Born-and-bred in Denton Phill Brown believes in putting something back into the community.

His builders merchants’ firm Benchmark Building Supplies Ltd not only mentors small builders and helps apprentices get their first foot on the ladder, but also sponsors all of Tameside’s semi-pro football clubs as well as junior cricket teams.

And it’s that commitment to the wider community as well as his own successful business that has earned Phill the very first Pride of Tameside Business Person of the Year title as well as the premier award, Business of the Year.

Phill, 53, a dad of four and managing director of the company, said: "I did my own apprenticeship at a timber merchants in Stockport.

"It’s all about helping youngsters with their vocation and helping the community. We introduce lads from Tameside College to small builders – we’re a bit like a dating agency!

"To get on a brickwork course at Tameside College you need to be affiliated to a builder.

"But when the downturn began, a lot smaller builders couldn’t afford to take on a young lad, so we arrange free or subsidised training via our partnerships with colleges and skill centres."

As a result more than 150 apprentices have been placed with local businesses through Benchmark’s involvement in the last three years and every year the company takes on five apprentices.

Benchmark has its HQ in Audenshaw and employs 64 staff at six depots across Greater Manchester and Cheshire - including in Ashton and Mossley, with a seventh due to open later this year. It’s grown to become the largest builders merchant in Greater Manchester.

It also assists more than 200 local businesses by providing training and support for customers and suppliers in topics such as health and safety and equality and diversity.

And its work in partnership with Tameside Works First and Stockport Boost has enabled over 20 businesses become accredited local authority suppliers and successfully bid for new business.

"Five years ago a lot of builders doing small extension works were able to rely on recommendations and never had to market their business," Phill added.

"Now as conditions are tougher, we’ve held Saturday morning sessions to help with their marketing and credit control."

Its recession survival kit was launched in response to the credit crunch and has generated more than one million pounds worth of new business for customers.

Benchmark’s debt collection and human resource services has successfully challenged over £45,000 of bad debt on behalf of third parties and assisted with contract of employment, CRB checks for customer employees and other certification.

And the company has also provided help and advice to the St Peter Partnerships community project in the deprived West End area of Ashton.

"It’s all about helping the community and putting something back," Phill added.

"I’m Tameside born-and-bred and have a passion for the area."

Benchmark was the first independent building supply merchant in the region to introduce a department – Benchmark Green – to provide products and advice for the sustainable and renewable market.

In March the Benchmark Green showroom opened at its Ashton depot, with displays and advice on the latest energy saving and eco-friendly products.

"We’ve had a difficult two years," Phill admitted. "Our customer base is mainly small to medium-sized builders but with the tough market we’ve had to diversify and we do a quite a bit of work with Tameside council and New Charter and have a contract with the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to supply paving stones and kerbs.

"Why we’ve succeeded is down to the hard work of my staff. We have an excellent team. We compete against the likes of Travis Perkins and Dewsons but because we’re not part of a national chain, we’re able to react a lot easier to market conditions - we are quick on our feet."

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