Corporate Events, Incentives, Conference Management | First Event

Raising the Bar for a Legacy Industry Event BMF Conference 2025

Client

Overview

Who is the BMF?

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) is the voice of the UK building materials industry, representing and advocating for hundreds of members across the sector. Their mission is to provide valuable networking, business intelligence, education, and opportunities that help members thrive.

As organisers of a biannual flagship industry conference, BMF aimed to continue building on its strong reputation by delivering an event that unites merchants, suppliers, and industry leaders for an unforgettable mix of business, learning, and connection.

A woman in a red flamenco dress and a man in a black suit perform an outdoor dance at sunset during the About First Event, with an audience seated at tables and lush greenery in the background. A large formal event, reminiscent of About First Event, unfolds in a grand hall with stone arches and columns. Seated guests at round tables bask in blue and red lights that illuminate the historic venue, creating an elegant atmosphere. At her About First Event, a woman in a purple dress stands at the podium, smiling, as a large screen behind her displays Rebecca Adlington OBE. Photos of swimming and children are visible on a panel to the left. A group gathers outdoors on a grassy field for their About First Event. A man with a microphone stands near a woman walking toward him, while others watch, clap, and smile. There is a soccer goal and a banner in the background.

The Challenge

Keeping a Legacy Event Fresh

This wasn’t a first-time event; expectations were high. BMF’s flagship conference attracts a loyal audience, 68.8% of attendees return year after year, so the challenge was clear:

  • Keep the event fresh and relevant with new elements and experiences.

  • Balance business and networking to ensure delegates leave with real takeaways and strong relationships.

  • Elevate the experience by introducing a new location, standout speakers, and moments of surprise and delight.

  • Outperform previous years and maintain attendee loyalty.

Engagement & Retention

95.8%

of attendees confirmed they’ll return in 2027.

95.8%

session attendance rate across all sessions.

94.3%

app adoption with an 8.74/10 usefulness rating.

“Another fantastic BMF event put together by the
amazing team. Simply the best Trade Federation in the
U.K. This year’s conference had everything: world-class
speakers, brilliant networking, and first-class
organisation from start to finish.”

Our Solution

We designed the 2025 BMF Conference to be bigger and better than ever.

The luxurious Torre Melina, a Gran Meliá Hotel in Barcelona, set the perfect backdrop for 450 attendees to connect, learn, and celebrate.

  1. Curated Agenda

    A balance of inspiring keynote speakers (Ellis Watson, Rebecca Adlington, Nicolas Hamilton) with educational workshops and the ever-popular merchant-supplier speed networking.

  2. Unforgettable Social Experiences:

    Delegates could choose from catamaran cruises, city walking tours, winery visits, and iconic dine-arounds, capped off with a glamorous gala dinner at La Llotja.

  3. Creative & Digital Innovation:

    A fresh brand look, elevated AV production, and a highly adopted event app (94.3% download rate) that streamlined schedules and connections.

  4. Seamless Delivery

    From pre-event comms to onsite logistics, we handled every detail to keep the event running smoothly and attendees focused on building relationships.

Why

It worked

What we Learned

The success came from keeping the core purpose of the conference, delivering business value and connection for attendees, front and centre, while elevating the experience at every touchpoint.

 

Key Insights

  • Networking is key: More unstructured networking time will be built into the 2027 agenda.
  • Venue matters: Accessibility and centrality will be prioritised for future venues. Workshop content needs constant evolution: Diversity and decarbonisation sessions will be reimagined to drive more engagement.

With a 95.8% commitment to attend in 2027, the BMF Conference continues to set the benchmark for industry events. We’re already looking at how to raise the bar again.

Event Satisfaction

9.07

of attendees confirmed they’ll return in 2027.

8.27

Hotel performance average, with accommodation as the standout.

9.02

La Llotja gala dinner venue scored.

Outdoor industry conference by a pool, with many people seated at round tables; palm trees sway in the background and a stage with speakers is set up near the water under a partly cloudy sky. A man wearing a white short-sleeve shirt stands and smiles on stage at an industry conference, in front of a large blue screen displaying the name Nic Hamilton. A large crowd of people, many dressed in white or light clothing, gathers in a courtyard with stone walls and a statue for an industry conference. Several attendees are taking photos or videos while two people stand at the front facing the crowd. A man stands and speaks with a microphone to a large crowd at an industry conference, seated at round tables in a grand, historic hall with high arched ceilings, dramatic lighting, and stone walls.

Attendee Sentiment

94.5%

rated the conference positively
compared to previous years.

8.27

Hotel performance average, with accommodation as the standout.

65%

of written feedback was strongly positive, praising the balance of business value and hospitality.

Explore More

Want to see how we create an unmissable event? Explore our conference services or get in touch with our expert event team.