As a not-for-profit trade association, our marketing budget is limited, so we cannot just spend merrily away on advertising. Another means to help boost brand awareness is through speaking at conferences and seminars on key areas and issues affecting members or on policies we like to introduce or change, to improve trading conditions for members. In short, it's about the FMB providing thought leadership to policymakers and stakeholders on behalf of local building firms.
This month I will be speaking about the FMB's campaign to licence UK construction at the Built It Aberdeen digital conference. From previous surveys, we know that more than three-quarters (77%) of FMB members support the introduction of licensing to professionalise the industry, protect consumers and side-line unprofessional and incompetent building firms. The continued prevalence of rogue and incompetent builders remains a serious concern. These firms undercut professional builders and put downward pressure on standards and compliance, seriously undermining the image of the whole industry.
The FMB's Licence to Build Report published in 2018 assessed how licensing works in other countries, like Australia and Germany, and put forward recommendations for and on how licensing could work in the UK. Of course, the impact of the pandemic halted the momentum, but as I will outline at the Built It Conference, we are keen to press on with the campaign this year. On a personal note, it will be interesting to hear views from delegates on the topic of licensing!
To find out more, please get in touch.
Authors
Gordon Nelson
Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland
