AN AMMANFORD builders’ merchant with branches across south and west Wales has been recognised by a national trade body.

LBS Builders Merchants, which has 51 branches across the region, has been presented with the Training Company of the Year award by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF).

LBS won the award for its commitment to providing training opportunities for employees.

Over the past year, LBS has provided a wide variety of online training through the BMF, with 188 learners registered.

“We are dedicated to enabling individuals, to achieve their aspirational goals and reach their full potential,” said Ray Laidlaw, learning and development manager at LBS.

“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. 

“We have introduced a diverse range of courses, including BMF training, which have opened new opportunities for our teams and 44 per cent 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.

The company is also contributing to the BMF’s pledge of getting 15,000 apprentices into the sector from member organisations by 2030.

BMF chief executive 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.