The Builders Merchants Federation is experiencing a membership upswing, with 18 new members joining the industry trade body in the last few months.

“We are delighted that so many new companies are choosing to join the BMF, and equally delighted to welcome back those companies who are rejoining,” he said.

“It’s a real vote of confidence in our new approach, and even more so as this is not the result of a concerted membership drive. Our priority during this period has been membership retention but we have clearly struck a chord with the wider industry.”

New supplier members include Monument Tools, manufacturing professional tools for plumbing, roofing and drainage, Hamilton Acorn, a long established brand for painting, decorating tools and paint brushes and Velux roof windows, one of the most famous and well recognised brands in the building materials industry.

New merchant members include Cartmore Building Supplies, Crossling, Grant & Stone, Lawsons, Martin & Partners Builders & Plumbers Merchants, Sydenhams, 3 Counties Timber & Building Supplies, and Willbond.

“The BMF has to be a fully inclusive trade federation representing the interests of independent and national merchants and the companies that supply them. We are now starting to build the critical mass that the BMF needs in order to be the authoritative voice of the whole merchant industry,” Newcomb added.

Martin & Partners Builders & Plumbers Merchants, Northampton’s largest independent, is a returning independent merchant. Managing director David Dickens said: “We are very pleased to be renewing our membership of the BMF. With all the changes taking place and the new plans going forward, it's an exciting time for the BMF, its members and our industry. We are looking forward to being involved and playing our part for the benefit of the BMF and the industry as a whole."