profile
Gonzalo is Wienerberger’s Director of Sales and Customer Experience, responsible for driving business growth and delivering commercial excellence whilst improving customer experience in key segments. Previously Gonzalo held the position of Category Director, responsible for Wienerberger’s portfolio of building solutions that support the construction industry in delivering a healthier, sustainable built environment for the future. Gonzalo has an MBA from Manchester Business School, MSc Sales & Marketing Management and BSc Industrial Engineering, 20 years’ experience with blue-chip companies within Construction, Chemical and Packaging industries in Latin America, Europe and the UK. Having worked for companies like DuPont, Sherwin-Williams and Hilti in the past, his areas of expertise are B2B marketing, product and category management, business development, strategy and leadership of cross-cultural and cross-functional teams.
Wienerberger
Wienerberger offers UK customers one of the broadest product portfolios in the business, including clay facing bricks (stock and wire-cut), specialist engineering bricks, the Porotherm clay block system, façade solutions including SVK fibre cement panels, the Corium cladding system and a wide range of brick slips. We also offer a full range of Sandtoft and Koramic clay, concrete and slate roofing products, Keymer handmade roof tiles, bespoke heritage products and a range of domestic and commercial pavers.
We are about more than just our products, it is also the ‘extras’ that we provide that makes us different. Our commitment to service and ensuring that our customers find it easy to do business with us is what differentiates us from the rest of the industry. We provide full technical support for all our products, CPD sessions for architects, product training, bespoke products and merchant services. As well as an in-house Design Services team to assist with projects, we also have an array of online tools designed to help with specification.
Visit www.wienerberger.co.uk
Twitter: @wienerbergeruk
Launched in 2015, the award winning monthly Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report is the only reliable measure of repair, maintenance & improvement (RMI) activity in the UK. Filling an important gap, it can be widely used in construction, and by economists, Government, national media, commentators and influencers outside the industry.
Wienerberger Comment: Q1 2024
The first quarter of 2024 has indeed tested the mettle of the UK construction industry, showcasing resilience amidst challenges such as supply chain disruptions due to Red Sea blockages and persistent labour shortages.
The Construction Products Association’s latest forecast hints at significant challenges ahead, projecting a -2.1% decline in industry output for the year. However, a rebound with a +2% growth is expected in 2025, buoyed by anticipation of interest rate cuts in the second half of the year, which could invigorate housing activity. Inflation has decreased more rapidly than expected, yet the future remains uncertain, especially with concerns about the potential impact of the Red Sea crisis if blockages persist.
Encouragingly, the Brick Development Association (BDA) announced that sales of UK-manufactured bricks reached 92.8 million in February, marking a +13% increase from the previous month. A modest sales growth among building product manufacturers is driven by increased construction activity across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors, with demand for bricks and tiles expected to rise with more favourable weather conditions. This uptick in demand is a positive sign, despite the cautious outlook overshadowed by political and macroeconomic factors.
The Chancellor’s Spring 2024 Budget, while prioritising “building homes for young people” and funding significant regeneration projects in London, left many feeling that more support was needed to address the housing crisis, skills shortages, modern construction methods, and sustainability efforts.
From a regulatory perspective, the compulsory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements (February) and the conclusion of the consultation period for the Future Homes Standard (March) highlight a slow but ongoing advancement towards stricter standards for environmentally sustainable housing, with increased interest and demand for eco-friendly products. Yet, ongoing revisions to building regulations, particularly Part L, continue to slow progress as the industry awaits clarity that will influence the choice of building products and project sign-offs.