OBAS
OBAS is a builders merchants based in Longridge, near Preston in Lancashire. The business was incorporated in 2008, however the brand had existed from around 2004. The brand-name was created from an acronym formed from the first letters of the phrase Our Blades Are Superior.
OBAS Group was formed in 2008 when serial entrepreneur Norman Tenray bought four failed companies: Express Plumbing and Safety Supplies trading as EPS, HWA UK Ltd trading as HWA and Impact Decor and Design Ltd trading as IDD from the receivers PKF as well as Slater Development.
This construction supplies business formed OBAS UK and has around 50 staff, including 25 sales staff, which also includes Health Care divisions and technical support services for the construction sector. The healthcare division of the OBAS Group supplies around 3,500 products to public and private healthcare sector. In October 2012 OBAS UK reported securing a £615,000 invoice finance facility.
OBAS UK sells tens of thousands of products to trade and DIY customers, both locally and nation-wide, with ranges including construction supplies, workwear, PPE and safety gear.
In April 2014 OBAS announced that Simon Dalley had been appointed as the Group's Marketing Manager. May 2014 saw the organisation open the company's first Trade Counter at their Longridge Headquarters to capitalise on the relatively low coverage of construction supplies businesses in the area. The company stated the new Trade Counter will be used by national contractors, independent tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts, whilst commenting that having a store front will enable them to engage in person with their customers (rather than their traditional model which involves telephone based account managers and field sales).
On his LinkedIn profile, Dalley mentions that although the business traditionally operates a "largely call-centre-centric offline model, selling tens of thousands of products to trade and DIY customers" the business is now "focussing on growing physical locations, field sales and web sales to strengthen the business and build in resilience."
In December 2014 OBAS announced 6 new jobs been created in the business and 5 were to be created at the start of 2016 with the assistance of Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Featured articles and news
From the UKs largest manufacturer and supplier of lime.
From mud bricks to smart concrete
A brief history from 7000BC to a future on the moon.
Regulator of Social Housing publishes latest fire safety report
Covering remediation of 11 metre plus social housing sector buildings.
Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024
Approved for priority drafting by Government of Ireland.
The long list with in the frame of key historical events.
Competence frameworks for sustainability in the built environment
Code of practice, core criteria consultation draft for comment.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard Sept update
Pilot version for testing and feedback on its adoption due.
New Floods Resilience Taskforce
With a wet met office autumn prediction.
National Retrofit Hub takeover of Net Zero stage
At Birmingham UK Construction Week in October.
AT Awards 2024 finalists announced
With more to come, prior to the Awards ceremony in October.
London construction cools as hotspots appear nationally
Increases in the East of England, Yorkshire and Scotland.
ARB proposals for a new Architects Code
Announced in the shadow of the final Grenfell Inquiry report.
Combining human creativity and tech innovation now and in the future
Building automation and control systems market study
BSRIA 2024 North America BACS software & services.
Impact of digital technology on productivity in construction
New CIOB academy guidance for companies of all sizes.
Demolition and retrofit approaches in Planning Policy
MHCLG demolition and retrofit survey to inform future updates to national planning policy.
Expert taskforce to spearhead new, new town generation
Sir Michael Lyons given 12 months for recommendations.
Government policy statement on new towns
A coded vision for a new generation of new towns.