Building Materials Nationwide, founded by Phil Lidgerton, has grown into a leading UK distributor of timber, roofing, insulation and other construction materials. Today the company supports trade professionals nationwide with 60 employees and £28M in annual sales.
To accelerate growth and reduce financial exposure, BMN partnered with Two to transform how trade credit is offered and managed.
The Challenge: growth limited by credit
In the construction sector, credit is an expectation. But Building Materials Nationwide faced three constraints:
- Limited credit capacity
They relied on equity to finance customer credit, restricting how much they could safely offer. - Slow, manual processes
Every credit application required back-and-forth checks across multiple systems and teams. With the entire sales team submitting requests, the credit team was losing hours each day. - Increased risk exposure
Growing credit demand meant greater financial risk when accounts failed to pay.
“We work in an industry heavily focused on credit. Customers always want more, but we were doing it out of the owner’s pockets.”
Ashley Heather, Head of Strategic Operations
The Solution: instant decisions, reduced risk
With Two’s AI-powered credit engine, Building Materials Nationwide moved from manual reviews to instant credit decisions.
Their business buyers unlock frictionless purchasing with verified limits in seconds. This eliminated delays that used to cost deals. Fast approvals became a competitive advantage.
Two also unlocked growth safely. With non-recourse protection in place, they can confidently extend higher limits across their business, knowing they’re protected if a buyer defaults.
Automation now spans the entire credit lifecycle:
✔ Instant credit decisions and onboarding for new and existing customers
✔ Higher and more accurate credit limits
✔ Non-recourse protection to reduce bad debt exposure
✔ Manual effort significantly reduced, freeing the team to focus on strategy
“Two’s model enables important customers to access higher limits than we’d ever risk alone, which directly increases their spend with us.”
Ashley Heather, Head of Strategic Operations
The Impact
Partnering with Two delivered measurable results:
- 22% revenue growth year-on-year, supported by Two
- Average order value increased from £800 to £2,000
- Higher average order values as customers consolidate spend through BMN
- Recurring revenue doubled within a year
- Bad debt stayed below BMN’s threshold
- Credit team regained 2 hours daily previously lost to admin
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“Flexible fees, enhanced limits, easy-to-use platform, and excellent support. We speak to Two weekly and issues are quickly resolved.”
Ashley Heather, Head of Strategic Operations
About Building Materials Nationwide
At Building Materials Nationwide, we are committed to supporting trade professionals with a seamless, hassle-free supply experience. Our setup is designed specifically for the trade, ensuring you get the materials you need, when you need them, without the stress.
As product sourcing specialists, we provide a comprehensive range of building essentials, tailored to your business requirements. With over 20 years of industry expertise and a dedicated account management system, we streamline your ordering process with a single point of contact. Our flexible delivery options and personalised solutions adapt to your schedule, so you can stay focused on the job at hand.
If you need a specific product, our team is always ready to source it for you. Your dedicated account manager is just a call away, providing expert advice and ensuring a smooth ordering experience. Let’s work together to keep your projects moving.
About Two
Two revolutionises B2B payments by making net-term selling as effortless as card payments. With offices across Oslo, Stockholm, Glasgow, London and New York, and partnerships with leading financial institutions, Two has become the trusted B2B payment enabler for companies throughout Europe.
Unlock smarter credit. Speak to our team.
