The Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC) has welcomed bathroom and kitchen products manufacturer, Norcros, to the coalition as a Strategic Partner.

Norcros, which employs 2,400 people, joins companies including The Bristan Group, Huws Grey, The BMF, Travis Perkins, and Ibstock plc as a strategic partner of the more than 40-strong coalition.

Norcros, which has a turnover of £360million and owns key bathroom and kitchen product brands in the UK, including Triton, Merlyn and Grant Westfield, will be actively involved in shaping the direction of the CIC, to make real, tangible progress to improve equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the construction industry supply chain.

Norcros has undertaken a range of company-wide initiatives to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, including the establishment of a Women’s Leadership Forum as part of their commitment to give a stronger voice to females across the business.

As part of this continuing work, Norcros has joined the CIC and is taking on the Built on Better pledge, which, amongst other activities, will see the group benchmark and measure its progress towards improving inclusion across its businesses.

Helene Roberts, managing director of Norcros plc in the UK and Ireland: “Norcros is delighted to join the Construction Inclusion Coalition. Inclusion isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a shared responsibility across our business and our sector. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we know there’s more to learn, and lasting change takes collective effort.

“By working and learning together, we can build momentum and create environments where everyone feels valued, supported and truly has the opportunity to be someone.”

CIC Chair, Angela Rushforth, adds: “Norcros is a fantastic example of a company whose people have decided to make a difference and take on the challenge of looking at ways to improve their own work environment for the benefit of others. The team at Norcros has already done so much, and it is fantastic to have them join the coalition, where they will be able to share ideas and resources with other members who are all working towards similar goals.” The CIC is calling on businesses across the construction industry – no matter how big or small – to join the Construction Inclusion Coalition and take the Built on Better pledge. Members will be part of an industry network sharing knowledge, resources, and insights to inspire change and make a difference collaboratively

2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for Frontline Bathrooms and Smiths Briten, as the two sister companies announce a significant transformation of their UK delivery network. Under the leadership of managing director Darren Allison, both brands are making significant long-term investments in shared infrastructure, with a clear focus on improving speed, reliability and sustainability for KBB retailers nationwide.

At the heart of this shift is the unification of their delivery operations. By leveraging each brand’s well-established logistics networks, the businesses are streamlining routes, cutting duplication, and enhancing service coverage in key postcodes across the UK. This combined infrastructure, supported by dual head offices and round-the-clock cross-dock facilities, positions Frontline and Smiths Briten as a smarter, more responsive distribution force for the bathroom and plumbing trade.

Darren Allison, managing director of both Frontline and Smiths Briten, says: “This isn’t just about efficiency, it is about backing our customers. We are investing heavily in infrastructure that makes life easier for retailers: quicker lead times, more consistent delivery windows, and fewer delays. At the same time, we are reducing emissions and building a supply chain that’s fit for the future and our growth plans.”

The impact will be felt on the ground from July 2025, with key delivery enhancements already confirmed:

·      LU & MK postcodes have moved to next-day delivery for Smiths Briten orders, via Frontline’s expert delivery team.

·      SA region extended to three delivery days per week through a specialist bathroom courier.

·      BS postcodes will now be delivering five days a week for both businesses via Smiths fleet.

·      SM & CR postcodes upgraded to five-day service from July, utilising the Frontline fleet.

·      From August, Smiths Briten will expand coverage across North Wales, Stoke-on-Trent, and Buxton alongside Frontline.

·      In parallel, three new drivers with KBB industry experience have been hired to support the enhanced network.

While the two brands retain distinct product and service offerings, their operational collaboration reflects a deeper synergy. Shared leadership, aligned values, and a joint commitment to trade support mean they can offer retailers the best of both: consistent service and wide-ranging choice. 

The business now operates from two key distribution centres: Smiths Briten in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and Frontline in Featherstone, Wakefield, supported by cross-dock facilities in Scotland, Kidderminster, Heathrow, Purfleet and Mildenhall. Together, this infrastructure supports a next-day service capability across much of the UK.

Bathroom Association members have been learning more about how to utilise market research to drive commercial success in the latest Insights Bites session, hosted by MRA Research.

The lunch and learn webinar went out live on 19^th June and is now available online and ‘on demand’ in the members area. It introduced delegates to the fundamentals of market research for the built environment, sharing practical tips and common pitfalls to avoid, and introducing real-world case studies to demonstrate how research can generate tangible commercial results.

The webinar was hosted by Callum Budd, research director at MRA Research, an end-to-end market research agency specialising exclusively in the built environment. MRA Research set up and runs the well-respected Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) and Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) in partnership with the BMF.

Callum said: “We condensed 30+ years of experience in market research into a thirty-minute session for the Bathroom Association to give members a flavour of how this powerful tool can be used to improve their bottom line – from understanding their customers’ needs and expectations better and identifying how to improve their customers’ experience to measuring how well they are doing against their competitors.

“With this knowledge at their fingertips, businesses can identify opportunities for growth and where they can increase their market share. In tough trading conditions, where competition for every customer pound is fierce, the commercial gains market research offers can make a big difference, particularly in terms of retaining existing clients and attracting new ones.

“At MRA Research, our passion is helping businesses in the built environment become more effective and profitable through smart, targeted research. Good market research is action oriented, and with it you can make your marketing more effective. Its insights and recommendations should correlate directly with an improved customer experience which leads to better customer retention, customer acquisition and more profitable growth. That’s what research is for, and hopefully our webinar has inspired more people to think about putting fact-based insight at the heart of their decision-making.”

The Bathroom Association launched the Insights Bites lunchtime sessions at the start of the year. CEO Tom Reynolds said: “We introduced the webinars to support and inspire our members and to help them flourish. The MRA Research session was really valuable and there were plenty of nuggets to takeaway, particularly for members who haven’t considered market research before or those who recognised the pitfalls all too well.

“Traditionally, our industry has been slower to adopt insight-led approaches in B2B markets than in B2C home improvement markets, but it’s clear that those embracing research are seeing real rewards, and if we want to deliver best-in-class marketing for our trade and consumer customers and raise the bar in the bathroom sector, it’s certainly one area where we need to up our game.”

Bathroom Association members will find a link to the webinar in their member area. It is also available to view online.

If you would like a more in-depth discussion about how market research can drive the commercial success of your business, please contact Callum Budd (callum@mra-research.co.uk).