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Press Office

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK building industry, representing thousands of building companies. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized building firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit-making, lobbying continuously for members’ interests at both national and local levels.

The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to save them time and money. The FMB also offers advice to consumers via its find a builder and check a builder websites.

The FMB press office is designed to help journalists access information about the FMB quickly and easily. Here you can find contact details for the press team, information about the FMB and it’s spokespeople as well as a selection of free to use articles.

For news from the FMB as it happens please sign up to our RSS feed or contact the Communication Team to be added to the FMB press distribution list.

FMB press contact

Matt Breteton on 020 7092 3844 / 07769 687 235 or MattBrereton@fmb.org.uk

The FMB has its own ISDN line available for radio interviews. Please contact the Communication Team to arrange an interview.

FMB Campaigns

Building a Greener Britain

The Building a Greener Britain campaign aims to encourage the building sector to move towards a greener, more energy efficient Britain and was launched by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The campaign sets out to encourage all those in the building sector - builders, customers, opinion formers and government - to do all they can to reduce carbon emissions and make the existing building stock greener and more energy efficient.

The FMB has been working with the Oxford University Environmental Change Institute, London School of Economics (LSE), politicians, officials and industry professionals to present a series of practical policy recommendations aimed at government, which will help encourage householders to make their homes greener and more energy efficient.

For more information on Building a Greener Britain please visit at www.buildingagreenerbritain.org.uk.

'Cut the VAT' Coalition

The Cut the VAT Coalition believes that reducing VAT from 17.5 per cent to five per cent for all maintenance and home improvement work would help the Government achieve its target of cutting carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. It would also benefit millions of UK homeowners by getting rid of cowboy builders, help those who cannot afford vital repairs to their homes, bring empty properties back into use, and protect the countryside.

The Cut the VAT Coalition is made up of 19 varied organisations, all of which want to see VAT cut from 17.5 per cent to five per cent for all building repair and maintenance work. These include: The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), The Bathroom Manufacturers Association, The Countryside Alliance, The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Clay Roof Tile Council, The Civic Trust, The Empty Homes Agency, The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), The Federation of Small Businesses, House Beautiful, The Listed and Period Owners Group (LPOG), The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC),The National Landlords Association (NLA), The National Trust, The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), The Theatres Trust, The Thatched Owners Group (TOG), Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and the Tax Payers Alliance (TPA).

For more information on Cut the VAT please visit www.cutthevat.co.uk.

Get Britain Building

Get Britain Building is a coalition of organisations from within the construction sector which are calling for the creation of a new business environment to help the UK construction industry thrive and prosper in these difficult times. Get Britain Building has developed a ten point plan which it believes will help the British construction sector survive the recession.

You can also watch the Get Britain Building campaign film on the website at www.getbritainbuilding.org/video.asp.

‘Get Britain Building’ is supported by the following organisations: Federation of Master Builders; Builders Merchants Federation; British Precast; Modern Masonry Alliance; National Association of Professional Inspectors; Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers; UK Timber Frame Association; Tarmac; Trussed Rafter Association; H+H UK; Marshalls; Ibstock; British Board of Agrément; Cross Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force; Unite Union; Bathroom Manufacturers Association and the National Specialist Contractors Council.

For more information please visit www.getbritainbuilding.org.

Spokespeople

The FMB has spokespeople available across the UK including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as the English Regions. The FMB has its own ISDN line available for radio interviews. Below are profiles for some of our spokespeople:

Brian Berry

FMB Chief Executive - London based

Brian Berry is Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the largest employers’ trade association in the UK construction sector. Prior to his current appointment Brian was Director of External Affairs at the FMB with responsibility for UK and EU policy, public affairs and media relations. Brian was born in Devon and has two degrees from Bangor University and Bristol University. He started his career as a teacher at The Charterhouse Square School in central London before joining the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). During his time at the RICS Brian was seconded to Brussels to set up the RICS European Policy Unit and then became its Head of UK Public Policy. Brian is a regular commentator on construction issues in the trade and national press and is a Freeman of the City of London and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

We also have spokespeople available in the following locations:

Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
South West England
South East England
The Midlands
Eastern England
Yorkshire and Trent
North West England
North East England.

Free to use articles

The FMB provides these articles for publications to use free of charge however we do request that you contact the Communications Team if you intend to use one of these articles. The FMB can also often prepare exclusive articles on specific topics if requested..

Available articles:

Finding a builder (Download, PDF 42 KB)