Get Britain Building, the all industry campaign to kick start construction in Britain, may be led by the industry’s biggest ever coalition of building organisations but its success will be determined by the actions of each and every individual in the construction chain. Campaign co-organiser the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) is calling for all builders’ merchants, large and small to do their bit to take advantage of the opportunities created by Get Britain Building.

“All merchants have the opportunity to take a stand and be proactively involved in the campaign,” says Chris Pateman, Managing Director – BMF. “We need to take pride in who we are and if everyone plays their part, together we are massive. The BMF and our fellow organisations have taken the initiative on behalf of the whole industry. But it is really up to individuals to make this work, we need merchants to step up to the plate and take action. It is these actions that anyone can do which will make a real difference to the campaign’s success.”

Merchants can get behind the campaign in the following ways:

1) Show your support by telling your customers about the campaign, give them Get Britain Building stickers, stick these campaign stickers on the back of your own van, or even bigger ones on the back of a merchant’s or supplier’s lorry.

2) Petition the government by signing up to the on-line petition accessible via the Get Britain Building website, www.getbritainbuilding.org.

3) Pledge your support on Facebook by joining the Get Britain Building group, the page is also available through the campaign website.

4) Write to your local MP and explain how the downturn is needlessly threatening jobs in his constituency at a time when the government could easily be using construction to re-kindle economic activity. A template letter can be downloaded from the Get Britain Building website. You could even invite him or her to your yard.

5) The BMF will soon be offering members a ‘handy home improvements’ brochure that merchants can customise and use for leaflet-drops in their local areas encouraging people to improve their homes. The aim of this is to turn ideas into sales by stimulating homeowners to invest in their property rather than leave their money in savings accounts where it will earn them very little.

For more information on leaflets, how to contact your local MP or to order Get Britain Building stickers contact Chris Harding on chris.harding@bmf.org.uk or call 020 7439 1753 or

If every merchant supports the cause we can make a real difference to the prospects for the construction industry. Together we can get Britain building again.