The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has opened its first Regional Centre of Excellence as part of a localisation programme designed to strengthen the organisation’s regional presence and add to the support it offers members in their geographic area.
The BMF will establish up to 24 Centres of Excellence, two in each of its twelve regions, in the coming months.
The first Centre of Excellence is at The Green Energy Centre at John A Stephens in Nottingham. It will be used as a regional hub and centre for BMF training in the East Midland and will host regional meetings and forums as well as training courses for local members.
The BMF said the Green Energy Centre is an ideal location - opened ten years ago, the £2m centre was designed by local architect, Julian Marsh, as a purpose-built space to provide advice, information and training on renewable energy systems.
Sites for BMF Centres of Excellence have already been identified in Scotland, Northern Ireland, North West, Eastern, South West and West Midland Regions. Details of these will be announced at Members Day later this month.
BMF MD John Newcomb said: “We have been working with members to identify appropriate spaces as regional hubs where local groups can come together for meetings and training. The Green Energy Centre is a superb example and I’m sure it will play an important role in servicing the needs of our members in the East Midlands.”
Andy Stephens, Director of John A Stephens and BMF Regional Chairman, added: “We are delighted that the Green Energy Centre has been selected as the first of the BMF’s Regional Centres of Excellence. I think it will be extremely useful for members to meet locally on a regular basis and, as Regional Chairman, I look forward to welcoming them.”
Newcomb said: “There are a further seven Centres of Excellence ready to launch during the Autumn, with others following in 2017. We have also increased our team of Regional Managers, with five now covering the country. Localisation is an important strategy for the BMF going forward. With a network of Regional Centres of Excellence alongside our enhanced Regional Management team we are in an excellent position to engage with our growing membership on their home ground.”
