FINAL SCORE : CHARITY WINNER AFTER MATCH OF THE DAY

More than £400 was raised for charity as Buildbase and Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) played a charity football match at Chester FC’s Deva Stadium.

Family and friends watched staff from Nantwich Buildbase play a team from CDHT.  When the full time whistle was blown after a close fought full 90-minute game the score was 5-2 to CDHT. Colleagues and family donated money to play and to watch the game, with all proceeds going to Claire House Children’s Hospice.

The game was organised by Brian Potts, stores supervisor at Nantwich Buildbase.  He said: “This is the second annual charity football game that we’ve played.  It’s a great start to the football season and we hope to continue a mini-league over the winter in which local businesses can take part and play.”

Phil Jones, CDHT director of property services, managed the CDHT team. Phil said: “All that training certainly paid off, as the crowd were treated to a competitive game. Thanks very much to Chester FC for allowing us to use their fantastic facilities; many of the players had never played at a stadium on a proper pitch, so it was an honour. Thanks to everyone for supporting this fun event; the supporters, the players and match officials, who volunteered their time, helping to raise money for this great cause.”

CDHT launched a new dedicated store in partnership with Buildbase in August 2008. The store provides a trade counter service for the order and collection of materials for CDHT’s TrustWorks’ Maintenance Technicians, who are based at CDHT’s Octavian Centre, off Sealand Road, Chester.

The partnership agreement means that Buildbase manages the operation of the dedicated store on behalf of CDHT. Previously, TrustWorks’ repairs and maintenance personnel were using various local suppliers for the materials they needed.  The stores facility has proved a great success under the management of Brian Potts who won the ‘Best New Employee’ award for 2009 in Buildbase’s company award scheme.

FIRST 10,000 TREES PLANTED FOR BUILDBASE CUSTOMERS

As a direct result of Buildbase customers joining the company’s paperless invoicing scheme, some 10,750 trees - sufficient to cover almost six football pitches - are currently being planted by SCA Timber in the Buildbase Lifecycle Forest area on SCA land at Ljusåsen in mid-Sweden.

“This is a fantastic start,” says Buildbase managing director Stephen Thompstone. “We’d like to thank all customers who’ve so far helped the environment through this tree-planting and paper-saving initiative. Already 150,000 invoices have been sent electronically, reducing waste in the construction supply chain. Our likely annualised saving on this basis should be around 300,000 documents."

"There are many more Buildbase customers out there who could still join our paperless billing scheme, and for each one signing up, a further 10 trees will be planted in the forest area that SCA has dedicated to us.”

Swedish wood supplier and FSC-certified forest owner SCA Timber plans its timber harvesting around 100 years into the future. Its pine and spruce trees start life in the company’s own tree nurseries, the largest of their kind in the world, and absorb carbon while in active growth. They will be harvested to make wood products at maturity in 80 -100 years’ time. SCA’s Swedish forests cover an area slightly larger in total than the whole of Wales.

     
Top Left: The SCA planter takes a young plant from the pack at his side, creates a planting hole with a specially-designed tool, dropping the plant down the chute to take its place in the next generation of FSC-certified sustainable forests in Sweden.

Top Right: Regenerating forests, absorbing CO2 and reducing paper: the three key benefits of the Buildbase electronic billing scheme. This is one of the 10,750 trees now being planted by SCA on behalf of Buildbase customers who’ve already joined the scheme.

TOMMY WALSH LAUNCHES DANSAND AT BUILDBASE TRADE SHOW

Tommy Walsh was a popular personality at a recent trade show organised by Buildbase. He was demonstrating one of his favourite new products, Dansand, a revolutionary new jointing sand that prevents weeds.

Staged at a number of Buildbase branches at different times of the year, trade shows are organised for local people working in the building industry. The Johnsons Buildbase event in Oxford was held on the eve of the World Cup. Among other football themed attractions, a David Beckham lookalike was showing off his footballing skills and posing for photos with guests.

The show featured nearly a hundred trade stands from leading names in the building industry who demonstrated their latest products and innovations.  Held on an annual basis, the event is a major highlight for local tradesmen including builders, carpenters, painters and decorators. Some 1800 guests attended the event which also raised funds for two charities, Help for Heroes and Child Reach International.

David Robertson of Buildbase said: “It was a wonderful night with a World Cup theme but having Tommy Walsh was a highlight.  He’s a great ambassador for the Dansand product and spent much of the evening chatting with guests, entertaining them with stories and some useful DIY tips.

“Although rain was forecast the weather looked after us and we were very pleased with the turnout.  The building trade was badly affected by the downturn in the economy but we are seeing a recovery now, although it’s still a bit fragile.

“Our Trade Show is a chance to say thank you to our many loyal, local customers with some entertainment and hospitality.  It’s also a chance for them to speak to manufacturers about the newest products for the building trade and get some technical advice.”

For example, Tommy Walsh’s Choice, Dansand, is a new jointing sand being distributed in the UK by Bradstone.  It prevents weeds from growing in newly laid or renovated block paving, patios and driveways without using environmentally harmful herbicides.

OXFORD UNITED FC SAYS THANK YOU TO LONGEST RUNNING SPONSOR

Oxford United FC is thanking Buildbase for its ten-year partnership with the club. As the club’s longest continuous main sponsor, Buildbase will no longer be the shirt sponsor for next season, but will maintain its links with OUFC by continuing to have a corporate box at the Kassam Stadium and assisting with other advertising support. 

Buildbase first agreed the shirt sponsorship in the 2001/2 season when the club moved to the new Kassam stadium. The company has always recognised the importance of local community links and its long support for OUFC has had benefits for all parties involved.

“We have really enjoyed our long association with the club.  It has been a very positive experience for us and has certainly established the Buildbase name throughout Oxfordshire and beyond,” says Buildbase director, Kevin Middleton.

“After ten happy years we are looking to introduce our name to a wider audience because we are a national builders merchant with branches up and down the country.

“However we will be continuing our links with the club as we have strong local connections.  Our head offices are at Oxford Business Park and our longest established branch – Johnsons Buildbase – is a few minutes from the stadium. 

“The Wembley final was an incredible day for us and we’re so proud of the players and the coaching team for their inspired, match-winning performance.  To have our name on the shirts of the players and all the thousands of fans was a real honour.  The occasion is one that we’ll all remember for a long time. 

“It’s been a strong partnership and we’ve made so many friends at the club.  We do, of course, wish Oxford United huge success now and in the future.”

OUFC chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Buildbase for their loyal support over the years.  Ever since I have been involved with the club Buildbase have been so supportive in many ways, and throughout all areas of the club.

“I am really pleased that they were the sponsors the season we have got back into the Football League, and even more pleased that they have committed to continuing to support the club with advertising and hospitality.  The Buildbase relationship is a very strong and positive relationship and we look forward for that to continue for many years to come, as the club try and climb the Football League.”

BUILDBASE HELPS MEDAL-WINNING GARDENS AT CHELSEA

The two gardens supported by Buildbase at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show have been rewarded with medals. The Children’s Society garden was awarded gold and the University of Worcester received a silver-gilt medal.
The Children’s Society garden, designed by Mark Gregory, has won a gold medal for the third year running.  Mark’s landscaping business, Landform Consultants, also won the ‘Best Contractor’ award.  The award recognises the contracting team who maintained the tidiest site at Chelsea Flower Show.  As landscape contractors, Landform is a regular customer of the Buildbase branches at Heathrow and Chessington.

Materials for the construction of the Children’s Society garden were supplied by Buildbase at Peckham and from manufacturer Marshalls.

The garden design takes its inspiration from a Well-being survey published by the charity which showed that young people were happiest when spending time with family and friends.

It is the first year that the University of Worcester has taken part in the show.  Their silver-gilt medal-winning garden was designed by Olivia Kirk. It highlights the important work of the university-based National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU), which is making a vital contribution to allergy research in the UK. The garden features low allergen plants and materials, including low-VOC paint and sustainably sourced timber.

Buildbase branches at Peckham and Worcester supplied materials to build the university’s garden and plant and machinery were supplied by Hirebase at Peckham.  Contractors Speller Metcalfe are regularly supplied by Bullock Buildbase in Worcester and Dunpark Civils at Bilston.
 “We’d like to congratulate everyone who has been involved in the creation of these wonderful gardens,” says Nigel Bullock, Buildbase product manager.  “We’re delighted to have played a part and helped them achieve these top medals at Chelsea.  

“The gardens are built from scratch in about three weeks so it’s vital that everything arrives at the right place, at the right time.  We’ve worked closely with the designers and contractors to make sure that we meet their requirements and give them a superb service. 

“When the finished gardens are awarded gold and silver-gilt medals, it’s a reflection of everyone’s hard work and commitment.”

WE DID IT! OXFORD UNITED FC BACK IN THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Buildbase would like to congratulate everyone who helped secure success for Oxford United and promotion back into the Football League. As the club’s longest continuous sponsors Buildbase is proud to have added its support and backing to OUFC over the past ten years.

Oxford United were victorious in the Conference League play-offs at Wembley, beating York City by 3 – 1. Around 33,000 travelling supporters had an incredible day at the home of football and filled the stadium with a sea of yellow.

“We must congratulate everyone who’s been involved in this amazing achievement – the players, manager, the chairman and, of course all the fans who turned out in their thousands,” says Buildbase managing director, Stephen Thompstone. “We are so proud to have played our part through sponsorship over the past ten years. It was an unforgettable day and the occasion seemed to bring together the whole of the county. A chance to go to Wembley and get a convincing win was like our own cup final success.”

Oxford United FC - Blue Square Premiership promotion final

Buildbase would like to wish Oxford United FC all the best for the Blue Square Premiership promotion final at Wembley on Sunday 16 May.  As the club’s longest continuous sponsor Buildbase has given its backing to the club for ten years and is delighted that OUFC has won this chance to return to the football league. 

Buildbase staff and customers will be among the thousands of loyal supporters who will be cheering for the U’s on Sunday.  It marks the club’s return to Wembley, 24 years after they won the Milk Cup in 1986.  The club has had a wonderful run under the skilled management of Chris Wilder and this has culminated in a place in the play-off final. 

It will be an incredible and thrilling day out and all the action will be televised on Sky.

Come on you Yellows!

Buildbase trial displays targeted at the trade

     
Four Buildbase branches are trialling a new European-style display concept to boost trade sales. The Buildbase Display for Professional Building Solutions has been installed at Gloucester, Cradley Heath, Portsmouth and Bolton branches.

The display has up to 22 panels, each featuring an individual supplier. The panels have been prepared with the manufacturer’s support and feature product information, new ranges, installation advice or working applications. Each panel has its own lighting and power and some have video screens for added interest.

They are located in the self-select stores area where there is maximum footfall. The target audience is the professional trade customer including homebuilders and renovators.

“We’ve been inspired by the way builders merchants in Europe promote their products,” says Martin Lee, Buildbase commercial director, who has masterminded the project. “In many European countries merchants combine their showroom and stores areas. They have more of these large product displays to keep trade customers posted on new products, advice on application and building solutions."

“It’s only practical where we have plenty of space, but the displays are a really attractive feature in the stores and we’ve already had some positive feedback.”

To increase awareness of the displays, all trade customers at the four branches will be contacted in April with a book of special offers relating to the products and suppliers featured. These trade offers will run for three months.

Product sales will be monitored at three, six and nine-monthly intervals to measure impact on sales. Based on their success the displays will be extended to other Buildbase branches throughout the UK.

Buildbase supports two gardens at Chelsea Flower Show

Olivia Kirk’s low-allergen garden for the
University of Worcester

      The Children’s Society Garden is an urban retreat for
      families with teenagers.

     
Buildbase will be supporting two exciting gardens at the 2010 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. A variety of building materials will be supplied for the construction of the University of Worcester’s low allergen garden designed by Olivia Kirk and also for the Children’s Society’s garden designed by Mark Gregory.

The University of Worcester Garden will highlight the important work of the University-based National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU), which is making a vital contribution to allergy research in the UK.

The garden, which represents the university’s first attendance at Chelsea, will feature low allergen plants and materials, including low-VOC paint and sustainably sourced timber.

The garden will feature smooth stone pavings, which pass under a pergola offering shade and shelter with seating and small pools of water. The pergola has coloured glass pieces, which will reflect the changing light throughout the day and be picked up by the garden lighting in the evening.

After the show the garden will be transferred to the university for staff, students and visitors to enjoy. The NPARU produces all of the UK’s pollen forecasts, carries out vital research into allergens, provides a forensic service for the police, and carries out product testing.

Buildbase is working with the Children’s Society charity for the second year to provide materials for their show garden at Chelsea, designed for the modern family. Designer Mark Gregory has taken his inspiration from The Children’s Society’s Well-being report, giving teenagers a garden where they can spend time with their family and friends and relax in a safe and stylish environment.

The covered lounge seating area is an ideal place for the family to unwind around a safely designed fire pit. The area is vented and surrounded by curtains for privacy and warmth. The family can relax in the naturally filtered plunge pool or make pizzas in the large outdoor oven.

Multi-stemmed Acer campestre trees enclose the garden and provide dappled shade. Large Euonymuos and Viburnum shrubs sit alongside Aquilegia and foxgloves while ferns weave through the planting creating texture. Aquatic plants separate the large stepping stones around the naturally filtered plunge pool.

The Children’s Society Garden is a modern, urban retreat that takes inspiration from what makes children and young people happy and delivers it with style.

“For us, Chelsea Flower Show represents a good opportunity to showcase various garden landscaping products,” says Nigel Bullock, Buildbase product manager. “It is the UK’s best-known and best-loved horticultural event and is the first high-profile show in the gardening calendar.

“Olivia Kirk and Mark Gregory are both bringing innovative designs that are memorable and sure to draw lots of attention. The University of Worcester’s low-allergen garden is especially interesting because this is an aspect that many of us might incorporate when we are planning a garden.

“For the Children’s Society Garden, Marshalls will be supplying the main paving for the garden – a natural Yorkstone. Buildbase is pleased to be working with Marshalls as we are one of the UK’s biggest outlets for their products, especially through our Civils and Lintels branches.”

This years event runs from Tuesday 25th - Saturday 29th May 2010

Buildbase Champions of Distinction

     
Picture: Martin Watson of Days Buildbase, Portsmouth, receives the SCA Cup as the top graduate with the latest group of Buildbase Timber Champions.

Nine of this year’s Buildbase Timber Champions gained a Distinction and five gained Credits in the Timber Studies Award from IWSc: The Wood Technology Society. To celebrate their achievement, and to consolidate knowledge gained on the course, this latest group of Buildbase Timber Champions were taken to Sweden to visit SCA Timber’s forests, tree nurseries and wood production units. During the visit, the top graduate from the 2009-10 SCA course, Martin Watson of Days Buildbase, Portsmouth, was awarded the annual cup for the best student. He scored 91% in the course exam.

Buildbase takes delivery of RKL’s first TRADA Q-Mark plywood

Buildbase has taken delivery of the UK’s first delivery of Q-Mark plywood from leading importer, RKL Plywood. The delivery, which comprised Q-Mark Plywood in 9, 12 and 18mm thicknesses, was made to Coventry branch, Bailey Buildbase.

Since becoming the first company to receive Q-Mark certification for plywood, RKL has received a huge number of enquiries and interest in the product it has branded as ‘Q-Board’.

The Q-Mark certification, set by UK notified body BM TRADA Certification, is an internationally-recognised quality mark which goes beyond CE marking. The scheme is set out to show consistency in the manufacture and production of a product that is fully CPD (Construction Products Directive) compliant for use in structural application. Q board is the only hardwood throughout product that conforms to BS EN 13986 and BS EN 636 part 3.

Photo: Geraint Hawkes (left), RKL Plywood MD and
Stephen Thompstone, Buildbase MD, mark the UK’s first delivery of Q-Mark plywood. The delivery was made to Bailey Buildbase in Newport Road, Coventry.

The Q-Mark scheme was introduced by BM TRADA Certification and sets the new bench mark for tropical hardwood plywood production, which is fully supported by comprehensive test data.

Buildbase will be the first builders’ merchant to supply the product. Stephen Thompstone, Buildbase managing director, said: “To take the UK’s very first delivery of Q-Mark plywood is a landmark for Buildbase and for the industry. The quality and provenance of building materials, especially timber and panels products, is important to us. Buildbase was the first national builders’ merchant to stock FSC-certified timber at all its branches in 2004 and the first to stock FSC hardwood plywood in 2006."

“We are confident that there will be a healthy demand for the Q-Mark Plywood because we now have complete assurance of its quality being certified by TRADA. This will definitely be the first delivery of many throughout our branch network.”

Geraint Hawkes, managing director of RKL Plywood, said: “We’re delighted to be making our first delivery to Buildbase and to be bringing first-rate products to market."

“RKL has experienced a surge in demand for high-quality products since being awarded the Q-Mark certification. Q-board ticks all the boxes and is the only hardwood plywood product that is specifically manufactured for the use on floors, ceilings and walls, both internally and externally.”

BUILDBASE AND SCA LAUNCH LIFECYCLE FOREST

Left to right: Anders Ek, international marketing director,
SCA Timber and Stephen Thompstone, Buildbase
managing director, at SCA’s Bogrundet tree nursery,
with some of the tree saplings that will become part of
the Buildbase Lifecycle Forest in Sweden.

For every customer who switches to electronic billing, Buildbase is sponsoring the planting of 10 sapling trees in a dedicated area of SCA Timber’s FSC-certified forests in Sweden. The ‘Buildbase Lifecycle Forest’ is to be located in the Ljusåsen area. Buildbase managing director Stephen Thompstone recently visited SCA’s Bogrundet tree nursery in Sweden to see the first saplings ready for planting.

This is the first time SCA Timber Supply has dedicated part of its productive forests to a specific customer. The saplings, which will be planted from this summer’s planting season onwards, will grow and absorb carbon until their maturity, and they will be harvested in 80-100 years’ time.

“Electronic billing saves cost and time as well as reducing waste,” says Buildbase MD Stephen Thompstone. “We’re thanking our customers with the planting of these new trees, promoting a cycle of new growth. We’re also supporting our customers by making available certified timber from responsibly-managed forests, which is much in demand.”

SCA Timber’s international marketing director, Anders Ek, adds: “Resource efficiency is a by-word at SCA, running through the supply chain from our 2.6 million hectares of forests to our finished wood products, delivered to Buildbase branches. We’re pleased to support the campaign for electronic billing, which in turn enables Buildbase customers to increase their own business efficiency.”

Buildbase actions on resource efficiency include establishing an Environmental Champion at each branch, responsible for achieving the company’s targets in the construction industry campaign to halve waste to landfill by 2012. Other environmental initiatives have included the Buildbase Go Green Roadshows staged during January.

As a company Buildbase adheres to a Sustainable Development Policy that ensures all its activities, plans, services and products are examined for their impact on the environment. It includes an environmental policy, corporate procurement policy, health and safety policy and charity/community policy.

BUILDBASE EXPANDS EQUESTRIAN BEDDING SUPPLIES

Thompson Buildbase in Miller Road, Preston, has been supplying top quality wood shavings for equestrian bedding for over 25 years. The product, known as Thoroughbred shavings, is now available from more branches around the UK.

Buildbase sources the shavings from Severn Timber and its parent company, SCA, who produce it as a by-product from timber machining. The Thoroughbred shavings are of superior quality, using only softwood which is soft and absorbent with minimal dust. SCA is renowned for its environmental credentials and, like its timber, the Thoroughbred shavings are FSC-certified.

With its proven expertise in this field Buildbase has extended its supply of the shavings to more branches within the UK to create a nationwide network. In the Midlands, for example, these include: Thrapston, Coventry (Holbrooks), Coalville and Telford.