in working for a builders merchant? Find out more>>>

Sharma also said that the Ibstock £50m investment was: “fantastic news for the building materials industry, demonstrating continuing confidence in this sector and growing consumer demand.” 

John Newcomb, BMF CEO Chief Executive of the Builders Merchants Federation said: “As a country we need to build many more homes, but these cannot be built without the materials and products that BMF members make, stock and deliver on a daily basis to where they are needed. There are also thousands of households wanting to repair, extend or adapt their home, and again they rely on builders’ merchants to provide the materials to do this.

“Despite our members’ robust performance so far this year, there are still some challenges facing our sector such as the supply of materials and the potential for the price of materials to increase due to higher commodity prices and fluctuations in exchange rates. We also want to see the Government press ahead with its proposals contained in the Housing White Paper, as this will bring a welcome boost to housebuilders”.

Over 5% of UK homes now have a wetroom installation!

The value of the wet room market has increased by 10% between 2014-2016, according to a report by AMA Research. The sector offers significant growth potential within the UK bathroom market, with demand for wet rooms having increased significantly in recent years.

Growth was particularly strong in 2015, with more modest rates in 2016/17 of around 3% per annum. Moderate growth is currently forecast to 2021, when the market is expected to have increased by 18% compared to the market size in 2017.

Demand for wet rooms has increased significantly in recent years as the showering area has become an essential part of bathroom design, with householders increasingly choosing to shower rather than bathe. Key market drivers in 2014/15 included increasing levels of new housebuilding, particularly the retirement/care sector, where wet rooms are more common. In 2016 and H1 2017, the wet room market experienced modest growth, largely a result of the political and economic uncertainty in the UK at present.

The floor formers and level access trays sector dominates the wet room market in terms of value, followed by waterproof tanking kits, glass wet room panels and drainage products. While traditional shower trays and enclosures have lost some market share, the 25mm level access shower tray that can be set flush into the wet room floor is in greater demand and often used as an alternative to the wet room floor former. Glass frameless wet room panels have also seen good growth, and can be used to ‘zone’ the wet room, creating a wet and dry area.

Recent product developments include pre-moulded wetroom floor formers with a built-in gradient and membrane waterproof tanking systems, which are easier to install and provide greater installation accuracy, saving a significant amount of installation time. Developments in the drainage products sector include wall mounted and linear drains for a seamless finish and digital drainage pumps that operate wirelessly when the shower is turned on.
One of the key reasons that wetrooms have become more appealing is their versatility, which can be attributed to product innovations and improvements. It is now possible for wetrooms to be installed in any room of the house and on most types of floor. Prices have also fallen, making wetrooms a more affordable choice to the mainstream consumer.
Going forward, demand will also be supported by the emerging trend towards multi- generational households. These properties would need to be adapted inclusively to suit the needs of all family members living at home, and the accessibility of wetrooms compared to traditional bathrooms for elderly and disabled consumers represents a key driver of growth. Wetrooms is one of the most popular bathroom adaptations paid for by a Disabled Facility Grant (DFG), which is set to double over the next 2-3 years.

New housebuilding volumes are set to stabilise despite the uncertainty currently surrounding the UK’s exit from the EU and the 2017 General Election. Prospects remain positive in this sector and will support demand for wet room products installed in new housing, including self- build housing. Wet rooms also represent a popular method of designing easy access and space efficient showering areas in commercial buildings including hotels, leisure facilities, specialised housing, care homes and hospitals, while the use of prefabricated wetroom PODs is also expected to increase.

The ‘Wetroom Market Report – UK 2017-2021 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience within the construction and home improvement markets. The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

Photo from Shutterstock

NMBS all-industry conference selling out fast

NMBS - the UK's leading buying society for independent builder's, plumbing and heating, timber and hardware merchants - is reporting strong demand for its 2018 all-industry conference. It is always one of the most fun and worthwhile events in the building industry's calendar. 

NMBS all-industry conference will be held in Baveno, Italy.

All sponsorship opportunities for the event have now been sold with some 70 different NMBS suppliers and partners seizing the chance to pledge their support.

The overall headline sponsor has been confirmed as Makita.


Delegate spaces are also selling quickly and NMBS is advising those interested in attending to book as early as possible in order to avoid disappointment.

The 2018 NMBS all-industry conference takes place from Thursday the 14th to Sunday the 17th June at the Grand Hotel Dino, Baveno, Italy.

This elegant hotel, complete with conferencing facilities, panoramic restaurants, and health club and wellness centre, is located in the southern shadow of the Alps on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Next year's conference will be themed ‘Industry Matters'.

It will enable delegates to develop their knowledge of a range of current and relevant business issues affecting the entire merchanting industry - including innovation; people; processes and productivity; omnichannel and online trading; and new entrants and technologies.

A number of recognised experts and thought leaders from these different fields will also attend and deliver presentations on their area of expertise.

Sam Hunt, events manager at NMBS, said: "The 2018 NMBS all-industry conference may be nine months away but clearly anticipation and excitement surrounding the event is building already.

"The unprecedented demand we've witnessed highlights the ability of the conference to deliver real added value and to help those attending to gain an edge in the increasingly competitive merchanting arena."

For more information on the 2018 NMBS all-industry conference or to book, call Sam Hunt on 0116 261 4902 or email: sam.hunt@nmbs.co.uk

Which building materials are increasing in price and impacting small builders?

A third of small building firms say that soaring material prices are squeezing their margins and almost a quarter have had to pass these price increases onto consumers, according to the latest research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Construction SMEs have reported a range of material price increases since the depreciation of sterling following the EU referendum in June 2016. Small building firms were asked which materials have increased the most and the results were as follows:

1. Timber
2. Insulation
3. Bricks
4. Blocks
5. Windows
6. Plasterboard / Slate (joint sixth)
7. Boilers and radiators
8. Porcelain products

The impact of these material price increases includes:

• 85% of builders think material price rises could drive consumers to hire rogue traders in an effort to save money on their building projects;
• One third of construction SMEs (32%) have had their margins squeezed;
• Almost one quarter (22%) have been forced to pass material price increases onto their clients, making projects more expensive for consumers;
• More than one-in-ten builders report making losses on their building projects due to material price increases.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Material price increases have left builders under severe pressure. This research shows that following the fall in the exchange rate, timber is the material that the majority of builders say has increased most in price but the problem doesn’t end there – everything from insulation to windows to bricks and blocks are soaring in price. A third of builders report that these price increases are eating into their already razor-thin margins – and this on top of increased wages and salaries stemming from long-term construction skills shortages. Furthermore, one-in-ten builders say that they’ve actually made losses on projects due to material price increases – this is most likely to happen when a particular product or material jumps up in price mid-project when then builder has already quoted for the work. Perhaps unwisely, some builders are absorbing these extra costs as opposed to re-quoting for the project.”


Berry concluded: “Material price spikes aren’t just a problem for builders – they’re also a problem for the home owner, with almost one quarter of builders saying that they have had to pass on price increases to their clients. This means that building projects now cost significantly more than they did this time last year. What with stagnant wages and price inflation across the economy, consumers are feeling the pinch and it might be that they decide not to commission that loft conversion or extension after all. Or worse still, 85% of builders believe that home owners will be tempted to hire rogue traders who are quoting a lower price than a professional building firm such as those that belong to the FMB. If that’s the case, material price rises could lead to a flurry of botched jobs and distressed consumers. We’re calling on home owners to hold their nerve – they’re better off commissioning a more modest project from a professional builder than a high spec project from a cowboy. Don’t take the risk.”

Image: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

New Orders in Construction Fall to the Lowest in Three Years

ONS figures published on 8th September show that construction output in July fell by 0.9% and was 0.4% lower compared with one year earlier.  In addition, new orders in Q2 declined 7.8% and fell 12.6% on an annual basis. However, if you put a positive spin on the news, construction output is 1.3% higher than it was 12 months ago!

Rebecca Larkin, Senior Economist at the Construction Products Association, commented: "Data from the ONS confirms that alongside a 1.3% contraction in output in Q2, new orders in construction hit the lowest level since 2014 Q1.    

"In particular, the sectors suffering the largest falls were the industry’s largest three; private housing, commercial and infrastructure.: private housing, commercial and infrastructure. Commercial new orders began tailing off in the second half of 2016 and are 11.2% lower since the EU Referendum. Whilst this downward trend was expected amid the rising uncertainty giving way to a reluctance to invest in new offices space, private sector house building and infrastructure are the key drivers of growth in the CPA's forecasts for 2018 and 2019. New orders in these key sectors were the lowest since 2015 and highlight that there are now lower volumes of work queued up in the pipeline.

"Nevertheless, for the year to date, construction output is still 1.3% higher than a year ago. The weakness in new orders is factored in to the CPA’s forecasts for 2018, with construction growth slowing to 0.7% as activity on projects reaching an end is not replaced at the same rates."

More from the ONS can be found here.

Image: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

August shows marginal increase in UK Construction Output

August survey data indicated that the UK construction sector continued to experience a slowdown this summer. Reduced levels of commercial work were a key source of weakness, which offset robust growth in residential building. 

There were also signs of a sustained soft patch ahead, with new business volumes falling for the second month running. Survey respondents linked subdued demand to reduced business investment and heightened economic uncertainty. As a result, construction firms exerted greater caution in terms of their staff hiring, with employment numbers rising at the slowest pace since July 2016. 

Key findings:

• Marginal increase in overall construction activity
• Robust rise in house building offset by marked
• fall in commercial work
• New business declines for the second month running

At 51.1 in August, the seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI® ) remained above the 50.0 no-change threshold for the twelfth month running. However, the latest reading was down from 51.9 in July and pointed to the weakest overall UK construction performance since August 2016. A key reason for the slowdown was a lack of new orders to replace completed projects, according the survey respondents. 

Residential building was the only area to buck the overall trend in August, with housing activity rising at a robust and accelerated pace since the previous month. Meanwhile, civil engineering activity was close to stagnation and commercial work dropped at the fastest pace since July 2016. Reports from survey respondents widely suggested that concerns about the UK economic outlook had weighed on the commercial development sector, with clients opting to delay spending decisions and, in some cases, scale back planned projects. 

Total new order volumes dropped for the second month running in August, although the rate of contraction was only marginal and slower than seen in July. Survey respondents continued to cite reluctance to commit to new construction projects, linked to general economic uncertainty and less favourable market conditions. 

Mirroring the subdued trends for business activity and incoming new work, latest data revealed a slowdown in job creation to its weakest since July 2016. Construction firms also recorded a decline in sub-contractor usage, which continued the downward trend seen since March. 

Supply chain pressures persisted in August, despite stagnation in input buying. Longer delivery times were linked to ongoing stock shortages among vendors. 

Tim Moore, Associate Director at IHS Markit and author of the IHS Markit/CIPS Construction PMI® : 
“UK construction companies indicated that lacklustre growth conditions persisted during August. Civil engineering work stagnated, which meant that the construction sector was reliant upon greater house building activity to deliver an outright expansion in output volumes. Commercial development remained by far the worst performing category, with business activity falling at the fastest pace since July 2016. 

“Survey respondents noted that subdued business investment and concerns about the UK economic outlook had led to a lack of new work to replace completed projects, especially in the commercial building sector. 

“There were signs that UK construction firms are bracing for the soft patch to continue into this autumn, with fragile business confidence contributing to weaker trends for job creation and input buying during August.”

On a more positive note, cost pressures were the weakest since September 2016. Survey respondents noted that exchange rate depreciation continued to drive up prices for construction materials, but some commented on successful negotiations with suppliers against a backdrop of softer market conditions.

Duncan Brock, Director of Customer Relationships at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said: 

“The sector hit a roadblock this month as purchasing activity slowed for the third month and new business wins were hard to come by. Reduced Government spending, economic uncertainty and Brexit-delayed decision-making among clients were largely to blame. 

“The struggling commercial sector drove this disappointment, languishing under the pressure with the fastest drop in activity in over a year. Job creation was nothing to shout about and showed signs of a slowdown, as companies reined back additional spending. 

“But any further drag on the construction sector overall was halted by the continuing strong performance by housebuilders, defying expectations with a good month. The sector was also offered some respite from the ongoing march of rising prices as input price inflation weakened. 

“This good fortune in prices is unlikely to continue as suppliers scrabble to match the demand for an increasing number of materials in short supply and delivery times lengthened. Price rises will become inevitable if builders have to compete to get what they need. 

“In the near-term future, without those new orders waiting in the wings, the performance of the construction sector is likely to continue to be downbeat.”

Image: Builder worker in safety protective equipment installing concrete floor slab panel at building construction site. Image ID: 125206808. Copyright: Dmitry Kalinovsky www.shutterstock.com

Did you create a great marketing plan this year?

Attention all marketers working for companies within the building and construction industry! If you have excelled this year with a marketing plan that has helped your company to stand out from the crowd, you should let everyone know - even if you did come up with it in the local pub!

The Construction Marketing Awards showcase the construction industry’s creativity, innovation and effectiveness in marketing.

The Awards raise the profile of marketing professionals and their achievements. Supported by The Chartered Institute of Marketing Construction Industry Group (CIMCIG) the awards are an invaluable opportunity for recognition.

The 2017 awards are open for entry, with the closing deadline for entries being Friday 22nd September.

Enter the 2017 awards

This year’s Gala Award Dinner will be held on the 30th November at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, London.

The event will have Shappi Khorsandi as the host for the Gala Dinner Presentation Evening on November 30.

The daughter of an exiled writer and comic from Iran, Shappi’s upbringing has been in no way conventional. From mental illness to opium dens, it’s all gone on in the Khorsandi household and now she recounts it all the only way she knows how, with wit, warmth and hilarity.

Shappi’s 2006 show, Asylum Speaker was an Edinburgh sell-out, followed by an extended run at The Soho Theatre. In 2007, Shappi won Best Breakthrough Act at the Chortle Awards. Shappi took her one women show Carry on Shappi to the 2008 Edinburgh Festival and then on to The Soho Theatre. Since then she has continued touring, with her 2016 show Oh My Country selling out venues across the UK.

Shappi has appeared on Have I Got News For You, on BBC1’s Lenny’s Britain and BBC4’s Never Mind the Full Stops. She’s a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4 programmes such as Quote… Unquote, The Now Show, Just a Minute, and also contributed to From Tehran With Laughter.

She has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Radio 5 Live, and BBC’s Question Time. She has gigged internationally in the United States, the Middle East, Singapore, Australia and Amsterdam.

‘Don’t be fooled by her innocent looks, she packs a deceptively powerful punch’ – Evening Standard

‘Britain’s best young female comic by any yardstick’ – The Guardian

‘Asylum Speaker is both adorable and daring, a rare combination… Khorsandi has star quality’ – The Independent

Job in Focus: Commercial Roofing Products in South - £90k OTE

Our new Job in Focus for September is for manufacturer of commercial roofing solutions. Selling to Architects, Surveyors, Main contractors and Installers. You will be tasked concentrating on the refurbishment market and cover the South of the UK. The package is pp to £60K with realistic £90K OTE.

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 our website. www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk 


JOB IN FOCUS FULL DETAILS

Job Title: Sales Executive
Job Ref: J9370
Product: Roofing Flat
Location: London & South East
Salary: £60k

Manufacturer of commercial roofing solutions. Selling to Architects, Surveyors, Main contractors and Installers. 

Package: Up to £60K with realistic £90K OTE. Company car, Mobile, Laptop, Pension, Healthcare. 

Employer: Working with an innovative business synonymous with quality products & excellent technical support. A business which is rapidly expanding due to an excellent growth strategy and a tenacious sales team. 

Job Description: Focussing mainly on the refurbishment market with a small amount of new build. Marketing the full range of commercial roofing solutions with surveyors, architects, main contractors, local authorities and specialist installers. This is an excellent patch for the business with significant growth opportunities. 

Area: Field based role covering the South: Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, London, Surrey, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset. 

Person: We are seeking a proven field sales professional with experience selling via specification with architects and surveyors on refurbishment projects. The ideal candidate will ideally come from a roofing background but the client is open on similar product groups if the candidate have the correct route to market experience. 

For further information or to discuss your career options contact Stuart Entwistle on 01480 405225 or apply online