At Okarno, we love animals and wildlife of all varieties; whether they're wild and living alongside us in our site's Biodiversity Area, or we've adopted our little domesticated pets to live in our homes and bring us our daily dose of joy.

We’re proud to announce our new charity partnership with Guide Dogs, a remarkable organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of people living with sight loss across the UK. This partnership represents more than just fundraising, it’s about helping individuals gain the confidence and independence to live life to the fullest. 

Okarno, leading fulfilment provider of some of the UK’s must-have construction brands, is proud to have played a part in helping Band of Builders transform the life of Mike Shrimpton, a retired builder and his family, who live in Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire.

After an all‑too‑gloomy and wet start to the year — with the UK facing a record 41+ consecutive days of rainfall — the sun’s more frequent appearances have lifted spirits across Okarno, and we’re sure they’ve brightened your days too. As the winter blues start to shift, the days are starting to look lighter, brighter and warmer and the date of Spring Equinox (20th March) comes along to signal the official beginning of Spring. 

For International Women’s Day 2026, Okarno is proud to support the Give to Gain initiative, highlighting the importance of giving time, resources, and support to empower women. As part of our ongoing partnership with Midlands Women’s Aid, our team organised a donation drive to provide essential items for women and children seeking refuge from domestic abuse.

Construction is an industry built on expertise, collaboration and innovation and increasingly, on diverse perspectives. At Okarno, women now represent 37% of our workforce, contributing across operations, leadership, customer experience and product innovation. Behind that figure are individuals whose careers show there is no single route into construction, only opportunities to grow, learn and lead.

Okarno is proud to share that our parent company, Saint-Gobain, has once again been certified as a Global Top Employer 2026, marking the 11th consecutive year the Group has received this prestigious recognition.

Builders’ merchants play a vital role in supporting trade professionals by offering products that deliver efficiency, quality, and value. One effective way to add value is by expanding the range of jointing and decorating tapes available in-branch. This guide explores the different types of jointing tapes and how merchants can leverage their benefits to meet customer needs and drive sales.