profile
Mathew Whitehouse
Mathew has three decades of experience in the adhesives industry, which has provided him with a wealth of sealing and bonding knowledge. After starting his career in the abrasives division of Saint-Gobain, Mathew joined Bostik working predominantly in the marketing team in both UK & European roles, with responsibility widening more recently to include UK customer services. Since 2017, he has been Bostik’s Marketing Director in the UK. In combination with this experience, Mathew has continued to widen his business knowledge through the completion of an MBA and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Bostik Ltd
Bostik is a leading global adhesive specialist in construction, consumer and industrial markets. For more than a century, it has been developing innovative adhesive solutions that are smarter and more adaptive to the forces that shape daily lives. From construction sites to schools and offices, food packaging to transport, Bostik’s bonding systems are used in countless applications.
With annual sales of €2 billion, Bostik is one of the largest adhesive and sealant companies in the world, employing some 6,000 people in 50 countries across five continents. The company’s market-leading products and brands, such as EVO-STIK, are tried and tested by millions of users throughout the UK and beyond and are designed to meet the highest standards of quality and innovation, with no compromise on performance. Bostik is the adhesive solutions business line of the Arkema group.
Visit: https://www.bostik.com/uk & https://www.evo-stik.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EVOSTIKUK
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bostik/
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.
Bostik Comment: Q2 2024
In Q2, the market again faced a challenging landscape shaped by several key economic and political factors. The approach to the general election created a climate of uncertainty, affecting investment decisions across many sectors, including construction. Periods of political transition often result in cautious spending and delayed projects as businesses and investors await the outcomes and potential policy changes.
The construction market, a significant driver of demand for adhesives and sealants, showed mixed performance during this quarter. Ongoing infrastructure projects continued to provide a stable demand. However, residential and commercial construction sectors remained under pressure.
Despite these challenges, there were pockets of positivity within the adhesives and sealants market. The demand for innovative and sustainable products continues to rise, driven by stricter environmental regulations and a growing emphasis on green building practices. Companies in the adhesives and sealants sector that have invested in research and development to create more environmentally friendly products have been able to maintain competitive advantages and capture market share.
Furthermore, the push for energy efficiency and retrofitting of existing buildings provided some counterbalance to the slowdown in new construction projects. As energy costs remain high, the market for products that can improve insulation and sealing performance is robust, supporting overall demand in the sector.
Efficiency seems to be a hot topic, as we’re also seeing an increased focus on more efficient last-mile deliveries – the final step in the delivery process – among our distribution partners. In recent weeks we’ve seen B&Q link up with Deliveroo to offer over 600 home improvement products for rapid delivery in as little as 25 minutes In and around London, while TradeKart – the rapid delivery app for tradespeople – has added Selco and Howdens to its growing list of merchant partners.
With the rise of ecommerce, consumers have come to expect fast deliveries at a time and location that suits them, so It’s positive to see the initiative being introduced in the construction market, and it’ll be Interesting to see the Impact that this has on sales of light side building materials, such as adhesive and sealants, in the coming months.