Wednesday 15th September 2010 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) today signed a memorandum of understanding with three other construction organisations to co-ordinate their work on the Strategic Forum for Construction. The ‘Construction Alliance’ consists of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), the National Federation of Builders (NFB), Scottish Building Federation (SBF), as well as the FMB giving the Alliance a combined membership of 13,500 companies across the UK.
In 2009-10, UK construction output was valued at £109 billion, accounting for more than eight per cent of GDP. The output of the UK’s civil engineering sector was £20 billion and the output of the building sector was £89 billion. Between them, the UK civil engineering and building contractors directly employ 1.1 million people and overall, the construction industry sustains work for up to three million people either directly employed in construction firms or in the supply chain. CECA, NFB, FMB and the SBF are the principal representative federations for their respective sectors.
Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB said:
“Over the recent months the FMB has been working more closely with its colleagues at the three other organisations that now make up the Construction Alliance, so I am pleased to sign the memorandum of understanding to strengthen this relationship. I am looking forward to the great things the Construction Alliance will help us achieve for our members through the representation on the Strategic Forum for Construction.”
Mark Wakeford, the Construction Alliance’s spokesperson said:
“The Construction Alliance will represent the interests of its members at the Strategic Forum for Construction. The Forum is the only pan-industry round-table for discussing strategic issues which has the authority and structure to inform government and promote construction best practice from procurement, energy efficiency and training, to professional standards, health and safety and government policy. As a co-ordinated group, the Alliance will help shape construction policy as well as identify where action is needed to drive improvements, best practice and innovation across our industry.”