Focus DIY Focus DIY Focus DIY was a privately owned chain of DIY stores in the United Kingdom. It served the consumer DIY market sector, and most stores had some form of garden centre. At its peak in 2002, it was the second largest DIY retailer in the United Kingdom, although by 2011, it was the fourth. The main competitors were B&Q, Homebase and Wickes. The company operated 178 stores in the United Kingdom with 3,000 employees, but had been running losses every year since 2007. In the year up to 2011, the company had a loss of £25 million. On 4
North British and Mercantile Insurance became a subsidiary of the Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd in 1959. The company maintained head offices in Edinburgh until 1963 and in London until 1969. Since June 30 2006, it has been registered as a non-trading company. The company's name continues in a number of its former premises. North British and Mercantile Insurance The North British and Mercantile Insurance Company was a British-based company founded in 1809 in Edinburgh and absorbed as a subsidiary of the Commercial Union in 1959. The company was also known as the North British Insurance Company, North British Fire Office and North British Fire