Buildbase has scooped a prestigious safety award from the world’s leading training and advisory bodies.

Following tests by a strict independent adjudicating panel, Buildbase was given the International Safety Award by the British Safety Council.  Buildbase will be the only builders merchant to receive the BSC award at this year’s presentation ceremony.

Winners must have good safety policies, plans and commitment to health and safety at the highest level.  They must also be endeavouring to improve the safety culture within their organisation. They must detail their health and safety officers’ qualifications and provide information about significant advances they have made in health and safety for the year.

Health and safety manager Steve Follows said:  “To enter this award it’s necessary to fill in a 30-page document which looks at all our procedures in great depth.  We are really proud to get the award.”

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “I am delighted to send my congratulations to all those organisation being presented with an award by the British Safety Council.  These awards recognise the crucial success that these companies and their employees have achieved in their pursuit of excellence.

“We will strive to accomplish our goals in reducing the burden on employers and employees and cutting the 36 million working days currently lost each year through work-related ill-health and injury.”

Staff at Oxford branch and at head office have beaten their target to raise £55,000 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital (CHOX).  A cheque for £63,415.92 was presented to CHOX by David Robertson, a regional director at Buildbase, who has driven the fundraising campaign. The donation will support the hospital’s adolescent waiting area.

The presentation was made on Tuesday 22 April at half-time during Oxford United’s final home game of the season against Rushden & Diamonds which the team went on to win. Buildbase are main sponsors of the U’s and have recently signed a new two-year deal.

“When I visited the hospital site with some of my colleagues we couldn’t help but be moved by the project,” says David.  “Knowing that the hospital will help children from a wide catchment area means that it will benefit many families around the country.  A lot of staff have young families and will understand why a children’s hospital deserves our help.”
     

Activities have included golf days, a 24-hour billiards contest, a sky-dive, fun runs, sponsored walks, raffles and car boot sales.  David and four colleagues at Oxford branch walked 55km in a single day last year.  They set off from Johnsons Buildbase at 8am and all courageously made it to the final destination – The Lamb in Chalgrove – completing the route in 10 hours 45 minutes.  This is the second time that Dave has walked this incredible distance, despite having had a hip replacement.

“At some stages I wondered if we would actually reach our goal because £55,000 is a great deal of money to raise from two sites.  There are a few heroes who deserve extra thanks.  They took responsibility and organised events that we could all take part in.  But of course I am very grateful to everyone who got involved and did their bit.  We can all be very proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Construction begins in readiness for May show

Buildbase has teamed up with garden designer Chris Beardshaw to create a unique feature which will be seen for the first time at the Malvern Spring Gardening Show.

The Design for Living Theatre is a completely new concept that promises to be a major talking point at the show which runs from 8-11 May 2008.  Chris Beardshaw has designed a theatre-like arena where visitors can listen to talks and interviews and see demonstrations from leading experts and celebrities from the world of gardening. 

Buildbase has worked with Chris to supply materials needed to build the feature.  The Buildbase Stage by Chris Beardshaw will provide a focus for the show where visitors can interact with the presenters and experts who are the public face of gardening.  Buildbase has delivered its supplies and construction has begun at the 30-acre site in the heart of the Malvern Hills.
    

Last year Buildbase supplied materials to help build Chris Beardshaw’s award-winning gardens at three of the most popular RHS events at Malvern, Chelsea and Hampton Court.

“We are very proud to be joining forces with Chris again to support this exciting project,” says Nigel Bullock, landscaping manager at Buildbase.  “As a builders merchant we carry a superb range of paving, walling and building materials to update your garden.  We have been able to supply the products that Chris needs for the stage area which is bound to make an impact at the show.”

Show visitors will be able to enter a Buildbase competition to win the paving material to build a beautiful patio worth over £800 in the same stone as Chris’s garden feature.

Malvern is also staging the Chris Beardshaw Mentoring Scholarship which is open to experienced and up and coming designers.  The winner will be announced at the show and will receive a year’s mentoring with Chris, attend an RHS course and go on to create gardens at Malvern Autumn Show 08 and the Chelsea Flower Show in 2009.   The scholarship competition has resulted in the greatest number of show gardens ever entered at Malvern.

Buildbase has just announced a new two-year sponsorship deal with Oxford United FC. Having supported the clubs as its main sponsor for the last seven seasons, Buildbase will be proud to have its name displayed on the club’s shirts for the next two years.

Oxford United chairman Nick Merry said: “Buildbase have been superb sponsors for the last seven years and their unstinting loyalty and support has never wavered. We enjoy an excellent working relationship and are very proud to continue to wear the Buildbase name on our shirts.

“The partnership goes much deeper than just the kit sponsorship. Buildbase offer a discount to season ticket holders, were one of the major players in the gift of the superb bronze ox at the stadium and have always offered their help and support over the years. Their name has become synonymous with Oxford United and we are proud to have formally signed the new deal just ahead of Saturday’s home game against Farsley Celtic.
     

“The fact that such a progressive company as Buildbase wishes to back us once again shows the faith and support that the local business community have in Oxford United.”

Buildbase director Peter Butterfield, was equally pleased with the extension to one of Oxford’s strongest partnerships. He said “The new sponsorship marks a total of nine years since Buildbase first struck up a partnership with the club. This probably makes us one of the team’s longest, if not the longest shirt sponsor. Like the many thousands of faithful fans we are pleased to have stayed loyal to Oxford United and are optimistic for the future of the club.

“Oxford United has given a lot of enjoyment to thousands of fans over the years and plays a key role in the local community.  Buildbase has strong connections with Oxford and we are pleased to be associated with a long-established local club. 
Many of our staff and customers follow the U’s and we are behind them all the way,” says Peter.

Local boxing hero Amir Khan reopened EBM Buildbase in Bolton following an extensive refurbishment. A £750,000 investment has been made at the 3.3-acre site.  The four-storey former cotton mill has been transformed with many new facilities including Hirebase, a new self-select area, brick library, timber and other warehouses, extended bathroom and kitchen showrooms and new offices and trade counter. 

Outside improvements include a new traffic management system, customer walkways, new yard racking to increase storage and a hard landscaping display. Branch investment also includes new HGV crane vehicles and fork-lifts.

Local boxing hero Amir Khan visited the branch, met customers and officially reopened the branch.   EBM Buildbase has supported Amir’s new boxing academy for youngsters by supplying many of the building materials for its construction.

The business was established in 1972 and joined Buildbase in 2005.

“The branch has always has always put customer service first which is why we have many long-standing, loyal customers,” says manager Peter Dobson, who has 31 years’ service with the business.

Harlow Buildbase in Cambridge Road, Old Harlow, is the company’s largest ‘greenfield’ development to date.  Opening its doors for business in February the branch occupies a three-acre site on the outskirts of this busy town.

The existing warehouses have been demolished and a superb new purpose-designed builders merchant now occupies the site. 

The large trade stores area includes ironmongery, plumbing and heating, decorating, workwear and tools and everything else you would expect from a full service builders merchant. In the warehouse and yard area there are huge stocks of timber, bricks, aggregates and rainwater goods.

On the mezzanine first floor a kitchen and bathroom showroom has over twenty five fully-tiled displays. There is also a dedicated Hirebase counter and outside a large hardlandscaping area displays many paving and walling products.

Manager Tony Archer has 27 years’ industry experience.  Other key managers include assistant manager Mark Yardley, Hirebase manager David Martin and John Grosh who manages the kitchen and bathroom showrooms.  Seventeen new jobs have been created with the opening of the new branch.

Manager Tony Archer, said: "Buildbase is delighted to be opening a new branch in Harlow and we are looking forward to welcoming customers to this impressive site. We offer a superior service all-round for our customers to show why Buildbase has been named best national builder's merchant. We're a traditional, friendly builders' merchant and we aim to offer a personal service at a local level, responding to the needs of our customers, whether they're in the trade or enthusiastic home improvers. We have wanted to bring Buildbase to Harlow for a while and have found the perfect site. We chose Harlow because it is a growing town with a strong local economy and lots of building and refurbishment work."

Chris West, branch manager at Andover Buildbase, has been named ‘Best Manager’ in the BM Awards for Excellence 2007. He received the trophy from John Humphrys, BBC journalist and writer, at the awards ceremony in London.

Andover branch is a greenfield site opened two years ago. Chris was appointed as manager from the start of the project and has built up a successful and expanding business. He was named as best branch manager in the latest Buildbase annual awards, beating over 130 other managers across the country.

Speaking at the event Chris said: “I must pay tribute to the great team at Andover who have worked so hard to establish this branch. I am very proud to be here accepting the award and I know they will be pleased to get this recognition.”

Jack Gwillim, a Buildbase management trainee based at Wakefield Buildbase won the TTJ Timber Trainee of the Year Award last Friday at the TTJ Annual Awards.

Jack was presented with his award by Stephen King, Sales Director of SCA Timber Supply and Alistair Campbell.

SCA sponsored two awards at the TTJ  annual ceremony this year, one for trainees under 25s, which Jack won, and one for continuing professional development for the ‘over 25s’.   

Well done to Jack!

The Coventry Buildbase Bees are truly the champions of the 2007 speedway scene after taking three of the top titles.  They have now added the Craven Shield and the Knockout Cup after being named champions of the 2007 Sky Sports Elite League last month.

 “The strength of the team is awesome and we are very proud to be associated with their successes,” says Stephen Thompstone of main sponsors Buildbase.  “Many of our customers and staff are avid speedway fans and support the Buildbase Bees at most meetings.  This has been a fantastic season and we want to give our warm congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the team and this trio of wins.”
For more details visit the Buildbase Bees website at: www.coventrymotorspeedway.com

The Buildbase Ducati Team was recognised for its efforts this year and awarded the Best Team Award at the first-ever David Jefferies Memorial Awards Dinner held at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford on Friday night.

The black-tie event designed to recognise the major achievements in motorcycle racing for 2007 and sponsored by Bennetts Motorcycle Insurance was also an opportunity to raise funds for numerous charities and remember the life and achievements of nine times TT winner David Jefferies whose life was tragically taken in an accident at the Isle of Man in 2003.

The night was hosted by celebrity guest Vernon Kay and Sky Televisions very own Keith Huewen and well attended by the motorcycle racing fraternity including the newly crowned 2007 World Superbike Champion, James Toseland.

The panel of judges who had the unenviable task of deciding the winners of the various awards was chaired by Tony Jefferies and consisted of Roger Burnett, Niall Mackenzie, Colin Appleyard and Karen Milsom of Bennetts Insurance.

Buildbase Ducati was awarded the “Best Team Award for 2007” which is clearly great news for its riders and crew and for all of its sponsors and partners who have been recognised for their support, commitment and hard work throughout the year.

John Hackett and Ken Foley were delighted to receive the award on behalf of the extended Team and would like to thank the judges, event organisers and in particular Tony Jefferies for putting on such a fantastic event.

Coventry Buildbase Bees are the 2007 Sky Sports Elite League Champions. A packed Brandon Stadium saw the Bees dominate the Swindon Robins with a victorious 59-34 point win on the night, and an aggregate score of 102-83, to take speedway’s top title. At the start of the night the Bees trailed Swindon by six points after the first leg but they produced a title-winning performance to lift the trophy, for the second time in three years. “We are very proud of the team who produced one of their best performances when it counted most,” says Stephen Thompstone of main sponsors Buildbase. “Many of our customers and staff are avid speedway fans and support the Bees at most meetings. This has been a fantastic result and we want to give our warm congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the team’s success.”

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Over £6000 was raised for Oxfordshire’s Children’s Hospital at a special evening organized by  Buildbase and the Aziz restaurant in Cowley Road.  Ninety guests were entertained by an Asian Elvis and a troupe of Indian dancers, as well as enjoying a five-course Bangladeshi buffet.

An auction, compered by Peter Rhoades Brown, Oxford United’s community officer, featured some impressive lots including tickets to watch Premiership and Champions League football matches and a Williams Formula One race suit worn by Alex Wurz.

Aziz Rahman, who owns a number of restaurants in Oxfordshire, kindly gave over the restaurant as the party venue and provided the food and staffing free of charge so that all proceeds could go to the charity.  Buildbase invited customers to attend the special evening and part with some cash for a very good cause.

Buildbase is main sponsor of Oxford United and notable guests at the event included chairman Nick Merry and manager Jim Smith.

“It was an incredible night, but Elvis stole the show,” says David Robertson, Buildbase regional director, who helped to organize the evening.  “By the end we were all dancing and singing along with Elvis.  Jim Smith has great hip action!”

“With the raffle, auction and tickets sales, we managed to raise a fantastic total of £6,285 for the children’s hospital.  I must say thanks to everyone who contributed and especially to Aziz because it was originally his idea and we couldn’t have done it without him.”

The evening is one of a whole series of fundraising activities being undertaken by staff at Johnsons Buildbase and the company’s head offices at Oxford Business Park to raise £55,000 for the children’s hospital campaign.  From car boot sales, sponsored bar billiards and raffles, they are taking on more ambitious projects like a 55-km walk around Oxfordshire, half marathons, golf days, trade shows and a sky dive with the chief executive taking part.
07/08/07

Buildbase staff at the Rotherham branch have worked miracles to repair the damage caused by three-foot floods at the end of June.   Their sterling efforts to clear up the mess and get the branch trading in just two and a half days has been recognised by national media.

The river Don was burst its banks and, on the other side of the branch, the Sheffield Rotherham canal just kept rising.  Manager Ian Wild, together with Paul Tomlinson and  Mark Deakin, valiantly stayed in the branch and kept throwing sand bags onto the makeshift wall that they hoped would keep the water at bay.

As dawn broke the water began to recede but the damage had been done by a metre of water throughout the premises.  Staff were clearly shocked to hear what had happened but very quickly got to work to get things back to normal so trading loss would be kept to a minimum.

Five brave – or slightly mad – staff at Johnsons Buildbase completed a 55km walk on Saturday 26 May, as part of their bid to raise £55,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital.

Dave Robertson, Craig Tarrant, Anna Karavias, Kate Godrey and Shaun Johnson set off at 8am from Johnsons Buildbase in Watlington Road, Cowley. The route took in Cuddesdon, Milton Common, Tiddington, Thame, Kingston Blount, Aston Rowant, Tetsworth, Little Milton, Stadhampton and finishing at The Lamb at Chalgrove.

Dave, who has organised the event, had a full hip replacement in 2004. He is only 42 but played football in his youth, including a spell for his county and captaining a winning England schools team in a European competition. Following the operation he has had to give up all forms of contact sport.

Everyone completed the full 55km distance and were back in the pub enjoying a well-earned drink after 10hrs 45mins - a superb time!

Anyone who wants to sponsor the cause can go to www.justgiving.com/buildbasewalk
 
The walk is one of a whole series of fundraising activities being undertaken by staff at Johnsons Buildbase and the company’s head offices at Oxford Business Park. From car boot sales, sponsored bar billiards and raffles, they are taking on more ambitious projects like half marathons, golf days, trade shows and a sky dive with the chief executive taking part.
29/05/07