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. For instance,

FACT: The FMB’s media output is second to none in the building industry:

• The FMB achieved 1,910 media mentions in 2010
• In 2010, the FMB received more than £2.5 million worth of media coverage as a result of its extensive and diverse media output
• On average each month in 2010 almost 16 million people would have seen, heard or read about the FMB
• 66 percent of all FMB media coverage was rated as positive in 2010.

FACT: The FMB has been mentioned EIGHT times in parliamentary debates in Westminster since the start of the parliamentary year in October 2010:

• BIS Press Release on PAS 91, 18 October 2010 – FMB mentioned as key stakeholder in development of PAS 91
• New EDM 10179 Cut the Carbon Campaign, 23 November 2010 – FMB mentioned as one of the supporting organsiations
• House of Lords Committee Stage of Energy Bill, 17th January 2011 – FMB mentioned by Baroness Smith of Basildon regarding the Green Deal initiative to retrofit our existing buildings
• House of Lords Committee Stage of Energy Bill, 24th January 2011 – FMB mentioned by Lord Jenkin of Roding regarding the Green Deal
• MPs Debate on the performance of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on 2nd February - Jack Dromey MP mentioned the FMB about job losses and Ian Lucas MP, Shadow Construction Minister mentioned the FMB about impact of VAT rise
• Written Answer on 3rd February – Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark MP mentioned the FMB in relation to discussions about the Localism Bill
• Localism Bill, Committee Stage, 3rd February – FMB mentioned in a question to Andrew Stunell MP ( Lib Dem)
• Education Bill, Second Reading in the House of Commons on 8th February, the FMB was mentioned by Catherine McKinnell MP (Lab) as supporting her Private Member’s Bill on apprenticeships and procurement.

FACT: The FMB’s written evidence to the Business Innovation and Skills Committee was mentioned twice, highlighting FMB concerns about restrictions in access to credit to small builders

FACT: The FMB’s State of Trade Survey of members attracts national recognition:

• Richard Diment, FMB Director- General was interviewed for BBC Breakfast, Radio 4’s Survey for the final three months of 2010
• Articles quoting the FMB’s State of Trade Survey have appeared in The Times and Construction News
• Gordon Banks MP, Shadow Business Minister, issued a press release quoting FMB figures from the FMB’s State of Trade Survey on 21 January
• The Bank of England has invited the FMB to discuss the Survey results in April
• Article from Ian Lucas MP, Shadow Construction Minister and Jack Dromey MP, Shadow Planning Minister in Master Builder (March 2011 issue).

FACT: Despite rise in VAT in January the FMB’s ‘Cut the VAT’ campaign still attracts high level support:

• Motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament in support of the FMB’s Cut the VAT campaign and supported by 18 MSPs
• FMB campaign to cut VAT discussed in the Welsh Assembly by Rhodri Thomas AM and the Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies AM – WAG support for the campaign was confi rmed, 2 February 2011
• Deputy Minister for Housing in Wales promised to the Welsh Assembly that he would write to the UK Government echoing FMB’s calls for a cut in VAT on building repair and maintenance work, 2 February 2011
• Coverage in Building magazine, the Times and the Guardian
• Appearance on BBC Wales (TV and radio).