A Warrington apprentice who progressed to marketing manager in just three and a half years is highlighting the diverse career opportunities available to local school leavers in the building materials sector.
As thousands of young people across the UK receive their exam results, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), the trade association representing the UK building materials sector, is encouraging school leavers to look beyond traditional routes, with the launch of a new careers guide.
The sector plays a vital role in supporting the construction of homes, schools, hospitals, infrastructure and commercial buildings, yet remains an often-overlooked career choice.
Kasey Barnes, Marketing Manager at E.Tupling, the Warrington-based plumbing and heating distributor, is a shining example of the career progression available in the sector.
In just three and a half years, Kasey has progressed from apprentice to marketing manager and is currently studying for her Level 4 Marketing Apprenticeship.
She said: “The opportunities in this industry are endless. I never imagined I’d be appointed to Marketing Manager in such a short space of time, but this industry gave me that chance.
“The building materials sector might not seem the obvious choice when you’re leaving school, but it’s full of people who genuinely want to help you succeed.
“There are so many different careers here, and if you want somewhere you can grow, challenge yourself and build a future, this could be the place for you.”
To show school leavers the breadth of opportunities available and help them plan their future, the BMF’s careers pack is full of information on apprenticeships, training and long-term career progression in builders’ merchants and building materials suppliers.
Marianna Peet MIBM, Learning & Development and Apprenticeship Manager at the Builders Merchants Federation said: “Building materials isn’t usually the first thing that springs to young people’s minds when they think about their future, but it is a dynamic and interesting sector, which plays a major part in the UK economy.
“There are many opportunities here for young people. And the skills that they have already developed, through school, sport, volunteering, cadets or other activities, could be exactly what employers are looking for.
“For young people who want to start earning, gain practical experience and continue learning, an apprenticeship provides an ideal alternative to full-time study.”
Apprenticeships are one of the key routes into the building materials sector into a wide range of careers beyond traditional construction roles, with opportunities in sales, logistics, marketing, sustainability, finance, HR and digital technology, as well as many others.
The BMF launched an Apprenticeship Pledge in 2023, encouraging its members to increase the number of apprentices across the sector. Its pledge target of 15,000 apprenticeships by 2030 was reached five years early in 2025, demonstrating the importance of apprenticeships to the sector.
The BMF’s new careers pack (pictured) is available from the BMCareers website, which features a host of resources to help young people understand the industry and find a route that suits them, including available apprenticeships, open days, work experience and others.
They can also search hundreds of live vacancies, employer profiles and upload their CVs.
Marianna Peet added: “Our message to young people is explore the sector. Find out what’s available. Talk to employers. Look at apprenticeships. You might discover a career you didn’t even know existed.”
The BMCareers Pack can be found here.
For further information, including current vacancies visit www.bmcareers.com.
