The three largest UK merchants write with offer to help keep supply chains moving
The three largest builder’s merchants in the UK have written to government to give their support in the face of the growing economic crisis caused by covid-19.
Travis Perkins, Grafton and Saint-Gobain penned the letter to Alok Sharma, secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to offer their capabilities in delivering building materials and keeping supply chains running.
Collectively they wish to help facilitate the repair of hospitals, prisons and public buildings and offer support for over one million tenanted social housing properties with the necessary materials and supplies.
But the letter outlines how the trio, along with partners across the industry, can mobilise a huge fleet of vehicles and drivers to potentially support other vital supply chains as coronavirus spreads across the UK.
The letter said the the firms’ “warehouse capacity and unique expertise in supply chain management means we can help the Government and other critical businesses store and move vital supplies around the UK.”
It said: “We are urgently seeking a meeting with you to discuss the importance of allowing the UK builders merchants to continue to support the trade during this difficult time; providing essential materials and services to keep the country operational.”
It was signed by Nick Roberts, CEO at Travis Perkins, Gavin Stark, group chief executive at Grafton and Saint-Gobain’s CEO Mike Chaldecott.
This comes after the Builders Merchants Federation advised the government on the likely impact of coronavirus on construction and its supply chains.
Builders Merchants Federation CEO, John Newcomb said: “It is exactly at times of business uncertainty that any industry needs a strong, reliable and effective trade association to represent its interests. The BMF will do all we can to help and support members through this very difficult period.”
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