The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has announced the six companies nominated for the BMF Training Company of the Year 2026 title.
The six shortlisted companies were nominated by the BMF's Regional Managers, who work closely with members in their regions to satisfy training and other service requirements. They are Lawsons (Whetstone), MD O'Shea & Sons, MGM Timber (Scotland), Pagets Builders Merchants, Robert Price Builders Merchants, and Tippers.
Lawsons has demonstrated a strong commitment to staff development by creating a training plan that includes both online and face-to-face components, including External Sales, Key Account Management and an in-company IoBM Diploma in Merchant Management group. This programme is an ongoing initiative to ensure branch staff are equipped with the skills, tools, and knowledge needed to perform at optimal levels. While the training spans various areas, it places a strong emphasis on aligning with business objectives, Lawsons' company values, and the needs of its people.
MD O'Shea & Sons has made an outstanding commitment to developing its team this year. They have used the Essential Sales programme to improve sales capability across the business, and enrolled colleagues from all three branches on Stock Management and Excellence in Customer Service training programmes. Their investment in learning and development is helping to build a more knowledgeable, customer-focused, and commercially successful workforce.
MGM Timber (Scotland) has been nominated for the second year, continuing to demonstrate a strong commitment to learning and development by providing training opportunities to the majority of its workforce. From counter to yard staff, and through to developing the next generation of leaders within the business, MGM Timber invests in its people to ensure they have the skills, knowledge and opportunities to succeed. The company values both the high standard of BMF courses and the results achieved in its branches through the training.
Pagets Builders Merchants' Learning & Development programme has been driven by their Director of Finance and Commercial, Richard Poole, who has worked with the BMF to deliver a programme of relevant courses for teams across the business drawn from the BMF Training Prospectus. These include Sales, Margin, Customer Service and Managing Stock & Controlling Shrink, amongst others. Having already seen an improvement on their bottom line as a result, Pagets is stepping up its programme with a cohort of colleagues starting on the IoBM Diploma in Merchant Management in September.
Robert Price Builders Merchants, last year's winner, continues to invest in its people to ensure colleagues are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in an evolving marketplace. Following recent acquisitions, the importance of a structured and scalable training strategy has become even more critical. Over the past 12 months, this has included bespoke programmes covering Internal Sales Management and Sales Excellence in Plumbing & Heating, as well as How a House is Built, AI for the Building Materials Sector and Using Social Media.
Tippers has worked closely with the BMF to develop its bespoke "Tippers Way" training programme, which has already been rolled out to 50% of its sales team. The in-depth programme encompasses both sales and leadership training, aligned with the company's operations. In addition, Tippers uses the Cortexa online platform along with regional courses such as the Warehouse Supervisor Toolkit, People Management and Stock Control, to upskill its teams. The company also actively seeks new talent and uses apprenticeships to nurture newcomers to the industry.
Commenting on the nominations, BMF CEO John Newcomb said: "Training plays a crucial role in helping merchants develop colleagues at every stage of their careers. The six companies nominated by BMF Regional Managers have each demonstrated a strong focus on learning and development, with positive results evident throughout their businesses. All are highly deserving contenders for this Award, and I wish them the very best of luck."
The overall winner will be announced at the BMF Members' Day Awards Dinner, which takes place on 17 September 2026, after the BMF Members' Day Annual Conference at the Belfry Hotel and Resort in Sutton Coldfield.
