profile
Derrick McFarland
Derrick has been integral to the success of Keystone Group for almost 25 years. Moving from the company’s base in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, to set up its operation in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, two decades ago, the move was a natural fit and rapid growth quickly followed.
Derrick is passionate about the building trade. His focus is on delivering excellent customer service through good people and great products. Working with an amazing group of colleagues, Derrick ensures clients are welcomed to Swadlincote in a way that has become customary for Keystone Group.
Keystone Lintels
Keystone Lintels Limited is a leading manufacturer of steel lintels, founded in 1989. The short history of Keystone has been one of relentless expansion and continuous innovation whilst redefining the meaning of service in the lintel industry.
Production facilities in Birmingham, Cwmbran, and Cookstown provide an efficient, flexible and ergonomic working environment, which is part of the culture of quality and service at Keystone.
Keystone Lintels offers a comprehensive range of standard and special steel lintels, and recently developed its ground breaking Hi-Therm lintel, to address the thermal requirements of new building regulations.
Hi-Therm is up to five times more thermally efficient than a standard steel cavity wall lintel. Its GRP outer leaf acts as a thermal break, whilst the galvanised steel inner leaf maintains support for the heavier loaded internal leaf.
Hi Therm is a multi-award winning product, winning Best Eco Product at the Build It Awards 2013, Product of the Year at the Housebuilder Awards 2013, and Best Building Fabric at the 2013 and 2014 Housebuilder Product Awards.
Find out more at www.keystonelintels.com or visit the Group website at www.keystonelintels.com. Follow @KeystoneTweets
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.
Keystone Lintels Comment: Q1 2026
January and February were a wash out with prolonged heavy rain slowing site work in an already depressed market. However, in March the rain eased, sunshine appeared and volumes started to flow…. well sort of. Overall Q1 was more than 10% behind Q1 2025. While March’s run rate was maintained through April, at the point of writing, the 2026 re-forecast will be excellent if we achieve 2024 volumes.
The first quarter has been busy for the government, with the US-Iran war and the inflationary cost uplifts to businesses. While interest rates were held at 3.7% the Bank of England warned the UK needs to brace for rate hikes later this year. Higher inflation is unavoidable. Despite this pause in interest rate hikes, mortgage rates forecasts are dependent on geopolitics today.
On the 19thMarch 2026 the Government announced the long-awaited UK Steel Strategy, which aims to make the UK more self-sufficient. Therefore, from 1st July 2026 import quotas have been reduced by between 60 – 90%, with any excess facing a 50% tariff. The immediate impact is that steel prices are rising. Further increases are expected with the implementation of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from 1st Jan 2027. CBAM is aimed at supporting low carbon manufacturing and further protecting the UK Steel industry. Our energy costs, even with government support still outstrip our European counterparts, meaning these costs will be passed into the market until such time as the Government delivers on its ‘clean energy superpower mission’. The UK Steel Strategy is a game changer.
At last, the 2025 Future Homes Standard has been announced, and thankfully Keystone’s Hi-therm lintel, 15 years ahead of its time, has you covered. Fabric First, remains the most critical area before renewables added. Overall construction costs are expected to rise by up to £5,000 depending on house type. In theory this will be offset by lower energy bills. House builders, and merchants to a degree, will have to learn how to sell to consumers, and SME’s must learn how to maximise the return on investment from energy saving products such as lintels in the modern house to minimise energy bills.
Never a dull day.