The Builders Merchants Federation’s (BMF’s) managing director, John Newcomb, has been elected to the board of the Trade Association Forum (TAF) as a non-executive director.

TAF is a collective group of the top 300 trade bodies in the UK spanning every business sector, and has been described as ‘the trade association for trade associations’.

Its membership includes the Association of British Travel Agents, the Direct Marketing Association, the National Farmers Union and the British Woodworking Federation.

Mr Newcomb will represent TAF’s mid-sized organisations who qualify in the 10-19 employee band.

One of the TAF’s key functions is to encourage the development and sharing of best practice amongst its members. The business sectors represented may be unique, but they face many of the same organisational issues.

TAF also promotes the role of effective trade associations to government, industry and the wider public.

General manager of the TAF, Linda Cavender, said: "John has a great deal of experience from all sides of industry and I have no doubt he will be a valuable asset on the TAF Board. We are all very much looking forward to working with him."

“I am a great supporter of trade associations and I believe that TAF has an essential role to play in benchmarking best practice and developing the professionalism of every trade body.

“I am looking forward to working with the Board and helping to develop the TAF brand as a vital, independent and respected organization,” Mr Newcomb said.