The latest company to join the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) – Independent Slate Supplies (ISS) – will also host the Federation’s first Regional Training Centre – a mini Regional Centre of Excellence that will afford meeting and training space for smaller, local groups.
This reflects the BMF’s localisation strategy to develop ways to engage with members closer to their home base, and reduce the amount of time staff need to take away from the business to attend.
With its headquarters in Saltash, Cornwall, Independent Slate Supplies is a specialist in the import and distribution of natural slate for roofing, sills and flooring. Established for over 35 years, and with two further depots in Scotland and Wales providing nationwide coverage, the company has stock levels of four to five million slates at any one time.
Neil Kinger, operations director at Independent Slate Supplies, is keen to see the new BMF Regional Training Centre well used. He said: “In looking to further our growth by supporting and developing new relationships with merchants across the UK, we can think of no better way than by engaging with fellow BMF members. We are looking forward to meeting new and existing customers at future BMF events.”
Welcoming Independent Slate Supplies to the BMF, Richard Jones, regional manager, said: “It’s great to see such a well-known supplier based here in the South West joining the BMF and immediately getting involved. I am looking forward to utilising the impressive facilities that Independent Slate Supplies has created at its head office as our first BMF Regional Training Centre. This is an ideal location for members from south Devon and Cornwall to use for BMF Training Courses in the future.”
