Alan Hawkins was installed as the new Master of the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM) on 27th October, 2023, in a prestigious ceremony at Drapers’ Hall, London.
Though not a builders’ merchant himself, the Master’s career has always been closely linked with the construction and building product distribution sectors.
A qualified chartered accountant, he began his career almost 40 years ago working with the British Hardware Federation (BHF – now the British Independent Retailers’ Association), in time becoming CEO. He has also been Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of construction industry charity the Rainy Day Trust (RDT).
Current business interests include being Chairman of Thor Hammer Group, whose specialist products are well known in many sections of the industry.
Meeting the merchants
It was through his work at the BHF that he first encountered the world of the builders’ merchant.
The Master explains: “In the early days of the BHF a lot of independent builders’ merchants would belong to both us and the Builders’ Merchants Federation (BMF). In fact, the very first visit I did when I joined the BHF was to Jackson Shipley in East Anglia.
“People tended to join the BMF for industry representation and used the BHF as a service-based trade federation and bank. So I have always been working on the periphery of the builders’ merchants industry.”
During that time he met Past Master John Poore, who at the time was President of the BHF.
The Master continues: “My own involvement with the WCoBM started around 20 years ago, when I began to attend Livery events as John’s guest. Five years later I joined the Company, then became Bursar, and began my journey through the Court a few years after that.
“I joined the Company via friendship – that’s what has always been important to me. I like people and have always judged an organisation on its people. If there are good people involved, then the organisation will be a good thing to be a member of.”
Building relationships
This focus on friendship and networking is something the Master hopes will be a key tenet of his year, highlighting the benefits that joining a Worshipful Company can bring.
“I think my theme would be encouraging friendship and trust in business,” the Master says. “If you get on with people, talk to them, and build trust in a social environment then that can only be beneficial, especially for smaller independent businesses. Organisations like the Livery Companies allow you to talk, share ideas and solve problems as an industry, and often to network with suppliers and other businesses at a level that you wouldn’t normally be able to. It’s amazing what that kind of interaction can do for a business in terms of support and growth.
“It’s the same with those merchants who are members of organisations such as NMBS and the BMF. Those who go out and meet others, instead of just waiting for support to come to them, will always find benefits, and that all comes from friendship and trust. Not every deal has to be a battle of wits. That’s what I learned from my time at the BHF, which had a reputation for being a ‘big happy family’. The Worshipful Company is known for being friendly and welcoming as well, and I hope to be able to encourage that even further.”
Highlighting professionalism and charity
Another issue the Master would like to raise awareness of during his year is that of the charity work the WCoBM provides funding for, as well as the training and bursaries available to builders’ merchants right across the industry.
“I think that the Company can do more to properly highlight all the good things we do. We sometimes hide our light under a bushel in terms of our charity work – the Company isn’t just dinners and networking, there’s so much more to it,” the Master says.
In the 2021-2022 year the Company donated more than £100,000 to dozens of charities and good causes, from industry charities such as RDT and the Maddie Rose Campaign, to children’s charities, mental health charities and initiatives such as the Livery Food Initiative.
Meeting the carbon challenge
The Master is also keen to get involved in the work WCoBM is doing on reducing its carbon footprint as a member of the Livery Climate Action Group (LCAG). The Group was formed in 2021 to assist City of London Livery Companies and Guilds to manage their impact on climate change and the environment by reducing carbon emissions and making responsible use of resources.
“Awareness of climate change and our environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibilities is becoming so important. The Company already has a committee working on our Climate Action Plan, and it’s important that these are not just ‘tick box exercises’ – we need to live up to our membership of LCAG and what it really means.”
In a more general sense, the Master is also looking forward to spending time learning more about the builders’ merchant industry, and learning from the people and places he gets the chance to meet.
“I’ve already been a Judge at the BMN Awards and that’s given me a great flavour of what the industry is doing and some of the fantastic builders’ merchants there are out there. There’s clearly a big green movement, and a lot of work being carried out around staff training, and that’s great to see. I want to get out there and meet and learn from as many people as possible.”
The Master will be supported during his year as Master by Senior Warden Stephen Boyer, and Junior Warden Lucia Di Stazio, as well as by Immediate Past Master Richard Hill, whose own year as Master has now come to an end.
Caption: WCoBM Master Alan Hawkins
