Strategy and Approach
Strategy & Approach

Our strategy to deliver our mission focuses on:

Strategic acquisition to meet future market needs

Building and maintaining strong supply chains into the UK to meet our customers’ needs

Supporting our customers in their drive to net zero and sustainable developments – through the provision of the best products and services

To do this our group of businesses are divided into four key divisions: bricks and building materials, contracting services, importing and distribution. Through the varied offering and national reach of these businesses, we are able to offer our customer base with a wide range of products and services, all across the UK.

Strategy and Approach
Bricks and Building Materials
The power of our Group approach enables us to confidently meet our customers’ needs.

Through the established relationships with UK and European brick manufacturers across the Group, we can ensure access to strong supply channels, including when there has been excess demand in the UK market.

In 2021, we acquired leading brick, timber, cladding and masonry provider Taylor Maxwell, which now combined with existing material supplying businesses, means we are able to offer architects, contractors and developers an even more expansive portfolio of products. Through combining key functions, we are able to provide an even more efficient service to customers and suppliers. As stated by John Richards, Chairman, “this acquisition has brought significant scale and diversity to the Group through its product offering by adding timber and cladding materials and increasing our presence in brick distribution, while also expanding the customer base, with the business predominantly focusing activities on the merchanting and specification markets”.

Strategy and Approach
Contracting Services
We supply and install a broad range of products to help our trade customers create buildings fit for the future.

The businesses under our contracting services division provide a number of services including the supply and installation of roof coverings, roof lights, solar panels, floor coverings and EV chargers. Recent acquisitions of Beacon Roofing and Leadcraft Ltd Roofing Contractors have enabled us to expand our geographical covering across the South West.

The acquisition of UPOWA (formerly HBS New Energies) demonstrates our dedication to working towards our goal of being carbon net zero by 2030 in our own operations and helping our customers do the same. A market-leader in renewable energy, specialising in the design, supply and installation of solar PV, battery storage and EV charging technologies, UPOWA are a vital part of the Group’s support for a net zero construction supply chain. Changes in building regulations in England now mean that when developers are building new homes and some non-residential buildings, they are required to install electric vehicle charging points and as a trusted partner of several leading UK housebuilders, UPOWA will play a key role in future-proofing new homes.

Strategy and Approach
Importing
We work to maintain the brick supply chain into the UK – through importing and NPD.

Due to recent shortfalls in availability of bricks, the Group have strategically worked with additional manufacturers to ensure we can continue to offer a wide variety of options to our customers. The businesses within our importing division work closely with production partners across Europe to design and develop our own ranges of high-quality clay facing bricks and roof tiles to support our customers’ needs.

A key part of our importing division is McCann Logistics, a UK and European haulage and logistics company established in 1972, that specialises in transporting building materials from factories in Europe to construction sites all across the UK. To keep up with demand in the market, McCann continue to purchase new trailers to support the prompt delivery of required products. McCann are developing their strategy to work towards net zero – focusing in the first instance on the purchase of lower emission vehicles, route planning and driver green training.

Strategy and Approach
Distribution
We supply trade and public customers with a wide range of building supplies and other products.

Our distribution division has expanded significantly in recent years with the acquisition of new businesses and the diversification of existing businesses product offerings. For instance, Towelrads, the UKs leading distributor of designer radiators, heated towel rails and underfloor heating systems, has expanded their commercial product offering. As part of our climate change risk assessment we are building our new product lines to reflect the increase in provision of renewable energy into homes and increasing electrification, which is likely to mean larger radiators.

In order to expand our national coverage, many of the distribution businesses, such as UP Building Products, are continuing to open new branches. By utilising the knowledge, experience and product portfolios of the wider Group, we can continue to support sales growth and new introductions.