Posted on 17 January 202524 January 2025 by Louise Parkes

2025 Trade & DIY Events at Collier & Catchpole

We’ve got an exciting calendar of trade & DIY events lined up, and we’re ready to make our 2025 events the talk of the industry 🤝

See below our upcoming events and mark your calendars, open to both the trade and public. Come along and meet the team, talk projects with the experts, grab some food on us, play some games and win some prizes.

Landscaping Roadshow

Lawford: Thursday 20th March

Lawford Branch. Block 6, Riverside Avenue West, Lawford, Essex, CO11 1UN

Ipswich: Thursday 27th March

Ipswich Branch. Wherstead Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8LF

Colchester: Thursday 3rd April

Colchester Branch. 11 London Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0NT

Summer Bonanza

Thursday 19th June

Colchester Branch. 11 London Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0NT

September Sizzler

Thursday 11th September

Ipswich Branch. Wherstead Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8LF

Winter Wonderland

Thursday 27th November

Lawford Branch. Block 6, Riverside Avenue West, Lawford, Essex, CO11 1UN

Keep an eye out on our social media for more details and updates on upcoming trade events and we will see you there.

Suppliers and our team will be exhibiting at our events representing a range of product categories, including bricks, blocks, timber, landscaping, tools, workwear and drainage and are available to provide advice and guidance. Also explore the vast selection of building materials and landscaping products that Collier & Catchpole offers for both delivery and collection.

Posted on 4 October 202425 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Mersea Sea Scouts Transform Scout Hut with a Fresh New Look

Mersea Sea Scouts have given their Scout Hut a makeover. Well done to everyone involved 🏕️👏

We are happy to share that the Mersea Sea Scouts have given their historic Scout Hut a much-needed makeover, with a little help from Collier & Catchpole. After two days of hard work with 20 dedicated volunteers, the transformation is complete — and the space is looking better than ever.

Originally repatriated from the Colchester Army Barracks in the 1960s, the timber-framed hut had not been painted for over 20 years, leaving it in desperate need of a refresh. The volunteers worked tirelessly to repaint and restore the building, breathing new life into this important community space.

“Sincere thanks for supplying the paint to repaint our Scout Hut. We have just spent two days with 20 volunteers getting it done, and it looks great. The hut was originally repatriated from the Colchester Army Barracks in the 1960’s and it desperately needed a freshen up.

It had not been painted for at least 20 years, not great for a timber framed building! We could not have done it without you and sincerely appreciate your support and help.” – Mersea Sea Scouts

We’re proud to have supported this project, and to support the incredible work of the Mersea Sea Scouts. We hope the new and improved space serves you well into the future.

Posted on 27 September 202425 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Earls Colne Museum Unveil Memorial Dedicated to RAF Members

Proud to support a lasting tribute to heroism, courage and sacrifice. Memorial unveiled in local ceremony 🌹 #LestWeForget

“On the 20th September 1944, two RAF Lancasters of 622 Sqn RAF enroute on an operational mission, collided mid-air, and both aircraft crashed to the ground- all 15 aircrew were killed instantly. The bodies of the aircrew were recovered. Four of the crew were from New Zealand, one from Canada, and the remaining 10 British.

The knowledge of this crash location, and the death of these aircrew has been gradually lost to memory – they were just a few of the many thousands killed in Bomber Command. However, a discovery of a newspaper article in the Museum, and then further research including the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford, led the Museum to identify the actual locations.

We were then given permission to install a memorial close to the junction of Americas Road and Tey Road. This will be installed on 20th September 2024 for the 80th anniversary.” – Earls Colne Heritage Museum

“I would like to thank Collier & Catchpole for the very kind donation of bricks to the Museum via Robin Bragg to help us with the construction of the War Memorial” – Gordon, Chairman

Posted on 29 June 202423 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Summer Bonanza Trade Show 2024: Building on Success

We hosted our 2nd annual Summer Bonanza at our Colchester branch on Thursday, 27th June.

It was a day to remember — 20+ leading suppliers, local builders, contractors, industry supporters and DIY enthusiasts came together to network, explore the latest products, and discuss upcoming projects.

Visitors enjoyed a free wood-fired pizza from The Mobile Pizza Co, baked fresh on-site. The first 50 visitors got to take home an exclusive gift bag filled with goodies. We also had instant win raffle and a prize draw throughout the day to win a PlayStation 5.

A special guest: Jessica Fitch-Hall — Colchester based, Senior TKM racer, Club 2000 O Plate Winner 2022 and British Championship contender 2023. Jess joined in the demo’s and performed a few tricks to visitors in the afternoon, ahead of a packed summer racing schedule.

We enjoyed live tool and product demonstrations, which provided a great opportunity to explore new solutions for upcoming projects. In addition to the fun and games, exclusive trade deals were available throughout the day.

The event was not only about showcasing products but also about building strong relationships within the community. A big thank you to our Summer Bonanza 24 exhibitors: Brett Martin, SSQ Natural Slate, Fernco Ltd, Long Rake Spar Co Ltd, JB Kind Doors, Pavestone UK Limited, Bradstone, Clark-Drain, Everbuild Building Products, TIMCO, Toolbank, FP McCann, Mannok, Joule UK and Haemmerlin UK.

We can’t wait for next year’s Summer Bonanza, date to be confirmed. Thank you to everyone who came along to make the day such a success. Trade events are new to us, and we plan on building on experience.

Watch this space for more exciting events at Collier & Catchpole – your trusted local building supplier.

Posted on 6 June 202423 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

#StickWithACO 2.0: The DIY Target Game

When our #StickWithACO pens first arrived, we didn’t search for a piece of paper to test the quality of the ink — We threw one at the nearest window! The pen stuck to the window in a clean swoop, wobbled and made everyone laugh, and it was in that moment that we discovered why these pens were so important to our merchandise collection.

Our “stick to almost any surface” pens have quickly become a hit with our team, customers and suppliers. So, we created a new and exciting addition to the campaign: a target game using the #StickWithACO pens as darts 🎯

How to play:

With the pen nib and ink removed, the challenge is simple — Throw 10 #StickWithACO pens and see how many you can stick to the Collier & Catchpole x ACO Group target.

Well done Karl Flintoff for putting our new game together. We are excited to roll out our new game at next event. Make sure you are there to take on the challenge and see how many pens you can stick to the board for the chance to win your height in beer.

Target Game DIY Project duration:

10 minutes to build the wooden frame
Approx 62 minutes to get the sticker on the whiteboard (without any bubbles)

Building materials:

4 lengths of 3×2 CLS Timber
TIMCO C2 Screws (100mm)
Old white board
Custom A0 self-adhesive sticker

Tools:

Handsaw
Power drill
Tape measure
Large format printed sticker (we got some help from The DS Group with this)
Squeegee (to smooth the sticker to the board, fairy liquid helps with this)

Posted on 22 April 202423 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

New Co-Branded Travel Cups with Brett Martin!

Our new co-branded travel cups in partnership with Brett Martin are here. With the colder months around the corner, we have the perfect solution for landscapers and builders wanting to keeping your favourite drinks warm while on-the-go.

Our new cups feature a unique design that showcases both the Collier & Catchpole and Brett Martin brands, a symbol of our strong partnership

Thanks to Brett Martin’s support, we are excited to offer our new travel cups free of charge to our customers, while stocks last. Simply visit us in-store to collect your cup.

About Brett Martin

“Well-designed drainage products and layouts are known to have a massive impact in creating healthy and sustainable environments within which we all live, work and play.

Designed to last a lifetime our products help to create better environments for us all. Our underground drainage systems are designed to provide the installer with maximum choice, flexibility, ease of installation and long-term reliability.

Founded in 1958, we remain a family business dedicated to continued growth with our original values still core to everything we do. Our people are the force behind Brett Martin and their vast experience across every function in the business drives this team to meet the ever changing needs of our customers.

Driven by these values we are working together to develop new ideas, enhancing the products and services we offer to markets around the world”

Here’s to hot drinks on-the-go this winter with Collier & Catchpole and Brett Martin! Free coffee and Hot Chocolate available in-store, Colchester, Lawford and Ipswich ✨

Posted on 17 April 202423 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Guess the Eggs Easter Competition

Our latest in-store competition at Collier & Catchpole was all about guessing — and chocolate! We launched our “Guess the Eggs“ game, where customers had the chance to win a giant bespoke chocolate egg, one for each branch.

Guess The Eggs! The big reveal — there were exactly 70 mini eggs in the jar! We received a fantastic range of guesses, but a few lucky winners came closest to the mark and took home their bespoke chocolate egg.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and had a laugh making predictions.

Thanks again for your support, and enjoy your chocolate eggs, winners! Keep an eye on our socials and in-store for future challenges.

Posted on 16 February 202423 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Racing Ahead: An Exclusive Interview with Jessica Fitch-Hall

To commemorate a year since we first met Jessica Fitch-Hall, Female racing driver, British Kart Racing Driver, Formula Ford Race Driver for Fern GP, we took some time to reflect on her racing career, so far.

Jessica’s ambition and success remind us how important it is to support young talent within our communities, especially when they are breaking new ground. Growing up in a family passionate about motorbikes and cars, she was drawn not only to the high-speed excitement of racing but also to the technical aspects of the sport.

Being on the track, Jessica says, is all about the adrenaline. “It’s just you and the kart“. It’s a reminder that true success comes from inner drive—a message that resonates beyond the track.

When did you first become interested in motorsports?

I first became interested in competing in motorsport around the age of eight. I was fascinated by the idea of the fast-paced racing but also the mechanical side as well. From a young age, I was brought up around a family who had interests in both motorbikes and cars.

What is your greatest achievement in your racing career so far?

Probably competing in the British Kart Championship and being a confirmed driver for Fern GP in their single seaters. It was a dream I had since I was eight watching others compete where I am now.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Probably overcoming the explosion from our race van as we lost all of our equipment. The support from everyone was amazing, and we will never forget the help from everyone.

What is your favourite thing about being on the track?

The adrenaline overpowers everything when on track it’s just you and the kart.

What’s next?

I have my first test day in the formula Ford with Fern GP. It will be a huge step for me to adapt to, but I have an amazing support network to help me with all the new challenges.

Do you have a quote to live by?

“You can copy someone’s idea but not their energy. That’s why some will win regardless of others trying to replicate them. It doesn’t matter what others are doing it’s you vs. you.”

What are the next steps in your motorsport career?

I would like to achieve a seeded ( top 10) in the British Kart Championships. I would also like to test in a formula three car.

Supporting young talent like Jessica is essential for building future champions and breaking barriers, showing that anyone can thrive with the right passion and perseverance.

To find out more and to support Jessica Fitch-Hall, head over to her Instagram.

Posted on 26 December 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Custom Badges To Celebrate Employee Milestones

We’re excited to unveil a collection of five bespoke pin badges, designed in-house by our very own Jasper Smathers. Each badge represents a different service milestone: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years.

“Recognising our employees is not just about awards and bonuses. It’s about celebrating the dedication and hard work that make Collier & Catchpole a great place to work. Thank you to every member of our team for your contributions” says Tim Rowbottom.

Custom enamel badges and a thank you card will be awarded on the date of employee milestones, in honour of their dedication and commitment. With many of our employees having been with us for more than a decade, and our longest-serving member completing an impressive 41 years, recognising their loyalty is important to us.

In a world where job-hopping is common place, our efforts to create a supportive and rewarding work environment are paying off.

Over 50% of our team has been with us for five years or more, and we’re proud to have 22 employees with over five years of service, 11 over 10 years, eight with over 15 years, and four with over 20 years service at Collier & Catchpole. These milestones are a testament to the positive work environment we strive to maintain.

As we work hard to consistently improve and develop our service and product offering — our focus remains on building a supportive and appreciative workplace.

Explore our range of high-quality building materials available for delivery and collection in Colchester, Ipswich, and Lawford, and see why our employees choose to stay and grow with us.

Posted on 14 December 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Collier & Catchpole Wins NBG Award for Most Engaged Partner

We are thrilled to announce that Collier & Catchpole has been awarded “Supplier Voted Most Engaged NBG Partner (1-9 Branches)” at the National Buying Group (NBG) Gala Dinner in Liverpool.

This award is a huge achievement for us, as it highlights the importance of working in partnership and collaborating with suppliers to ensure that we deliver the very best products and services to our customers. We have always believed that successful relationships are the key to success in the merchanting industry, and this recognition proves just that.

Our win at the NBG Conference is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, but also to the suppliers who have supported us throughout the year.

We are also incredibly grateful to our customers who continue to support us and share their feedback. The comments we receive on Trustpilot highlight the high level of service and quality that we strive to maintain. We’re proud of our excellent reviews and work every day to ensure we meet and exceed expectations.

Well done to everyone at Collier & Catchpole, and a special thank you to our suppliers and customers for your continued partnership and trust. Here’s to more success in the future.

For more information on our products and services, or to read more reviews from our satisfied customers, visit our Trustpilot page or head to our website to browse our extensive range of building materials, all available for delivery or collection.