Cowboy builders and rogue traders are an annual £1.5 billion problem for homeowners across the country. TrustMark Chairman, Liz Male, explains how TrustMark continues to be the only national scheme to signpost consumers to reliable and quality tradesmen.
TrustMark is the Government-endorsed scheme to help homeowners find trustworthy and reputable tradesmen who can carry out work in and around their homes. It is the only scheme supported by Government, industry and consumer protection groups covering the whole of the UK and provides a free and easy service to householders to select a tradesman with confidence, knowing the firm’s competence and fair trading practices have been independently checked.
In the six years since TrustMark was launched, the scheme has gone from strength to strength, constantly growing and evolving. We have the largest database of accredited tradesmen in the UK, providing national coverage with over 20,000 licenced trades searchable on our database, and over 90 percent of the TrustMark registered firms are SMEs.
Our website figures for 2011 indicate that consumers are increasingly searching online for accredited and reliable tradesmen. TrustMark tradesmen’s’ details have been viewed more than 3 million times since the beginning of the year, and there have been an average of 265,000 viewings of firms’ details per month through www.trustmark.org.uk.
TrustMark licences over 30 scheme operators to Government endorsed standards, (including the FMB) which ensures consistency of standards across a wide range of trades. Scheme operators and their registered firms sign up to a carefully-monitored and audited code of practice that includes insurance, good health and safety practices and customer care. Every tradesman’s workmanship is then inspected onsite by independent, qualified inspectors in order to achieve the right balance between consumer protection, industry practicalities and costs.
THE FUTURE
In order to continue its success, TrustMark needs to move with the times and review the way is operates in the light of new political priorities. For example, our future is closely linked to that of the Green Deal, an initiative we welcome wholeheartedly. But while the Green Deal’s 20 year vision of 26 million energy efficient homes is inspiring and challenging in equal measure, my fear is that the scheme may not survive beyond infancy if there is not parity between its standards and the consumer safeguards that already exist elsewhere in the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector.
TrustMark’s strongly held belief is that a common approach to standards is needed. That’s why we have been extending our help to DECC and potential Green Deal providers in getting the Green Deal initiative off the ground. Drawing on our experience establishing TrustMark, we aim to ensure there is joined-up thinking between the several Government departments with an interest in the Scheme and the RMI sector overall.
TrustMark contributes by sharing its knowledge of what works and what does not in terms of achieving tradesman accreditation via a system of ‘scheme operators’ - a model that has worked very successfully over the past six years.
In conclusion, TrustMark will continue to empower the consumer and root out rogue traders who falsely claim to be professionally qualified or registered. Being TrustMark registered enables tradesmen to win better business and gain a competitive edge in the market as they have a warranty on their work that will give both the customer and themselves extra peace of mind. Homeowners know they are not taking a gamble with a TrustMark firm because they know the firms have reputable tradesmen on their books that are fully qualified and their work is inspected.
For further information about TrustMark visit www.trustmark.org.uk.
UPGRADE TO FMB TRUSTMARK
All FMB members (apart from Affiliate and Associate members) are eligible to join the TrustMark scheme. (BuildAssure members - previously known as NRWB - are automatically part of the Scheme). To apply, visit: www.fmb.org.uk/join/upgrade-to-fmb-trustmark Or call Luke Watling, (FMB Operations) Tel: 020 7092 3863.
