Master Builder - 2011

BETWEEN ROCK AND A HARD HAT

As we all know, having one job is demanding enough, but FMB member, Ewan Macfarlane of Gormac Construction manages two. As well as being a successful builder, Ewan is also a member of the famous Apollo 440 band.

With his hard hat on, Ewan spends half the year as Project Manager for Gormac Construction, a building company in East Kilbride specialising in bespoke builds, extensions, sunrooms, conversions, renovations and alterations. For the other six months, he sings with Apollo 440... More

FMB MEMBER TRIUMPHS ON 'DRAGONS DEN'

Many members (especially Yorkshire & Trent ones) will have come across Chris Hopkins. He’s the MD of Huddersfield-based Ploughcroft and is always instantly recognisable in his trademark, red shirt.

In the first episode of series nine of the BBC Two programme Dragon’s Den, who should be first up in front of the Dragons but Chris himself.

And now, he is still celebrating after securing £120,000 of investment from two of the Dragons for a 25 percent stake in his solar company...

Backing the best builders in the world

You can’t have failed to have heard about this year’s WorldSkills competition. It’s the largest ever international skills competition and it’s taking place in London this month.

From 5 to 8 October 2011, the cream of the UK’s young construction talent will pour into the ExCeL Centre in London’s Docklands to compete in a series of gruelling trade challenges against the best in the world.

PRIME MINISTER TAKES UP THE CUT THE VAT CAMPAIGN

You may remember reading in the June 2011 issue of Master Builder about the FMB’s brand new Campaigns Participation Pack. We asked you to get involved in the FMB’s campaigns to help them make an even bigger impact. Well, one FMB member has proved that it really is worth the extra effort. Phillip Hall, Managing Director of Oxfordshire based firm Hall Construction Ltd, is a constituent of the Prime Minister, David Cameron. Like all FMB members, Hall Construction Ltd has been feeling the effects of the downturn in the economy, and like thousands of others, those effects have been made worse by the recent increase in VAT to 20 percent.

Motivated by the FMB’s ‘Cut the VAT’ campaign, Phillip requested a meeting with David Cameron during one of his regular constituency surgeries... More

FMB PATHWAY TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Eleven construction students from City College Plymouth are spending their summer gaining valuable pre-apprenticeship experience with local employers thanks to FMB funding.

Last year, the FMB helped to launch an initiative to support young people who are committed to a career in construction. The Pathway to Construction initiative provides funding of £65 a week to employers who can offer a work experience placement for up to 16 weeks to someone approaching the end of their first year on a full time construction-based college course... More

WALES FMB MEMBERS SUPPORT APPRENTICES

Following on from the success of Patrick Williams from Cardiff who won the 2010 MBOY Apprentice of the Year award, the winner of the Bridgend College Construction Apprentice Award, sponsored by the FMB has found employment to further his training with Atlantic Dwellings of Penarth. Paul Tedder, Managing Director of Atlantic and Vice-Chair of the Cardiff Branch of the FMB was delighted to be able to offer a place to bricklaying apprentice, Dylan Lewis.

Under the expert guidance of Giles Hulm at a prestigious domestic development in Cardiff, Dylan excelled.. More

FROM APPRENTICE TO WORLD CHAMPION

CCATF Chairman, Geoff Lister, has travelled all over the UK since January to talk to different groups of employers about apprenticeships. We are now nearly half way through 2011 and he is still hearing plenty of reports that businesses do not have enough confidence in the economy to take on an apprentice.

So this month he shares the story of a former apprentice and looks at how someone can go from apprentice to world champion - given the right opportunity.

CCATF Chairman, Geoff Lister, FCIOB says that giving awards to those who achieve excellence is an important tradition in the construction sector.

Recognising outstanding individuals at every stage of the career ladder is especially important Industry awards are getting better and better at celebrating apprenticeship achievements. Meanwhile, the CCATF has been doing what it can to encourage awards organisers to also recognise the apprentice employers who invest so much in the future of the industry... More

How the FMB raises YOUR profile and influence

Sometimes it’s easy to forget during these difficult economic times some of the more positive results that the FMB is achieving to help raise the profile and the issues that concern our members... More

FJ Charleton Building Contracts Ltd from Ballymartin, County Down beat the cream of Britain’s builders to be crowned the UK’s Master Builder of the Year at this year’s 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards which took place today.
 
FJ Charleton Building Contracts Ltd win the brand new Nissan Light Commercial vehicle of their choice, worth up to £20,000, provided by the principal partner of the Award, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. And David and Freda Scott can pack their bags for a fantastic £3,000 holiday thanks to UK Barceló Hotels!... More

WHO WILL BE THE NEW MASTER BUILDER OF THE YEAR?

Every year for the last decade, the FMB has searched the length and breadth of the UK to find the ‘Master Builder of the Year’.

This search is very different to anything else though. Builders can’t enter themselves for the awards, that would be too easy and not much of a competition really! To be in with a chance of winning this prestigious, annual title, each builder has to be nominated for the award by a delighted client... More

The Membership Services department promotes you as a dependable, quality builder and specialist tradesperson. It also provides services and support to help you run a better business.

It’s up to you though to make use of as much business support as you need and take advantage of all the helplines, discounts and offers provided as part of your FMB membership... More