The IPG Conference brought suppliers, plumbers’ merchants and bathroom showrooms together to celebrate the power of independents, and the value of working together as a community.
The IPG Conference in Vilamoura united IPG members and suppliers from across the UK for two days of shared purpose, honest discussion and genuine camaraderie. Members and suppliers had the opportunity to network and strengthen relationships, while the conference programme combined industry insights with personal journeys and practical ideas that will strengthen the entire IPG community. Wavin and hansgrohe were headline sponsors of the event, with all other suppliers present also sponsoring.
From the beginning, the event placed independence at its heart. Speakers reinforced how important it is to protect local businesses and build environments where everyone in the plumbing, heating and bathrooms industry can thrive. The atmosphere reflected the values that sit at the heart of The IPG – collective strength, loyalty and the belief that independent businesses can succeed when they support each other.
The IPG Founder Robin Beal opened the conference and spoke with pride about how much the group has grown since it held its first conference in 2017. While trading conditions have been challenging for many this year, Robin highlighted that The IPG’s main priority remains the delivery of the strongest possible deals for members. He explained that buying power grows from collaboration, and collaboration grows when members and suppliers stay connected.
A successful Meet the Supplier session gave members and suppliers the opportunity to arrange a series of 10-minute discussions with each other to strengthen existing relationships, meet new companies and learn how they could all work together to grow their businesses and better support their customers.
The portrait of a modern installer
Lee Wilcox, CEO of On The Tools, then entertained delegates with an account of how On the Tools began, before exploring how independent plumbers’ merchants can support and understand their customers.
On The Tools is one of the largest online construction communities for tradespeople, providing a voice for issues such as tool theft and mental health, as well as enabling tradespeople to share stories, resources and support.
Lee spoke about the work On The Tools has done to raise awareness of tool theft, as well as highlighting the fact that two-thirds of tradespeople work either alone or in small teams, with one in five saying they have been impacted by mental health concerns.
He then gave the audience a ‘portrait of a modern installer’, based on data from the On The Tools community and the Tradebrain AI platform.
He described a modern tradesperson as someone who lives and works through their phone, manages a fast flow of smaller jobs and communicates in short bursts throughout the day. He said tradespeople are increasingly using their phone as the hub of their business – searching for products online, comparing prices quickly and, as such, they expect information that is clear, fast and accessible. He said younger tradespeople in particular are expecting the same levels of customer service and flexibility from plumbers’ merchants that they get from the large consumer brands, with next-day delivery and the ability to place orders any time of day.
For plumbers’ merchants, Lee stressed the importance of understanding and adapting to meet these habits in order to build loyalty and stay relevant. He urged the room to remain aware of the challenges tradespeople face each day and find practical ways to support them.
The IPG update
The IPG Managing Director Andy Cottee, and Marketing Director Nike Lovell, delivered an upbeat session that explored growth within The IPG and new innovations that the group is introducing. Some 18 new members have joined since the previous conference in 2023, with many of them present at this event.
They then turned to The IPG’s achievements. Financial results have improved despite the challenging economic outlook, with fees reducing and the deals negotiated for members becoming increasingly valuable – enabling members in turn to better support their customers. They also highlighted the growth of the installer database, which now includes more than 3,000 installers, and spoke about the group’s increased visibility at major industry events such as the InstallerSHOW in June.
The IPG’s successful Trade Local Day initiative has continued to grow, this year creating a real impact across 118 member stores and reminding communities of the importance of shopping locally and the power of independent businesses acting together.
“It reminded communities why shopping local isn’t just nice, it really matters,” Nike said.
Nike and Andy emphasised how digital tools are opening new opportunities for suppliers, members and tradespeople alike. The IPG members now have access to ready-made social media content, AI-supported scheduling and resources that help them maintain a consistent presence online. For many independents, this removes a significant burden on their own businesses and, for suppliers, it provides a reliable way to stay visible across the network.
New Chairman Paul Hetherington introduced the new IPG App, which is due to be launched in the new year, and is designed to “connect customers’ loyalty with local rewards” and keep independent merchants “in your customers’ pockets”. It will feature exclusive access to local offers, branch-chosen promotions and loyalty points that reward tradespeople for choosing their nearby IPG independent merchant.
A personal journey
Jason Clark, President of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, offered one of the most personal and moving sessions of the conference. He told the story of how he became part of the industry, beginning with his mother’s arrival to London from Ireland during the early 1960s.
Life in East London was difficult, Jason explained. Housing was limited, discrimination was common and his mother faced further hardship due to an abusive marriage. Nevertheless, she raised her children while navigating financial strain and emotional stress, often with little support.
Jason spoke about how those early experiences shaped his understanding of resilience, fear and human connection, and how seizing “every opportunity counts”.
Despite the challenges, he built a successful career, first by spending 10 years on the tools and then as a merchant, running Plaistow Electrical Wholesale for many years. He became a fellow of the Institute, joined the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, and has gained recognition through industry awards. His career trajectory showed what can be achieved when determination is paired with the right support.
He then shared the story of Rosie, one of many people he has helped mentor who wanted to become a plumber despite having no qualifications. Through patience, shared networks and guidance from organisations such as the charity Excluded From School and Steve Willis Training, Rosie secured a college place and began her apprenticeship. She recently completed her first year with enthusiasm, supported in part by donated tools and encouragement from people who believed in her potential.
Jason’s message urged the audience to reflect on their own fears, “find your unfair advantage” and turn them into something powerful rather than limiting.
Independence and the power of people
Conference host Mark Millar took to the stage to tell his own story, from carpenter to star of BBC TV programme DIY SOS, and now as Brand Ambassador for The IPG.
Like Jason, Mark’s speech highlighted the importance of battling through adversity and how the values he carries today grew from the same independent spirit that shaped his earliest years.
He spoke about his family’s background in Ireland and the support shown to his family by his local community and independent businesses during difficult times. The power that communities hold when they come together clearly had an impact on Mark’s early years, and that memory continues to guide the way he sees the trade.
Throughout his television career, he stayed close to that belief. Working on DIY SOS for more than 17 years reinforced it even further. He described how, on every build, people came together to give back to those in need, with many tradespeople and suppliers supporting the programme time and time again. Many of those who volunteered were independent merchants or local tradespeople.
Mark shared how he joined The IPG as Brand Ambassador and why he feels such a strong connection to its members. He said The IPG stood out immediately as the right fit for him, as their values of independence, loyalty and trust aligned with his own beliefs.
Since joining The IPG he has travelled across the UK visiting members and suppliers, getting to know their teams and learning about their challenges and successes –something he hopes to continue to do. Those visits have shaped his view that The IPG is more than a buying group. “It feels like a family,” he said.
Mark then spoke about the pride he feels when he sees independent merchants continue to thrive in a market filled with larger competitors. He encouraged delegates to stay confident in their identity, protect the businesses they have built and keep looking for ways to support one another.
He said: “We come together. We work together, We’re stronger, together. I am so proud to be involved in this company, We’re here to look after each other, lift each other up and go forward and be powerful.”
Mark finished by promising to use his media experience to raise the profile of members and help share their stories with a wider audience. As he put it: “I will do with my media background, the best I can for everybody in this room.”
His speech left many delegates with a renewed sense of pride in their place within the network and a clear belief that the path ahead holds real promise for the independent sector.
The conference concluded with a spectacular Gala Dinner where The IPG members and suppliers could network and continue developing the relationships they had begun over the two-day event. A significant sum was also raised for charity The Royal Voluntary Service, through which volunteers give support to people in need in NHS hospitals and communities.
