Royal honour for Peter Hindle

Peter has worked within the builders merchant sector for approaching 40 years, with over 30 years at Jewson, working his way through the organisation from his first role at branch level to become Managing Director in 1999.  In 2003, following Saint-Gobain’s acquisition of Jewson, Peter became Chief Executive for Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest distributors of timber and building materials, including well known company names such as Graham, Frazer, and Ideal Bathrooms.  Under his leadership SGBD-UK has expanded the market into Ireland, and new strategic brands have been developed, including Minster the specialist insulation and drylining distributor, and Greenworks the industry leading initiative providing renewable energy solutions.  He has also established a highly successful trainee scheme which has to date grown and nurtured the talents of nearly 500 bright individuals under the Young Merchant Programme.An active and leading contributor to the wider building industry Peter sits on the Industry Principle Council of the Construction Products Association and is an Associate of the Institute of Wood Science.As a keen champion of how business can work to support charitable causes Peter established the Together programme, an annual fundraising initiative for Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK & Ireland.  Together challenges employees to work together to raise funds for a nominated national charity through a variety of events involving friends, family, suppliers and customers.  Since its inception in 2002 a total of £1.5 million has been donated to nominated charities including Wish Upon a Star, Great Ormond Street and Cancer Research UK.  The programme currently supports the British Heart Foundation.On receiving news of the MBE, Peter Hindle comments: “I am extremely honoured to be awarded with such an accolade.  However this isn’t only recognition of my efforts, but the effort and dedication of the 12,000 people employed by Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK & Ireland and our suppliers and customers that collectively have made the business and our charitable programme the success it is today.  I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank them all for their support.”Honours are normally awarded twice a year.A list is published on the Queen’s Birthday in June and another list is published at the New Year. The type of honour depends on the contribution a person has made and the field they work in, but in all cases the awards reflect and pay tribute to outstanding achievement and service right across the community. Investitures will take place throughout the year.