Terry Parker is to step down as chairman of the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) in March, following the completion of his successful five-year term of office.

Mr Parker has held roles as chairman, managing director and director in the merchant industry for nearly 30 years. He has worked for a multinational, a very large and well-respected family-owned business, and the BMF for the last five years. He has also been chairman of a leading buying group in the past, a member of the Eastern Region Council of the CBI and a part-time lecturer at a local college.

His key achievements during his time as BMF chairman include:

  • The sale of the BMF’s Soho Square HQ and the purchase of new offices in Coventry, thus reinvesting most of the proceeds back into bricks and mortar
  • The recruitment of John Newcomb as BMF managing director, and retention of key staff including Christine Harding and Peter Matthews in their respective roles, despite the office move from London to Coventry.
  • A big increase in membership and influence, with over 400 merchants and suppliers now part of the BMF
  • Developing the BMF’s training offer, which now extends from online product training at one end of the spectrum to a foundation degree in merchanting at the other
  • Outsourcing the BMF apprentice scheme to a specialist company, Didac, with the ability to provide a high level of support to students throughout the country
  • Outsourcing the BMF’s finance function, driving significant savings in backroom running costs
  • Simplifying and reducing membership fees
  • The resounding success of the BMF’s Coventry base as a significant and well-used meeting venue, with more visitors in the past year than the previous 10 years at Soho Square combined.

Mr Parker said: “I am very pleased with the achievements of the team while I have been chairman and feel confident I leave the BMF in a strong position both financially and organisationally. It has been a real challenge at times but an enjoyable few years, which I will look back on with a mixture of pride and satisfaction – and a little regret that it has gone past so quickly.”

Speaking on behalf of the board, Stewart Pierce said: “Terry has done an excellent job in guiding the BMF through a period of considerable change. He leaves the chairmanship in the knowledge that the organisation not only represents its largest membership since 2009, but also the broadest range of members, and with an executive team – under John Newcomb – who have the skills and drive to support those members at every level.”

Mr Pierce concluded: “It has been no easy task to find someone to replace Terry and take the BMF onto its next phase of development, but we are now nearing the conclusion of that process and will be announcing his successor in the coming weeks.”