LICENSING UK CONSTRUCTION
would be formal, independent disputes and resolutions channels to solve the issue. Gray says the sheer number of UK television shows portraying the ill effects of dodgy builders demonstrates just how pervasive the problem is. But consumers also have power to bring about change. “At the end of the day, the consumers are going to win this battle,” Gray says. “If they want licensing, they’re going to be the ones that get it because politicians listen to what consumers want. So it’s about raising awareness of the campaign to bring about a mandatory licensing scheme.” Examples elsewhere Gray says there are “plenty of decent examples” around the world where construction is successfully licensed, such as in the US, Germany and Australia. “We know it helps with the professionalisation of the industry and we have had civil servants saying the UK should have brought in a licensing scheme 40 years ago. It's definitely doable, provided there is sufficient political will.” McAllister also believes this is a political decision but one in which builders need to be playing a key role by always acting with integrity. “It covers everything we do. Have integrity in the way you do your finances, complete work, deliver on promises, communicate with clients – you don’t have to be perfect but you should be striving for it. “We need builders to be professionals, not like wearing a suit and things like that, but we need them to care about integrity. That’s what binds all the codes of conduct of other professions.”
What the FMB is doing for licensing
The FMB has partnered with the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) to connect the public with quality, trustworthy local builders by advertising the FMB’s Find a Builder service on the HOA website. In Scotland, Director Gordon Nelson met with Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury who has pledged support of the FMB’s licensing campaign, and the FMB is working with the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Futures Board to improve the performance, expertise, resilience and sustainability of the Scottish building standards services, whilst exploring how a licensing scheme would operate in Scotland. In Wales, the FMB lobbied the Conservative Party resulting in the party committing to the matter in its Housing a Nation report. In Northern Ireland, the FMB is a member of a working group focused on building control at a key moment in time when the nation is improving current standards. I n England, the FMB continues to work closely with Mark Ganier, Conservative MP, meeting with interested stakeholders to build upon the campaign.
What FMB members can do to support licensing As efforts continue to realise a mandatory national licensing scheme, FMB members can help build awareness of the importance of quality workmanship. You can: raise the issue with local MPs and political leaders; speak to clients about the issue when out on jobs and explain the importance of standards and accreditation; brand construction sites with your company logo and FMB
What the FMB has achieved so far with licensing The FMB has won the support of MPs across the Commons, and secured coverage of the issue in national and trade press. FMB members have
a remedy for the problems with work and this can be because they have no way to pursue the rogues,” Helliwell explains. “Currently there is a bewildering range of approved and trusted trader schemes, many without consumer support and others where there are few checks on the business. A mandatory licensing scheme would help to increase consumer confidence and if properly enforced enable better redress when problems arise.” McAllister argues that
helped provide information for
research and reports to communicate the benefits of licensing. The FMB has hosted multiple meetings to generate industry consensus on what licensing should look like.
mandatory licensing or membership to an
badge of honour to show neighbours that this is a professional project; and make your contact details visible for added
accreditation body would lead to much better relationships between builders and clients because the former would be worried about protecting their reputation and maintaining professional standards. Plus, if anything did go wrong, there
accountability as you will be forced to field calls from potentially disgruntled people.
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Master Builder
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