Master Builder Magazine: August-September 2023

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

How members can get involved The FMB is run by builders for builders. So the more engagement and involvement from members means the better action the FMB and its Regional Directors can take to create a better industry. Get more involved with the FMB by: Joining FMB events in your nation or region throughout the year; Taking time to complete a survey to share ideas and feedback; Becoming a member of your Regional or National Board at the next AGM, which also gives opportunities to network with fellow members; Sitting on an FMB committee; Lending support at a tradeshow by answering questions from the public about their next building project; Contacting your Regional Director to let them know what you’re passionate about and how you’d like to share your

Simone McAllister , Membership Engagement Executive for Scotland and Northern Ireland Email: simonemcallister@fmb.org.uk Call: 02894 460 416 Ifan Glyn , Director of Regions & Home Nations/Wales Director Email: ifanglyn@fmb.org.uk Call: 07769 687 227 Gordon Nelson , FMB Scotland Director Email: gordonnelson@fmb.org.uk Call: 07769 687 232 Contact information

Gavin McGuire , FMB NI Director Email: gavinmcguire@fmb.org.uk Call: 07341 869 080 Sam Eden , FMB London Director Email: sameden@fmb.org.uk Call: 07469 350 116 Nicola de Sousa , FMB Central Region Director Email: NicolaDeSousa@fmb.org.uk Call: 07769 687 239

FMB North members should contact Ifan Glyn with any queries

FMB Regional Directors assert influence

Engaging governments and policy makers

Zone (ULEZ) expansion, and leads on the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce to promote the FMB’s work on a national retrofit strategy. Making lives better for members Regional Directors also ensure that any issues between clients and FMB members are resolved. Working with the FMB Dispute Resolution and FMB Insurance teams, they ensure an equitable solution is sought so that the FMB’s reputational badge of quality and integrity remains untarnished. They also present the FMB’s work at external conferences and events around the UK to ensure positive change happens for members. FMB Northern Ireland Director Gavin Maguire , for example, recently engaged with finance industry representatives in Belfast on the topic of how rising material costs are affecting both clients and builders. Plugging the skills gap Regional Directors are engaged with Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) teams in England, Wales and Scotland, as well as CITB NI to improve training opportunities and upskilling. They nurture ongoing relationships with schools and colleges to help make construction a more appealing career choice to young people, building bridges between the industry and education sector.

knowledge and expertise; Seizing one of the many

opportunities to engage with Government officials on issues that matter to you. For example, house building members can sit alongside other house builders on a group that regularly meets Housing Ministers; and Volunteering time to participate in media interviews with journalists for television, radio and print coverage. “I am a believer that the more you put into the FMB the more you will get out of it,” Glyn says. “So if anyone is interested in getting more involved, please give me a call.” Nevertheless not everyone will have time to volunteer. As Nelson says: “We know that running your business comes first so not all members have time to get more involved. In this case, just keep up to date by reading FMB newsletters and regularly visiting the website for updates.” For more information, members can contact their Regional Directors directly or, if based in Scotland or Northern Ireland, they can get in touch with Membership Engagement Executive Simone McAllister.

In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, FMB Regional Directors frequently give evidence to Parliamentary committees. For example, FMB Wales Director Ifan Glyn is a member of the Welsh Government’s Decarbonisation of Homes Implementation Group, which meets each month to provide the Welsh Housing Minister with policy advice and recommendations. Regional Directors also respond to government consultations, which are an essential part of developing important relationships with government ministers and senior civil servants. For example, FMB Scotland Director Gordon Nelson recently met with two Scottish Government Ministers to communicate members’ frustrations with the apprenticeship system and the obstacles in the way of successfully delivering retrofit works to improve the energy efficiency of Scottish homes. Across the UK, Regional Directors meet with local authorities to highlight members’ concerns and improve industry standards. For example, FMB North Director Caroline Meehan is Vice Chair of the Construction Alliance North East, while FMB London Director Sam Eden works with Transport for London to mitigate the negative effects of Ultra Low Emission

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