The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has opened the first of up to 24 Regional Centres of Excellence – two in each of its twelve regions – set to be established in the coming months.
The Centres form 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 first Centre of Excellence is at The Green Energy Centre at John A Stephens in Nottingham and will be used as a regional hub and centre for BMF training in the East Midlands. As such it will host regional meetings and forums as well as training courses for members in that area.
The BMF will be running its first Regional Training Programme, comprising three different training courses, at the Green Energy Centre in November. The next East Midlands Regional Meeting will also be held there.
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 on September 21.
Commenting on the new initiative, John Newcomb, managing director of the BMF, 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.
“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.”
