Welcome BRIAN BERRY
T he most important reason for building companies wanting to join and remain members of the FMB is credibility: the ability to stand out from the competition. This is why the FMB is committed to raising standards and helping members drive their businesses forward with a range of services including contracts, e-learning, legislative updates, and business helplines. High standards In this issue, we look at what this all means in practice, focusing on various aspects of standards including the impact of the recent FMB business coaching programme and how it has helped members champion quality building work. Research by Ross McKillop, a lecturer in Construction Management at Glasgow Caledonian University, reinforces how important effective leadership is. Speaking to a range of SME construction business leaders, including eight FMB members, McKillop found that the quality of a company’s leadership has a direct result on health and safety and organisational performance – see page 15. We also turn the spotlight on a member’s work at an old pub in Essex, transforming the Ferry Boat Inn into a contemporary establishment with an historical feel – see page 14. Additionally, given the growing commitment to create energy efficient buildings, on page 19, we examine how best to pass an air tightness test. Celebrating excellence We focus on the national winners of our prestigious FMB Master Builder Awards – the Oscars of the building industry. Our awards were held last month at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London hosted by the well-known television presenter Nick Knowles – see pages 23-36. Congratulations to the overall winner of the 2023 Master Builder Awards, Vantage & Co
Congratulations to the overall winner of the 2023 Master Builder Awards, Vantage & Co Group Limited
Group Limited. And well done to all the other winners and those who took part to make the awards such a success across the UK.
New National President Last month at our Annual General
Meeting (AGM), we elected Chris Carr (Yorkshire & Trent Region) as the new National President. Chris has a long association with the FMB and, as a house builder, is a vocal champion of the need to increase the supply of local house builders given the year-on-year decline of SME house builders in the housing market. On page 21, Chris sets out his vision for the next two years as National President and Chair of the FMB Board. This period will also include the forthcoming UK General Election, which has to be held before January 2025, giving the FMB an opportunity to raise all the issues that we have lobbied for on members’ behalf for inclusion in the political parties’ manifestos. We want a business environment that actively supports small builders to thrive by: investing in skills and training; providing a long-term policy to support
the retrofitting of existing homes; encouraging more smaller house
builders to the market; and stamping out unscrupulous companies by licensing all building companies.
There’s much to do but the FMB has set its agenda to ensure your needs and interests are met.
BRIAN BERRY, Chief Executive Federation of Master Builders
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Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
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