Selco News

A south-east children’s hospice is planning a garden makeover after being named one of the latest winners in our Selco Stars campaign.

Demelza Hospice Care for Children, which operates in Kent, East Sussex and South East London, has won £500 to spend at its local Selco branch through the scheme.

The charity is planning to utilise its prize on building materials to revamp the gardens at one of its hospices in Sittingbourne.

Each month we’re donating £500 of building materials to two groups across the UK, with the 12 finalists going forward for a public vote for the chance to win £5,000 in cash.

A second prize of £1,250 is also available to mark Selco’s 125th anniversary.

Entries to Selco Stars can be made by visiting our Selco Stars page.

Demelza provides specialist care and emotional support for children with terminal conditions and their loved ones, so they can enjoy their time together as a family for as long as they have.

The charity cares for children with a range of different conditions, some of which are very complex and so rare they have no name. Every year its work is a lifeline to more than 750 children and their families.

Petra Bones, corporate partnerships manager at Demelza, said: “We are thrilled by this support from Selco Builders Warehouse.

“As a charity, we’re almost entirely dependent on the generosity of our supporters to provide the funds that keep our services going.

“This donation will enable us to buy the materials we need to make our Kent hospice even more comfortable for our children.”

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: "This has been an incredibly difficult year for charities. We’re delighted to be able to help just some of the groups doing invaluable work through our Selco Stars campaign.

“Demelza is an amazing charity providing free of charge, round the clock care to families. I can’t think of a more deserving cause.”

A charity shop in Eastleigh is set to replace its leaking roof – thanks to a little help from Selco.

St Francis Animal Welfare has not been able to open its shop recently due to problems with the roof, cutting off a vital income stream for the charity.

But that is all set to change after the group won £500 to spend at Selco Builders Warehouse through the Selco Stars scheme.

Each month, we’re donating £500 of building materials to two groups across the UK, with the 12 finalists going forward for a public vote for the chance to win £5,000 in cash.

A second prize of £1,250 is also available to mark our 125th anniversary.

Entries to Selco Stars can be made by visiting the Selco Stars page.

St Francis Animal Welfare is a small shelter which cares for, rehabilitates and rehomes domestic animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, caged birds, various small mammals and reptiles.

Helen Shaw, of St Francis Animal Welfare, said: “We are overwhelmed by this support from Selco Builders Warehouse.

“Not being able to reopen our charity shop has been a huge blow at a time when we are seeing a huge increase in the number of animals being signed over to rescue.

“We didn’t know which way to turn, but this prize means we can now go and buy the materials we need, fix the roof and start generating an income once more.

“It means so much to everyone involved in the charity.”

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: "This has been an incredibly difficult year for charities. St Francis Animal Welfare has been hit not only with enforced closure of its shop during lockdown, but also problems with a leaking roof.

“We’re delighted to be able to help and it’s another great example of how Selco Stars is making a big difference to communities across the UK.”

Up to 10 jobs will be created in Bristol when we move one of our branches to an enhanced new location later this year.

We move into our new 140,000 sq ft site on Cater Road in Bishopsworth on December 14th. It will make it the largest Selco branch in our 69-strong UK network.

It means we will leave our Sheene Road premises, which has been home to our Bedminster branch for the last 25 years.

The increase in size of the store will lead to a jobs boost for the local area.

Howard Luft, chief executive, said: “The current site has served us well and it will be sad to leave, but this is a fantastic opportunity to move to a new location which will offer our customer base of professional tradespeople and businesses an even better experience.

“The internal space at Cater Road alone is more than double the size of the old site and there is the added advantage of a huge external yard.

“This is an exciting new era for Selco in Bristol and we look forward to offering the same level of outstanding service and availability to customers that we have become renowned for.

“In addition, we’re delighted to be creating up to 10 new full-time positions and offer exciting career opportunities to people in the Bristol area.”

The store will host more than 12,500 building supplies and materials, with wider aisles making it easier for our customers to shop.

Other enhancements include a dedicated Click & Collect area, improved café and a wider distribution area for customer deliveries.

Our other Bristol branch, based off Gipsy Patch Lane in Filton, will remain in operation.

The opening of our 69th UK branch in Salford has brought a £3,000 boost to the local community.

We were delighted to officially open our branch on North Phoebe Street, off Regent Road, earlier this month.

As part of the opening celebrations, our Selco Stars campaign was launched inviting entries from community groups and charities to receive a £1,000 cash boost. Salford Women’s Centre was selected as the winner by a panel of judges.

In addition, a further £2,000 was pledged to our nominated charity Global’s Make Some Noise, a national organisation which assists small charities across the UK, including Manchester-based Once Upon A Smile and Trafford Domestic Abuse Services.

Salford Women’s Centre was formed 30 years ago and aims to support females in the local area with their health and wellbeing.

Alison Taylor, manager of Salford Women’s Centre, which is based on Halton Bank, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received the donation from Selco and it will make a huge difference to how we can support the local community during these difficult times.

“We have more than 800 unique users per year and many of them are victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

“Much of our work is supporting women emotionally and practically in terms of housing, safe space and safeguarding, and helping them through the judicial process.

“But we always aim to offer an all-round package so we make other services available, including post-natal support and educational classes.

“The £1,000 investment will provide 30 counselling sessions and 10 emergency comfort packs for women who have fled with nothing but what they are wearing.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for Selco’s generosity at a time when all charities and community organisations are battling hard to continue to offer their services during the pandemic.”

Kevin O’Rourke, our Salford branch manager, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support Salford Women’s Centre and Global’s Make Some Noise.

“Supporting charities and community groups in the local areas in which we operate is an integral part of the Selco ethos so we are delighted to mark the opening of our new branch with a £3,000 donation. We hope the funding will make a real difference to very worthy causes.”

The Salford opening means we now have four branches in Manchester, with the others based in Ardwick, Baguley and Ashton Moss.

A homelessness charity in Milton Keynes which offers people shelter in a double decker bus has won building materials through our Selco Stars campaign.

The Bus Shelter MK has become the latest good cause to receive £500 store credit from Selco as part of the initiative.

The charity plans to use to the funds to help renovate a unit to be used by homeless people in the town.

Each month, we’re donating £500 of building materials to two groups across the UK, with the 12 finalists going forward for a public vote for the chance to win £5,000 in cash.

A second prize of £1,250 is also available to mark Selco’s 125th anniversary.

Entries to Selco Stars can be made by visiting https://www.selcobw.com/selco-stars

Pam Williams, of The Bus Shelter MK, said: “We offer a route out of homelessness for people sleeping on the streets of Milton Keynes and have provided a temporary home to more than 70 people since opening in March 2018.

“We are currently based in a converted double decker bus in a car park but we have been offered a 10-year lease from Milton Keynes Council to take over a former landscaping depot.

“The existing unit needs to be completely refurbished and the exterior landscaped.

“These materials will be a huge boost and will help us to get the job done. We are extremely grateful to Selco.”

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: "The charity does amazing work to help ease homelessness in Milton Keynes.

“Securing this unit from the council is a big step forward for the charity and we’re delighted to be able to help them get it ready for use.

“This is a great example of how Selco Stars is making a big difference to communities across the UK.”

We’re delighted to unveil plans for our first branch opening of 2021.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis, we can confirm Liverpool will be the location for our 70th UK store.

The new branch, which will be based in Bootle and scheduled to open in April, will create more than 30 jobs in the local area.

Howard Luft, chief executive, said: “Liverpool has been a long-term target area and we are delighted that we’ll be bringing that to reality next year.

“The coronavirus crisis has been an extremely challenging period for the entire country and it’s been no different for us at Selco, but we are determined and excited to keep moving the business forward.

“We have undergone a major branch expansion in recent years and we are committed to continuing to support tradespeople across the UK by providing unrivalled availability, with the widest range of products in stock, as well as excellent customer service and trade pricing.”

The opening will strengthen our position in the north west of England with four branches in Manchester – in Ardwick, Ashton Moss, Salford and Baguley - as well as another in Warrington.

A charitable organisation, which supports vulnerable people in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Warwickshire, has been crowned our latest Selco Stars winner.

Congratulations to Hinckley-based We Care UK, which has received £500 store credit to spend at Selco – and it could get better yet for the group.

The organisation has responded to the Covid-19 crisis by providing more than 10,000 face masks, 9,500 free food parcels to vulnerable families, elderly and disabled in need and 150 electronic devices to patients in hospitals. The group will use its Selco Stars prize to refurbish the kitchen of a 72-year-old woman in Solihull with ovarian cancer.

Each month, we’re donating £500 of building materials to two groups across the UK, with the 12 finalists going forward for a public vote for the chance to win £5,000 in cash.

A second prize of £1,250 is also available to mark Selco’s 125th anniversary.

Entries to Selco Stars can be made by visiting the Selco Stars page.

Jason Bains, of We Care UK, said: “The pandemic has impacted vulnerable people more than anyone. It is a dire situation and people desperately need our support.

“This generous gift from Selco will enable us to refurbish the kitchen for an elderly service user. She has not had working appliances in her kitchen since December. That is clearly not acceptable and it’s an honour to be able to help her.”

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: "So many charities and community groups have responded tremendously well during the current crisis. It’s really heart-warming to see.

“We Care UK has done some amazing work by supporting those in need. The work they are doing with the lady in Solihull will completely transform her life.

“This is a great example of how Selco Stars is making a tangible difference to communities across the UK.”

We are proud to announce we’ve been awarded ‘Superbrands’ status.

After a major services and branch expansion in recent years, we have been rewarded for enjoying an excellent reputation in the builders’ merchant industry.

Companies shortlisted for Superbrands accreditation are measured on three core areas – quality, reliability and distinction.

Other factors taken into consideration include a brand’s current profile, latest marketing activities and new product or service developments.

Howard Luft, our chief executive, said: “We’re thrilled to have received this award and it’s a huge credit to the entire team throughout Selco.

“Whether it be opening new branches to help establish a true nationwide brand, creating a revamped and fully operational website or establishing digital transactional platforms such as Click & Collect or Click & Deliver, there have been substantial developments in recent years and there are exciting initiatives planned to continue that progress.

“Receiving recognition through awards such as Superbrands is just reward for the efforts of everyone to grow the Selco name.”

The Superbrands organisation identifies and pays tribute to exceptional brands in over 85 different countries.

The selection process is independently run with one of the world’s leading data research companies and tracks the perception of a wide range of businesses.

Damon Segal, co-founder of the Academy of Chief Marketers (Superbrands UK), said: “We are excited to have Selco Builders Warehouse on board with us and look forward to them being part of our community of collaborative senior marketing and brand focused members.”

We’re delighted to have launched a management training programme to enhance the careers of hundreds of our colleagues.

Our ‘Rising Stars’ campaign has been set up to mark Selco’s 125th anniversary and is a three-tier initiative.

The first phase – which will see aspiring supervisors embark on a year-long training scheme to take the next steps to becoming potential managers of the future – has seen 125 people sign up

It will provide successful learners with a level two nationally recognised retail qualification in conjunction with chosen training provider, Interserve Learning & Employment.

Silver and gold levels - for supervisors and deputy managers to progress their careers – are scheduled to begin in 2021.

Our HR development manager, Simon Ball, said: “It’s an extremely exciting project and we’ve been thrilled with the interest from colleagues.

“We anticipated 125 learners across bronze, silver and gold so to reach that number off the first phase is very pleasing.

“Rising Stars will give a high number of branch colleagues the chance to enhance their skillset and leave them well-positioned to progress their careers with Selco.

“We’re using our Apprenticeship Levy contributions to help fund the scheme and we have selected a course with a high level of practical elements, which means that our colleagues are putting into practice their learnings on a day-to-day basis.

“We are committed to giving colleagues the chance to create a genuine career path and providing them with the skills, techniques and self-development to progress.”

The bronze award will see applicants complete 16 modules, including business management and brand reputation, customer and communication, product and services, stock and merchandising and team and performance.

There will be a combination of in-branch and classroom sessions, with the latter comprising regional and virtual sessions.

Positive mental health amongst tradespeople is our focus this October as we launch a new initiative for our customers.

Through our in-branch cafes, we’ll be supporting World Mental Health Day by encouraging customers to take an extra drinks break and check in with their colleagues.

Free takeaway hot drinks will be available in all our open Selco cafes from Monday 5th October to Friday 9th October, in the build up to World Mental Health Day on 10th October. Our cafes are currently open on a takeaway only basis due to Covid-19.

The scheme has been set up in response to recent research which shows a third of all tradespeople and construction workers felt most comfortable speaking to their colleagues about mental health issues.

Customers should mention the promotion in the café at time of ordering to claim their free hot drink.

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: “In the build-up to World Mental Health Day, we’re delighted to be offering our customers the chance to grab a free drink, have a quick break and to use the time to check-in with their friends and colleagues.

“Our aim is to raise awareness of mental health issues and to advocate that no one should have to face a problem alone.

“Our cafes remain takeaway only at present so, unfortunately, we can’t have customers sitting in branch, but the hope is that they will return to their vans or jobs and have conversations.

“The Covid-19 outbreak has had an enormous impact on mental health. We want our customers to know that it’s always good to talk.”

World Mental Health Day, a programme of the World Federation for Mental Health, was observed for the first time on 10th October 1992.

Stephen Haynes, from mental health charity Mates in Mind, said: “It may often be easier to spot issues in those closest to us, than recognising or acknowledging if we are struggling ourselves

“Just because help is available, we shouldn’t assume that people will always reach out but we should also bear in mind that people may be more likely to approach someone closest to them before reaching out for professional help. If you are worried about someone you know, start the conversation.”

Our free drink offer is valid at participating branches during café opening hours only. Only one hot drink per customer is permitted. You can read our full terms and conditions and details on participating branches here.