We were delighted to welcome Emma Hardy MP to our Anlaby branch on Friday 17 October as part of Flood Action Week. Her visit highlighted the crucial role we play as builders' merchants in improving property-level flood resilience across the UK.

The MP for Hull West and Haltemprice visited us to learn more about our efforts to promote flood protection products, support communities vulnerable to flooding, and ensure our branch network can respond quickly and effectively when severe weather strikes.

 

 

Supporting Our Community Through Flood Protection

Emma Hardy was joined by Ian Pratt, our Branch Director at MKM Anlaby, and David Millward, Sales Director of Fernco, a UK manufacturer of flood protection systems. The visit was supported by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), which has been instrumental in connecting parliamentarians with merchants as part of a wider review into Property Flood Resilience led by Professor Peter Bonfield OBE.

Ms Hardy said about the event:

"Flooding isn't just a headline, it's a reality for thousands of families, and I've seen first-hand the impact it has had right here in Hull.

"That's why it was so encouraging to see a local business like MKM stepping up, not just selling the right products to help alleviate the potential for flooding, but starting the right conversations. They're helping people think differently about flood resilience and act before it's too late."

 

 

Our Experience with Flooding

Hull remains one of the UK's most flood-prone cities, with thousands of homes and businesses affected during the 2007 floods. Our Anlaby team has direct, lived experience of the devastation caused by flooding. The 2007 floods were the only time in our branch's 29-year history that we closed early—but we reopened the next day to help supply sandbags and support the clean-up effort.

Speaking during the visit, Ian Pratt, Branch Director at MKM Anlaby, said:

"Flooding hits communities hard, and here in Hull, we've seen the consequences first-hand. That's why we're proud to do our bit — helping customers access the right flood resilience products and giving practical advice on how to better protect homes and properties.

"It was a privilege to welcome our local MP, Emma Hardy, and show her the work we're doing to raise awareness, stock innovative solutions and support a more resilient future — not just in Hull, but across our nationwide branch network."

Partnering for Protection

To coincide with Flood Action Week, we've installed a dedicated display of Fernco flood protection products at our Anlaby branch, backed by digital and print marketing, expert advice, and a feature blog. This activity aligns with our wider MKM Group sustainability and ESG efforts.

David Millward, Sales Director at Fernco, added:

"We're proud to work with MKM to make our flood protection range more accessible and visible to tradespeople, local authorities and homeowners.

"Partnerships like this — between manufacturers, merchants, and government — are essential if we're to make flood resilience part of the everyday conversation in construction."

Brett Amphlett, Policy & Public Affairs Manager at the BMF and a member of the Bonfield Review panel, facilitated the visit. He commented:

"The misery that flooding causes is inevitably local - and therefore the response must be local - from flood risk managers, builders' merchants and others. Local merchants can provide what's needed for immediate relief - followed by pumps, dryers, dehumidifiers and other materials & products in the resulting clear-up.

"The Builders Merchants' Federation supports this Review and is promoting it to builders' merchants and civils & drainage specialists in our supply chain - especially in districts prone to flooding."

Building Resilience Together

Emma Hardy's visit reinforces our commitment to being more than just a builders' merchant. We're part of the community fabric, here when you need us most. Whether it's providing flood protection products before severe weather hits or supporting recovery efforts afterwards, we're dedicated to helping build a more resilient future for Hull and all the communities we serve.