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A builder from Neath has been elected as national president for the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the UK construction industry's largest trade association, representing over 13,000 building firms.
Geoff Snow, who is managing director of Snows Construction Ltd in Neath, will serve as national president for two years. He began his term of office at the 2003 AGM of the FMB, held at Vale Hotel Golf and Country Club in the Vale of Glamorgan from September 12 - 15.
Geoff, whose company has been a member of the FMB since 1977, has previously served as FMB regional president for Wales and has been a national vice president since 1997. He is also an employer representative on the Construction Industry Training Board.
Geoff's building career started in 1959 as an apprentice carpenter and joiner. He now employs around 15 people, and is kept busy with a wide range of work particularly on listed and historic buildings. Geoff's firm recently won the FMB's Welsh Region award in the UK wide Master Builder of the Year Awards, for the restoration and conversion of a 16th Century barn at Haresdale Farm, Bishopston. As national president of the FMB, Geoff will champion small and medium sized building firms, which he believes, are the backbone of the construction industry. At a time when the industry is feeling the effect of a lack of trained craftsman, he has pledged to promote apprentice training amongst member companies, as he says:
"I was fortunate to have an excellent training myself with quality tradesmen on a wide range of contracts, which gave me an excellent grounding for my subsequent career."
He is also concerned that some customers are falling foul of unskilled and unscrupulous "cowboy" builders and will use his presidency to promote the professionalism of FMB member companies to make them the first choice of discerning customers throughout the country.
When he is not working, Geoff enjoys rugby and bowling, and is an ardent supporter of Neath RFC. He is married to Carole, and has two grown up sons.
First posted: 20 September 2002. Last modified: 20 September 2002.
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