Membership of the FMB means you have a voice in Government. Our team is speaking up for Master Builders on the issues that matter the most to you. Here’s some of what we have been up to in recent months.
Focusing on a long-term plan to tackle climate change
- During November, we were delighted to take part in the internationally attended COP26 summit in Glasgow where Brian participated in the UK Green Building Council’s Virtual Pavilion discussion, called ‘Build Better Now’, while also featuring prominently in an ITN film, premiered at the summit, showcasing the action construction was already taking to help green the UK.
- Within Parliament, the Public Accounts Committee recently released a heavily critical report condemning the failures of the prematurely pulled Green Homes Grant Scheme. Continuing to make the case for a National Retrofit Strategy, we supported this criticism, arguing the need for long-term certainty to support businesses seeking to get involved in the retrofit market.
- FMB Northern Ireland recently worked in partnership with Velux UK to deliver an online roundtable discussion on proposed changes to improve the energy efficiency of new buildings, with the aim of gaining local builders’ views on the proposed changes and feeding these into the Department of Finance.
- FMB Scotland have also been actively involved with the discussions surrounding COP26, attending local events to examine how the construction industry can help Scotland reduce its carbon emissions.
Creating and promoting high quality skills and training
- Working with a group of employers and the Institute for Apprenticeships, the FMB recently convened a further meeting of the working group developing a General Builder apprenticeship standard. Following our proposal’s acceptance earlier this year, the group are now working to establish the contents of the standard.
- Through Brian's chairing of the CLC's Domestic Repair, Maintenance and Improvement workstream, we have supported CITB in the development of their recent research paper, 'Perspectives and Pathways: Net Zero and Construction'. This paper builds on existing reports, highlighting the challenges in securing the green construction skills necessary if we are to achieve net zero ambitions.
- We’ve been involved in initial discussions surrounding revisions the Institute for Apprenticeships are looking to make to the Level 2 Bricklayer apprenticeship standard. This will continue into the New Year, and if you would like to become part of the working group for this, please do get in touch with [email protected].
- FMB NI has been working with the Department of Economy on a Careers Bulletin to inform potential new entrants to the industry about the opportunities that a career in construction can offer and encourage greater numbers in the sector.
Heightening standards and consumer protection within the building industry
- Our Licence UK Construction Task Force have been pleased to work with Mark Garnier MP in recent months, bringing attention to our campaign through his Private Members Bill, presented in the House of Commons on the 19 November and leading to media coverage and heightened awareness of the issue in parliament. We will take this campaign into 2022 to keep pushing for a licensing scheme for UK builders.
- FMB Scotland has been working to improve and shape building standards in Scotland, both through recent work engaging with Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) and through Gordon’s position on the Building Future Standards Board, which recently published new guidance on how to make a quality building warrant application in Scotland.
What’s happening next year?
- We’ll be continuing our push to licence the UK construction industry. We plan to up our engagement on this issue next year. This will ensure the benefits of a licensing system are well understood in government and by the wider industry.
- Housing and skills are vital to help the country ‘level up’ following the pandemic and we will be focussing on these vital areas for the industry next year. We will be championing the case for SME house builders and ensuring the industry is equipped with the right skills to achieve net zero.
- Retrofitting the UK’s homes is vital to help the UK lower emissions. This is why it will be a key part of our plans for 2022. Retrofitting will bring opportunities for all parts of the UK by providing new jobs and skills. The FMB will keep driving home the need for a National Retrofit Strategy for the UK to ensure there is a framework for how we upgrade the nation’s homes.
If you have questions regarding any of our campaigns, please get in touch with [email protected].
