Good news stories!

All too often these days, people are quick to criticise but hardly anybody puts pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to give credit where credit is due.

I am delighted to add my congratulations to Nick Orchard from England’s Finest Property Services Ltd, the winner of the recent TrustMark, Tradesman of the Year competition. Nick only joined NRWB in July 2009 and hasn’t yet used our warranty services but we hope to tempt him during the course of 2010 with the host of new products which will be on offer. Congratulations on your achievement Nick and be sure to spend your prize money wisely!

Another success story came to us from a member of NRWB who only joined about a year ago. Brian Bishop of BB Builders wrote to us and sent a wonderful message:

“I took the FMB advice of including a two year warranty to the first build that I did and got the contract immediately”

It follows therefore that good work brings its own rewards and the inclusion of a MasterBond warranty does actually help you to win the work in the first place. I am indebted to both of these members for ‘making the days’ of the NRWB staff in Cambridge. It is nice to know that our work in the office and in developing the NRWB brings success to its members.

NRWB - THE ‘ONE STOP SHOP’ FOR BUILDING WARRANTIES

2010will be busy for us as we are launching a host of new products with new insurance partners to help you win work. I know that we are promised green shoots but they may be hard to find so anything that the NRWB can do to support its members will be worthwhile. The new products are described on the 'Surety bonds and new housing' page and complete the portfolio from the NRWB. I think that we can now say that NRWB is the ‘one stop shop’ for building warranties across the whole range of construction.

ENSURING FLEXIBLE INSURANCE

Finally, I have to introduce another good news story to you in the shape of our new insurer, Evolution. Many of you will have heard that Zurich withdrew from the construction market and this gave us a problem to solve. We looked hard for the right partnership and found Evolution, a high end insurer specialising in niche markets and who were delighted to take over the core MasterBond products. Their office is in Saffron Waldon, only a stone’s throw from our own base in Cambridge. Zurich was right for us at the time but NRWB found them to be a little inflexible which put some of our members off working with us. Evolution on the other hand are smaller, used to dealing with different cases in the insurance market and also very keen to work with the NRWB. I somehow do not think that we will have the same problems again.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

The good news is that very little has changed from what you are used to and so it is a case of business as usual. The pricing remains the same for a further year, same forms, slightly different literature (which should be ready this month) and the same great service from the NRWB team in Cambridge.

(Presumably you cover the cost of the insurance within your quote and give the policy to your clients for free!). Because, as you have just read, this very often makes the difference in your clients choosing you to carry out their work as opposed to your competition!

Have a good New Year and I will see you next time.