28th July 2025

Building Materials Digital Services Ltd (BMDS), the joint venture between the BMF and NMBS established to provide an industry-owned Industry Data Pool (IDP), has reached another milestone with the announcement of the company’s first five external shareholders – Bradfords Building Supplies Ltd, Epicor Software (UK) Limited, Fortis Merchants Limited, h&b Buying Group LLP, and National Buying Group LLP.

The IDP is being developed as a centralised, scalable, and secure platform to improve data quality, reduce duplication, and streamline the sharing of product information between suppliers and merchants. Today’s announcement indicates that BMDS has reached 50% of its investment target within four months of its launch. The goal has always been to create an IDP by the industry and for the industry. With a combined annual turnover of £5.6bn, the four merchant shareholders account for 21% of the total merchant market in the UK.

The combined expertise of all external shareholders will help build an invaluable resource for the industry, and individuals from these organisations have been appointed to BMDS’s two Management Boards.

Michael Kirkham, Product Management Director, International at Epicor Software, joins the Operational Board, which is responsible for managing operational performance, service delivery, defining solution requirements and driving future developments.

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Jonathan Chard, Director of IT at Bradfords Building Supplies, Nicholas Howarth, Managing Director of Howarth Timber and Building Supplies, Glenn Paddison, Commercial Director at h&b Buying Group, and Mark Hughes, Managing Director of NBG, join the Main Board, which has responsibility for the overall strategic direction, financial sustainability and corporate governance. They will sit alongside representatives from the joint-venture partners, Richard Hill and John Newcomb for the BMF and Andy Hextall and Rex Nye for NMBS.

BMDS also confirmed the appointment of Oz Bham, Supplier Engagement Director at BMF, as Company Secretary.

Commenting on the latest milestone for BMDS, Richard Hill, BMF Chair, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Bradfords Building Supplies, Epicor Software, Fortis Merchants, h&b Buying Group and NBG as our first external shareholders in BMDS.

Their investment marks a significant milestone in the development of the Industry Data Pool and demonstrates growing industry confidence in our shared vision.

“We are now seeking to onboard additional merchant groups interested in collaborating with us on a resilient, future-proof solution that benefits the entire building materials supply chain.”

For more information, email Gareth Thomas, Managing Director, BMDS.