EMMA WARD JOINS BLUEBAY AS SALES DIRECTOR – AS GROWTH CONTINUES UNDER NEW MD
Bluebay Building Products – a leading independent UK distributor of specialist civil engineering and construction materials – has announced the appointment of Emma Ward as Sales Director.
In her new role, Emma will support Bluebay’s clients nationwide, bringing over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. She has previously worked on high-value projects with organisations including Eternal Construction Group and Travis Perkins, earning a strong reputation for client delivery and commercial growth.
Commenting on her appointment, Emma said: “I’m excited to join Bluebay at such an important time in the company’s journey. With a fantastic team and an impressive portfolio of products, I look forward to contributing to Bluebay’s growth and further strengthening our position in the market. The opportunity to work alongside such experienced and dedicated professionals is truly inspiring, and I’m excited to help take the business to the next level.”
Her appointment is the latest step in a period of strategic expansion for Bluebay. Earlier this year, Lucy Furnival was appointed Managing Director, following the business’s acquisition in January by Wolseley Group. Bluebay now operates within Wolseley’s Infrastructure division and is investing in its services, people, and national reach.
Lucy commented: “We’re in an exciting period of growth and since my appointment, we’ve already created new jobs, welcoming new colleagues to the team, expanding our expertise and strengthening our presence across the country.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Emma on board – her depth of experience and passion for our industry make her a fantastic fit for Bluebay. Her leadership will be key in driving forward our sales strategy as we continue to grow. We’re proud to have a team of 50 dedicated professionals across our depots in Cardiff, Luton, Gateshead, and Warrington – all of whom are committed to delivering the high-quality service and specialist support Bluebay is known for.”
Added Emma: “I am so excited to be working under Lucy, we share so many values and she is undoubtedlya strong, forward-thinking female leader. I’m really looking forward to what we can achieve together.”
Bluebay Building Products distributes a portfolio of more than 2,000 specialist products for civil engineering and construction projects across the UK. The business operates nationally with depots in Cardiff, Luton, Gateshead, and Warrington.
“I CAN’T WAIT TO TAKE ON MY NEW CHALLENGE”
We’re delighted to welcome Georgie Clarke to the Bluebay team as our new External Sales Manager. In this blog, Georgie shares her career journey so far – and what she’s looking forward to most in her new role.
I’ve worked in the construction industry for more than a decade now, focusing mainly on roofing and new build specification in the South of the UK. I spent five years with BMI before relocating to the North West, where I joined Glidevale for a short time before making the exciting move to Bluebay.
Now, I’m thrilled to be part of the team here. It’s a really exciting time for the business – following its acquisition by the Worsley Group and the appointment of Lucy Furnival as Managing Director – and I knew I wanted to be part of that journey. I’ve joined as Technical Sales Manager for the North West and I’m looking forward to working closely with our brilliant Sales and Technical teams to deliver solutions that genuinely benefit our customers.
What I find most rewarding is building long-term relationships with clients and supporting them with expert advice that drives success. I’m excited to bring my experience to this role and to grow alongside the business.
The role of women in construction
Lucy’s appointment as Managing Director also highlights the growing role of women in our sector. While the construction industry has made great strides in recent years towards becoming more inclusive, there’s still more work to be done – and Lucy is a fantastic example of how far we’ve come. She’s an inspiring figure for people like me, and a great representative for women in leadership roles.
To continue building a more inclusive industry, I believe we need to invest in key areas like mentorship and support networks for women, which offer guidance and create real opportunities for advancement. Promoting flexibility is also vital, as it makes our sector more accessible – especially for women balancing multiple responsibilities. And we need to shout louder about the wide range of career paths available. There’s a place for women at all levels of this fantastic industry.
Ultimately, creating a culture that champions diversity, celebrates talent, and supports work-life balance will go a long way towards making construction a place where women not only join – but thrive.
I think Bluebay has lots of that, with great people and a great environment that I can’t wait to throw myself into.
A STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE INDUSTRY BENEFITS US ALL
This year’s Women in Construction Week coincides with a landmark moment for Bluebay – the appointment of our first female Managing Director, Lucy Furnival, who is leading our growth across the UK.
In this article, Lucy reflects on the changes needed to encourage more women into construction and the building trade – helping to tackle the industry's widening skills shortage in the process.
Women have been at the forefront of industry conversations this week. Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day this Saturday present a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in our sector.
But celebration alone isn’t enough. Women remain hugely underrepresented in construction, making up just 0.9% of the skilled trades workforce. Informal hiring practices, outdated stereotypes, and a lack of visible role models all contribute to the barriers women face when entering the industry.
This needs to change. We must rethink recruitment models, invest in mentorship, celebrate female leaders, and challenge the ingrained biases that continue to hold women back. Doing so will not only create a fairer industry but will also help address the critical skills shortage threatening the future of construction.
Having worked in this sector for three decades, I know first-hand that challenges remain, but I also see more women carving a path forward, paving the way for future generations.
Awareness weeks like this are a great starting point, and it’s been inspiring to see so many organisations championing and uplifting women in our sector. My hope is that this year’s efforts drive real, lasting change, because a stronger, more inclusive industry benefits us all.
BLUEBAY APPOINTS LUCY FURNIVAL AS MANAGING DIRECTOR
Bluebay Building Products – a leading UK independent distributor of specialist civil engineering and construction products – has announced the appointment of Lucy Furnival as Managing Director – a timely announcement during Women in Construction Week.
Lucy will oversee operations across the country, steering the business into its next phase of growth. Her appointment follows a significant milestone for Bluebay, which was acquired by the Wolseley Group in January. Now part of Wolseley’s infrastructure division, Bluebay is set to strengthen its position in the market, delivering enhanced service levels from its bases in Cardiff, Warrington, Gateshead, and Luton, where it distributes a portfolio of over 2,000 specialist building products.
Bringing a wealth of industry experience, Furnival joins Bluebay from ACS Stainless Steel and has also held senior roles at Hilti, SIG PLC, and Speedy Hire. She will play a pivotal role in driving growth, expanding Bluebay’s market presence, and championing diversity within the industry.
Speaking of her appointment, Lucy said: "I’m delighted to be joining Bluebay at such a transformational time. With a two-decade legacy and the backing of Wolseley Group, we’re entering a new era of growth, and it’s an honour to lead the business forward.
“We have a fantastic team of 50 dedicated professionals across our depots, all eager to embrace this next chapter. As a woman in construction, I am particularly passionate about fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the evolving industry. There’s a huge opportunity ahead, and we’re excited to build on our strong foundations, expand our offering, and bring innovative new products to market.”
In addition to her role as MD, Lucy is also a judge for the Women in Construction Awards, where she actively champions greater female representation in the industry. She added: "There are still too few women in construction, and increasing representation is vital for the sector’s future. I’m proud to step into this leadership role and hope to inspire and empower everyone at Bluebay, both men and women, to reach their full potential."
Bluebay Building Products is headquartered in Cardiff, with depots in Luton, Gateshead, and Warrington.
DYWIDAG SPEED EDGE FORMWORK SYSTEM
Bluebay Building Products are exclusive stockists of the Dywidag Speed Edge Formwork system in the UK.
Speed Edge Formwork is an innovative solution that is made from sheet steel for the installation of permanent lateral formwork for reinforced concrete base and floor slabs in structural and civil engineering situations.
- Available in Heights of 140mm to 500mm & standard lengths 2.25mt long.
- Completely self-supporting, eliminating the need for props and vastly reducing the need for excavation and back filling.
- Available in Heights of 140mm to 500mm
- Quick installation time vs traditional ply and prop method. One person can install.
- Corners simply bent into shape.
- Complex slabs easily formed
- No striping needed
GDA ACTITEX BENONITE STRUCTURAL WATERPROOFING
Bluebay Building Products are the exclusive suppliers of the GDA Actitex Bentonite Structural Waterproofing Systems in the UK & Ireland
MACCAFERRI GEOTEXTILES & GEOGRIDS SUPPLIER
Bluebay Building Products, are a leading supplier of Geotextiles & Geogrids for environmental protection, erosion control, ground reinforcement & stabilisation.
We work very closely in partnership with our partner Maccaferri to provide you with design, installation and technical support for your soil engineering project and would be please to provide you with a competitively priced solution.
Maccaferri manufacture and supply high quality durable materials which: Enhance the service life of the works Reduce environmental impact provide client reassurance Many of the products are certified by international or local accreditation bodies.
Macaferri engineers and technicians are available to answer your questions and provide technical support. This guide provides a short introduction to the range of Maccaferri products. It includes only a proportion of the full range they offer. Detailed technical information, brochures, case histories and more are available.
The Maccaferri range is widely available throughout the UK on a next day service from our four
strategically placed distribution depots.
Maccaferri are the largest gabion basket manufacturer worldwide we can supply or using their design and supply service.
Maccaferri have their our own Macweb soil cell in stock in the UK in 100,150 and 200mm depths,
Maccaferri are the sole UK distributor for Enkamat materials and also have their own range of biodegradable erosion mattings
Maccaferri have their own linear composites factory based in Yorkshire that manufactures their uniaxial geogrids such as paragrid, paralink and paradrain, which used for reinforced earth or basal reinforcement system solutions
UPVC SACRIFICIAL SCREED RAIL SYSTEM FROM BLUEBAY
K-FORM UPVC Screed Railing provides the construction industry with an economical, efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to steel and timber formwork.
Made from 100% recycled materials, K-FORM is lightweight, durable and does not require removal after placement of concrete. It is easily cut to length on site and has pre-drilled holes in the vertical face for placing steel dowels bars and in the base for anchoring. K-FORM’s patented design features a removable top strip for joint sealing and its unique end clips allow for quick and easy installation.
Intended to be used with all types of screeds including; twin beams, roller strikes, vibro strikes, etc. K-FORM’s K135, K85 and K35 sacrificial railing replaces steel forms where joints are needed.
Bluebay are working in partnership with K-FORM to supply their range of UPVC Sacrificial Screed Rail Systems and Accessories.
SPECIALIST SUPPLIER OF BAG COLUMN FORMERS
Bluebay Building Products, are a leading supplier of BAG® Column Formers. BAG® Column Formers are a single use formwork system that gives an excellent smooth fair face surface finish. Their Column Formers are manufactured by welding together several layers of high quality polyethylene coated kraft paper, which are spirally wound and bonded together by heating the polyethylene. Once this step is complete, a water resistant foil is also spirally wound over the kraft paper, sealing the column against humidity. This manufacturing process requires no additional adhesives which reduces the wall thickness, making the BAG ® Column Formers light and easy to handle.
Advantages of BAG Column Formers:
- – Light easy to handle as opposed to steel shuttering.
- – Labour saving.
- – Easy to strip, no mould oils required.
- – Quality fair faced finish.
- – Can be used for protective cover for the completed columns.
Installing BAG Column Formers:
BAG ® Column Formers are very light and can be transported without any handling equipment.
The tubes can be secured on the base using timber which is fixed to the floor or decking as required. The top of the tube can either be secured using timber or with our own tension belt system. When using our system you are able to fix three sloped bearings with a 120 degree angle. Normally two fixing points are sufficient at a 90 degree angle. If the Column Former is 7 metres or more we recommend that an additional fixing point is used at the middle point of the tube.
INTRODUCING TERWA ALLIGATOR MECHANICAL COUPLERS
Bluebay are now stocking Terwa Alligator Couplers – a splicing coupler designed to meet the requirements of BS8110 and EC2 for mechanical couplers used to form butt joints in reinforcement steel.
The Alligator Couplers are supplied in a range of sizes to suit the reinforcement steel range 10mm to 40mm inclusive. The system is ideally suited to minimising steel congestion in heavily reinforced structures, providing simple connections for prefabricated reinforcement steel and facilitating the removal and replacement of damaged reinforcement steel in repair contracts. The mechanical connection is made by inserting the rebar into each end of the coupler and tightening the lock shear bolts by hand, once satisfied that the joint is suitably assembled and aligned, the lock shear bolts are tightened up with suitable impact driver. The bolt heads shear off at the desired torque setting, giving a clear indication that installation is complete and satisfactory.