CAMPAIGN TRAIL _ IN THE KNOW
SPENCER CLARKE GROUP DONATES FOOD PARCELS Licence to build Licensing in construction is coming – in one form or another – within the next few years, says the FMB’s Head of External Affairs Jeremy Gray
T he government is looking to license principal contractors of high-risk buildings. It’s a positive development but details remain scarce. Beyond this, the scope for licensing is up for debate – but it could extend to most of the industry. The FMB’s Licence to Build campaign has been gaining momentum. Here’s a list of notable achievements. 1 We launched a licensing construction research report at parliament to a receptive audience. Momentum for change continues to grow. 2 Our Licence to Build campaign, active on our website, features member resources and showcases victim testimonials, highlighting the severity of the issue. 3 The FMB’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Berry, spent an hour on the BBC Radio 4 You and Yours programme taking calls from the public to discuss rogue builders. We also ensured coverage on the issue in national publications including The Sun and The Mirror – which reaches millions of people in the UK. 4 In a massive win for the licensing campaign, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee backed licensing, noting its support for licensing retrofit work after evidence came to light revealing sub-standard installation of retrofit measures.
report showing that licensing is required to ensure competence of builders carrying out flood-prevention measures. 7 We’ve conducted important research, including:
Teaming up with the HomeOwners Alliance to find that 45% of UK homeowners wrongly believe that builders are licensed. Surveying 2,000
JEREMY GRAY Head of External Affairs at the FMB
5 The FMB joined the Retrofit Reform Advisory Panel, chaired by the Energy Consumer Minister, to look at how
members of the public about their experiences with dodgy builders, we found a staggering £14.3 billion was paid to rogues over a five-year period. Money that could have gone to reputable tradespeople. 8 Late last year, Conservative MP Mark Garnier – a long-time backer of licensing – hosted a debate at Westminster Hall with MPs from across the political spectrum to discuss how licensing could prevent cowboy builders from preying on the public. 9 This year, we’ve been speaking with government offi cials who are researching the feasibility of licensing for builders, lending our expertise to ensure what is delivered makes sense for our members. 10 We’re hosting a drop-in session in Portcullis House – the offices of MPs – on 28 April for MPs to learn more about our campaign. We will also present to them the data we have gathered in collaboration with the HomeOwners Alliance that measures the negative impact of cowboy builders.
licensing can address inadequate retrofit installation in the wake of government- backed schemes to upgrade homes. 6 The FMB formed part of the leadership team into the government inquiry into flood- prevention measures, which led to a
The campaign for licensing is being re-energised due to the current government’s willingness to investigate the issue
Master Builder 17
www.fmb.org.uk
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