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2011 Press releases

Press releases related to local News stories can be found in the relevant FMB regional section under News.

 

  • SME House Builders and First Time Buyers are the Key to Economic Growth says FMB
    The Government could have gone further to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and first time buyers to get the economy back on the road to sustained economic growth, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to today's Autumn Statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
  • Create 100,000 New Jobs by Cutting VAT, says FMB
    Reducing VAT to 5% for all domestic Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RM&I) works would create more than 100,000 extra jobs in the UK by 2020, according to a latest report from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the largest trade association in the UK construction industry.
  • Westminster Government Must Listen Again to the Welsh Assembly on VAT
    A reduction in VAT on home repair, maintenance and improvement work to 5% would cut the number of empty properties in Wales and ease the pressure on housing supply, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) as politicians prepare to debate a Liberal Democrat motion* on housing in the Welsh Assembly. The motion supports the calls for this targeted cut in VAT, and the FMB is urging the UK Government to listen again to the arguments made by politicians in Wales.
  • Local Builders Face Being Squeezed Out of the Green Deal, says FMB
    Local builders could still face being squeezed out of the Green Deal market unless the Government ensures that small local building companies have an equal opportunity to offer Green Deal finance to their customers, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to today's launch of the Government's Green Deal consultation paper.
  • Housing Strategy Is Not Radical Enough, says Federation of Master Builders
    The Government's new housing strategy is far from radical and only makes a small step in tackling the worst housing crisis we have seen for many years, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the Government's Housing White Paper. In particular, it does little to help small and medium sized (SME) house builders who have the potential to deliver the homes that are required if the right policies and incentives were put in place.
  • Housing Demand Will Exceed the Size of Birmingham by 2015, warns FMB
    Demand for new housing will outstrip supply by over half a million units by 2015 which is equivalent to the size of the UK's second largest city Birmingham. This is startling conclusion from a new report, 'Tackling the Housing Crisis', from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The report also reveals that the number of small house builders is at the lowest since 1982 because of escalating costs and regulatory burdens.
  • FMB Contradicts Bank Lending Data
    Claims by the banking industry that they are striving to meet their obligations under the terms of Project Merlin, even if they haven't done so for two out of three quarters of this year, have been attacked as false and misleading by small business representatives following the latest research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • Construction Industry Must Work on its Image to Help Recruit New Talent
    Too many people fail to understand that the construction industry needs highly skilled people from a variety of backgrounds. As CITB-ConstructionSkills continues its review of construction education, skills and training, the FMB has taken the opportunity to call on all industry bodies to work together to improve the image of the industry as a rewarding career choice and increase the number of high-achieving construction apprentices.
  • FMB Joins The Construction Network
    The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the latest member to join The Construction Network. The Construction Network (tCn) is a construction networking site and forum, set up to encourage the sharing of information, opportunity and best practice within the UK Built Environment.
  • FMB Backs Government Planning Reforms
    The Government needs to stick to its guns and carry out its intended reforms to the planning system, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its response to the Government's consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
  • HAVE YOUR SAY ON GREEN DEAL INSTALLER SKILLS
    CONSTRUCTION firms are being urged to give their views in a consultation on the Green Deal to ensure they can get to grips with and shape the qualifications and standards that will be required of installers.
  • Cameron needs to cut the burden on house builders if he is to get his housing revolution says FMB
    Reacting to David Cameron's Key Note Speech commitment to lead a New Tory Housing Revolution, the FMB has called on the coalition to reduce the burden on house builders.
  • Building Industry in Nose Dive, warns FMB
    The building industry is heading towards a nose dive with workloads now falling for the 15th consecutive quarter. This is the warning from the latest survey of small building companies from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • FMB Welcomes Labour's VAT Cut Pledge
    The Labour Party's announcement to support a VAT cut to 5% on domestic Repair Maintenance and Improvement (RM&I) works is welcome news to the building industry, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • New Focus on Construction Industry will help Wales Build a Stronger Economy, says FMB Wales
    The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Wales is delighted with the Welsh Government's decision to make construction a priority sector. The decision comes following repeated calls by FMB Wales for ministers to recognise that supporting the construction industry is crucial to the future of the Welsh economy.
  • FMB Scotland Launches Policy Manifesto
    The Federation of Master Builders in Scotland has launched its 'Building for Success' policy manifesto to help kickstart the Scottish construction industry.
  • Planning Reforms are Balanced and Fair says FMB
    The Government's proposals to reform the planning system are balanced and fair, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its response to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry into the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
  • Cut VAT to stimulate Green Deal Demand
    The rate of VAT for energy efficient improvements needs to be cut if the Government's 'Green Deal' retrofit programme to upgrade the country's building stock to make it more energy efficient is to be successful. This is the warning from 27 different organisations in the construction, property and business industries as well as environmental groups who are worried that unless VAT is reduced consumers will be reluctant to take up the Green Deal when it is launched next year.
  • Plymouth MPs Praise New Way of Recruiting Construction Apprentices
    A pilot scheme to help increase the number of construction apprenticeships has won the support of two Plymouth MPs. Thanks to funding from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), and support from the Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF), first year students from City College Plymouth have been spending their summer on work experience placements with local construction businesses. As well as the chance to gain valuable on-site experience, the placements provided students and emp
  • New Cover Removes Weather Worries for Construction Companies
    Projects which are completed late and over budget could soon be a thing of the past with a new weather protection cover, FMB Weather Protect, offered exclusively by the National Register of Warranted Builders (NRWB), a subsidiary of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) which is the largest trade association in the construction industry.
  • Work for Small Builders in Rapid Decline
    The sharp decline in work for small builders working in the repair and maintenance sector in the second quarter of 2011 highlights the perilous situation facing construction small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). This is the response from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) to the latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on construction activity in the three months to June.
  • GDP Figures Reflect Slump in Building Industry, says FMB
    Today's announcement by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by just 0.2% in the second quarter of 2011 is symptomatic of the on-going slump in the British building industry, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • Master Builder of the Year Collects New Nissan Prize
    This year's Master Builder of the Year, David Charleton of FJ Charleton Building Contracts Ltd from Ballymartin, County Down today collected his prize a brand new Nissan Navara. Over the last decade the Master Builder of the Year awards, run by the largest trade association in the UK building industry, Federation of Master Builders (FMB), have celebrated the best builders in the UK. FJ Charleton Building Contracts Ltd were announced as Master Builder of the Year by Phil Spencer of Channel 4 'Location, Lo
  • Simpler Planning Guidance is Needed, says FMB
    Government draft proposals to streamline the planning system are essential if we are to avert a housing crisis and build the homes that this country needs says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • Rising Construction Unemployment is Undermining Economic Recovery warns FMB
    Construction unemployment is still rising and undermining the UK's economic recovery. This is the stark conclusion from the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) which reveals that 29% of construction SMEs expect to cut more jobs over the next six months.
  • FMB Leads the Way with 'Pre-apprenticeship' Scheme in Plymouth
    The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is helping to deliver a scheme designed to increase the number of apprenticeships in the construction industry. Thanks to funding from the FMB, eleven construction students from City College Plymouth are spending the summer months gaining valuable pre-apprenticeship experience with local employers.
  • Mandatory Energy Efficiency Upgrades Need to be Coupled with Incentives, says FMB
    Government plans to launch a consultation on mandatory energy efficiency upgrades are welcome provided they are coupled with a targeted VAT reduction on the price of installation. This is the reaction from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) to the publication of the Government's response to the Innovation and Growth Team's Low Carbon Construction report today.
  • There Is Another Road to Recovery, says Federation of Master Builders
    The Government needs to think more carefully about the powers it has to stimulate job creation in the construction industry, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to last week's official employment figures which revealed that the construction industry lost 24,000 jobs in the first three months of 2011.
  • Government Must End Banks' Anti-Construction Prejudice says FMB
    A third of small construction businesses have seen access to credit restricted as a result of banks prejudice against construction businesses says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) as Gordon Banks MP asks the Government to act.
  • Government Land Release Won't Solve Problems at the Heart of the Housing Crisis, says FMB
    The Government's decision to sell off billions of pounds worth of public sector owned land to house builders is a good decision, but this action alone will not be enough to end the country's housing crisis. In response to today's announcement that the Government's surplus land will be sold, the FMB is urging the Government to go even further in its bid to get Britain building more homes. The Government now needs to concentrate on the issue of mortgage finance and getting the planning system fit for purpose.
  • Consumer Trust is Key to Green Deal Success, says FMB
    The Government is taking the right approach by asking Green Deal assessors and installers to work to defined standards. Responding to the publication of new Green Deal details, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said that a guarantee that Green Deal work would be done to a high standard is the only way to ensure the safety of consumers, and deliver the necessary energy savings.
  • Green Investment Bank Must Help Deliver Green Deal says FMB
    The Government can still have a home energy efficiency revolution but only by using the Green Investment Bank to help deliver the Green Deal, said the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to new announcements about the world's first bank focused on greening the economy.
  • New poll piles pressure on MPs to improve Energy Bill
    Almost two thirds (59%) of the public think the Government is not doing enough to improve energy efficiency in British homes, according to latest YouGov poll results.
  • Homeowners Unlikely to Take Advantage of Green Deal, warns FMB
    The Green Deal may not be the green revolution the Government hopes it will be according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) which recently surveyed its members and found that almost 44% thought homeowners were unlikely to take advantage of the Green Deal when it launches in autumn 2012.
  • Construction Is Dragging Down UK Economic Recovery, says FMB
    Today's announcement of GDP growth masks the perilous state of the building industry as construction activity fell by 4.7 per cent which is dragging down the UK's economic recovery, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • AMs Support FMB Wales' Manifesto for Construction
    The Minister for Business and Budget has joined forces with other AMs in support of the FMB Wales manifesto, 'Building for Success', which was launched in the Welsh Assembly yesterday. 'Building for Success' calls on politicians to support FMB Wales's 20 point plan to get the building industry back on its feet. The event was hosted by Joyce Watson AM and other speakers included the Business and Budget Minister Jane Hutt and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM.
  • Energy Bill Needs to be More Ambitious, says FMB and WWF
    The Energy Bill needs to be more ambitious if it is to succeed in getting householders to make their homes more energy efficient, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and WWF in a joint statement issued today.
  • Budget Fails to Ignite Green Building Revolution, says FMB
    For a Government committed to being 'the greenest ever' today's Budget failed to ignite the forthcoming Green Deal programme to retrofit our nation's homes. No additional incentives such as a cut in VAT for energy efficient repairs, stamp duty or council tax were announced to make Britain's homes greener and more energy efficient.
  • VAT No Brainer Essential for Green Growth says FMB
    Tomorrow's Budget must include a targeted cut in VAT for all domestic repair, maintenance and improvement (RM&I) works if the Government is to make the most of the scarce public resources available for generating growth and reducing carbon emissions according the UK's largest construction association, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • Recovery at Risk as 90% of Builders Fear Rising Inflation warns FMB
    The Government's hopes for an SME[1] led recovery have been dealt a serious blow by the latest results from the building industry, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the largest trade association in the UK construction industry. The latest results from the FMB's quarterly State of Trade Survey, the only survey of small and medium sized building companies, show that 90% of members responding in Q1 2011 expect materials costs to rise over the next six months marking a two and a half yea
  • FMB Supports MPs' Demands for Action on Planning Vacuum
    The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has joined the House of Commons Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee in calling on the Government to end the current planning vacuum created by the pending abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS).
  • BATJIC Agrees 1% Pay Increase
    The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) has concluded the 2011/12 round of pay negotiations and agreed that there will be a 1% increase to the main rates of pay for Adult General Operatives, Intermediate Crafts (NVQ2) and Advanced Crafts (NVQ3) effective from Monday 12th September 2011. The agreement also includes recognition of the additional bank holiday for the royal wedding. All other rates and benefits remain unchanged.
  • Let's Get Building Again, says FMB Scotland
    Construction SMEs can help rebuild Scotland by creating more jobs, supporting economic growth as well as creating a greener more sustainable economy but only if the Scottish Government acts on three major challenges facing the construction sector, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland.
  • Brighton builder is best in Britain
    R&R Building Services from Brighton beat the cream of the country's builders to become the UK's most Energy Efficient Builder at this year's 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards which took place today.
  • Cardiff apprentice is the best in Britain!
    Patrick Williams from Dinas Powys, Cardiff beat the cream of the country's building apprentices to become the UK's Apprentice of the year at this year's 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards which took place today.
  • Crieff builder is best in Britain
    Corryard Developments Ltd from Crieff beat the cream of the country's builders to become the UK's Best Large Renovations Builder at this year's 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards which took place today.
  • Dunkeld builder is best in Britain
    Dunkeld Builders Ltd from Dunkeld, Perthshire beat the cream of the country's builders to become the UK's Best Medium Renovations Builder at this year's 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards which took place today.
  • Okehampton builder is best in Britain
    Character Builders South West Ltd from Okehampton, Devon beat the cream of the country's builders to become the UK's Best Small Renovation Project Builder at this year's 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards which took place today.
  • Stratton Audley builder is best in Britain
    Sporn Construction Ltd from Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire beat the cream of the country's builders to become the UK's Best Commercial Builder at this year's 10th Master Builder of the Year Awards which took place today.
  • Keeping ConstructionSkills Will be Key to Delivering the Low Carbon Economy, says FMB
    The Government's decision to keep the construction industry training body, CITB-ConstructionSkills, in the public sector is welcome but it must continue its focus on delivering the skilled workforce our industry needs to ensure construction can deliver the low carbon economy, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • Let's Get Building Again, says FMB Wales
    Construction SMEs can help rebuild Wales by creating more jobs, supporting economic growth as well as creating a greener more sustainable economy but only if the Welsh Assembly Government acts on three major challenges facing the construction sector, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Wales.
  • SME Construction Companies Hold the Key for Green Deal Success, says FMB
    The creation of a skilled workforce to deliver the Government's Green Deal retrofit programme will depend on more than just 1,000 apprentices, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • Let's Get Building Again, says FMB Northern Ireland
    Construction SMEs can help rebuild Northern Ireland by creating more jobs, supporting economic growth as well as creating a greener more sustainable economy if the Northern Ireland Assembly acts on three major challenges facing the construction sector, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Northern Ireland.
  • Halifax Builder gets Backing from Local MP for VAT Cut
    Halifax contractor DLE Construction wants local businesses to support the Federation of Master Builders' (FMB) call on the Government to cut VAT on home repair, maintenance and improvement work. David Ellis from DLE Construction met with local MP Linda Riordan to ask for her support for the cut, which would create more jobs and help eliminate cowboy builders.
  • FMB Demands Budget Package for Green Homes
    A package of incentives to include a reduced rate of VAT on home energy efficiency improvements and reduced Stamp Duty needs to be at the heart of the forthcoming Budget on the 23rd March if the Government is serious about its pledge to be the 'greenest ever' and transform our existing homes to make them greener and more energy efficient, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
  • Catherine McKinnell MP Is Construction Apprentice For The Day
    In the run up to National Apprenticeship Week (7 - 11 February 2011), CITB-ConstructionSkills and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) invited Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, to visit a live construction project in Newcastle to experience life as an apprentice for the day.
  • Inspections Mean Better Protection for Home Owners, says FMB
    Homeowners wanting building work done to their homes can have increased confidence when choosing a Federation of Master Builders (FMB) member from today as all new members will be required to have their work inspected.
  • EPCs Should Play a Bigger Role in Home Energy Efficiency Advice says FMB
    The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed news that the data from Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will be used to offer advice and information to home owners and tenants about how to improve their property and reduce their fuel bills. The FMB has said for a long time that the Energy Performance Certificate should play a bigger role in improving the energy efficiency of the UK's housing stock.
  • Construction Workloads Enter Fourth Year of Decline, warns FMB
    The SME (Small to Medium-sized Enterprise) construction sector is to set to begin a fourth year of falling workloads and a third of companies are expecting to cut their staffing levels this year, according to the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the largest trade association in the UK construction industry.
  • Localism Bill Must End Housing Crisis, warns FMB
    The Localism Bill must legislate for the presumption in favour of sustainable development or the Government will struggle to honour its pledge to deliver the new homes the country needs, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) ahead of the Bill's Second Reading by MPs.
  • County Down builder is Master Builder of the Year!
    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.

 

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