A SOUTH Wales builders’ merchant has been presented with the Training Company of the Year award by national trade body the BMF (Builders Merchants Federation).
LBS Builders Merchants, with 51 branches across South Wales, was recognised for its commitment to training opportunities for employees.
Over the past year, LBS has provided a wide variety of online training through the BMF, with 188 learners registered.
Ray Laidlaw is Learning & Development Manager  at LBS. He said: “We are dedicated to enabling individuals, to achieve their aspirational goals and reach their full potential.
“Starting with an inclusive onboarding process, LBS supports employees to develop essential skills and offers career coaching with custom-made plans that consider the long-term strategies needed to reach their desired role from their current position.Â
“We have introduced a diverse range of courses, including BMF training, which have opened new opportunities for our teams and 44% of our learners are currently pursuing national accredited qualifications in subjects such as leadership and management, sales, business administration, project management and accountancy.
“With 470 LBS colleagues working across 51 branches, we view training as an essential foundation of our business. We believe in the importance of providing everyone with the opportunity to learn, develop, and achieve their aspirations throughout their career with us.”
The company has also supported BMF classroom-based training, through running the BMF Essential Sales Management (ISME accredited) and BMF Diploma in Merchant Management / Certificate in Merchant Management programmes at its head office in Ammanford.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “LBS as a company continue to show a strong commitment to provide learning and development opportunities for team members, encouraging them to reach their full potential through a range of classroom based and online learning programmes.
“Congratulations go to the team at LBS for the dedication to training opportunities and hard work that is recognised with this award.”
One of six finalists for the BMF Training Company of the Year Award, LBS was announced as the winner at the Federation’s annual Conference and Awards hosted by Countdown’s Colin Murray and held at the Leonardo Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire.
LBS is contributing to the BMF’s ambitious pledge of getting 15,000 apprentices into the sector from member organisations by 2030.
For more about the BMF, visit:Â Home (bmf.org.uk)
