February Releases
MPs support Federation of Master Builders' call for a dedicated Construction Minister
FMB's Master Builder claims his winning Nissan Cabstar
Congestion charges putting London's Building at risk, warns FMB
Government's new 'Scambuster' teams need extra support, says FMB
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A cross party group of MPs has joined the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in calling for the appointment of a dedicated Construction Minister. This follows the appointment of the seventh minister with responsibility for construction since 1997, and the decision by the Government to downgrade the ministerial rank of the construction minister from Minister of State, to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
Richard Younger-Ross MP (Liberal Democrat) tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) recognizing the importance of the construction industry to the UK economy and supporting FMB's call for a dedicated Construction Minister to act as a champion for the construction industry, both within and outside government.
Brian Berry, FMB Director of External Affairs, said:
"The Government says that it wants new homes, better infrastructure, new schools and new hospitals, as well as delivery of prestige projects such as the Olympics, and then they downgrade the ministerial rank of the construction minister from Minister of State, to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. This is indicative of the Government's inability to comprehend the centrality of the industry to the successful delivery of its public service programme. As a result, responsibility for the construction industry is spread across Whitehall with little or no effective co-ordination. The inevitable result is ineffective policies backed by often counterproductive policy drivers that more often hinder than help the industry in its attempts to deliver government priorities. It is time construction took its rightful place at the core of government policy."
Berry continued:
"The FMB wants a dedicated Construction Minister to act as a champion for the construction industry both within and outside government. The Minister should focus on developing strategies, attracting resources, and help to improve the image of the construction industry. We are therefore delighted that this EDM has been tabled and that a cross party group of MPs have signed up in support. We now look forward to Gordon Brown appointing his first Construction Minister."
21 February 2008
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 The FMB's Master Builder of the Year 2007, Mark Gaul, managing director of Bybridge Construction in Oxfordshire, has claimed his prize.
Mark received the keys of his brand new Nissan Cabstar at SIMS Nissan in Kidlington, in a special presentation by Les Idiens, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd's dealer development manager, commercial vehicles, and SIM's general manager, David Barlow. At the presentation were Ron Storer, FMB national vice president and Terry Traylor, site manager for Bybridge Construction.
Mark Gaul beat the cream of Britain's builders to be crowned the Best Builder in Britain for an unusual steel and glass renovation of a hillside Wesleyan Chapel. His prize was the Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) of his choice, worth up to £20,000.
Mark is not only delighted with his new vehicle, but also with the massive increase in his company's turnover, which has more than doubled since winning the award last November.
There is also a prize for the winning client. Bybridge Construction's nominating customer, Victoria Hunt won a luxury £3,000 holiday.
The Master Builder of the Year Awards are organised by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the UK's largest building trade association. Nominations are now being sought for Master Builder of the Year 2008. The annual awards celebrate outstanding building work and customer service. To be considered the builder must be nominated by a highly satisfied client. In addition to the fabulous Nissan LCV for the winning builder and the £3,000 holiday for the winner's client, there are prizes for all the category winning builders and their clients.
20 February 2008
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Encouraging drivers to shift from private vehicles to public transport in London fails to recognize the need of consumers and builders alike who need to enter London's congestion zone to carry out essential repairs to maintain the fabric of London's built environment, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Speaking in response to Ken Livingstone's announcement that the congestion charge for larger cars and small vans in central London will increase to £25 [note 1], Iain McIlwee, FMB London Director said:
"The need to tackle to climate change and cut carbon emissions is right in principle but not when it penalizes small building firms who have to rely on their vans to carry out their business. The new CO2 charges ignore the fact that builders need access to get into central London to carry out essential repairs and maintenance work which in itself often helps to improve the energy efficiency of London's building stock."
McIlwee continued:
"What is really concerning is that small businesses, the backbone of the British economy, are having to pay for wider political objectives. That is not right because London's problems need London wide solutions and should not be at the expense of any one particular group such as small businesses who are merely trying to earn an honest crust."
15 February 2008 |
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has come out in support of the Government's new 'scambuster' initiative and called upon them to do more to wage war on the rogue builders, who cost householders billions each year.
Richard Diment, FMB Director General said: "Last year over £1.36 billion was stolen by cowboy builders from unsuspecting householders across Britain. Cowboy builders flourish by evading VAT and offering the customer a cheap deal as a result. But all too often, these rogues disappear with deposits, perform shoddy work and cannot be found when there are complaints. Without a proper written contract, the enforcement of consumers' rights becomes almost impossible. The FMB's Beware of Door Knockers campaign advises householders on how to spot and get rid or a rogue trader if they do knock on your door."
The FMB is also campaigning for a reduction in the rate of VAT on domestic building work, which, it believes, will aid the Scambuster initiative.
Richard Diment explained: "Reducing the rate of VAT on domestic building work to five per cent will significantly reduce the commercial advantage of the VAT evading trader. The financial incentive to choose a rogue will diminish and a level playing field will emerge instead. In time, this will drive the rogue traders out of the market as customers focus on quality and value not just price."
Diment concluded: "The proper enforcement of the existing VAT law is not a viable option, as it would mean a VAT Inspector in every home. Cutting the rate of VAT is the only way to ensure the eviction of rogue builders. We have seen recently on the Isle of Man that a reduced rate of VAT in this area can lead to a reduction in the number of cowboy builders."
4 February 2008
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