It feels like a while since I last messaged you all so I thought that the start of 2023 would be a good time as ever to say hello.
For our newer members who may not have had a message from me before, first of all welcome to the FMB! You are now part or a wonderful community and I look forward to meeting you all in 2023. My name is Gary Olsen and I am the London President, and I along with 13 other members represent all FMB Builders in London. We work with FMB staff, government, educators and many other industry stakeholders to try and better the working environment for SME Builders.
Looking ahead
Although the economic outlook makes for pretty grim reading at times, something I have learnt from my experience as a builder is that the capital will always have a healthy demand for construction workers. Whilst enquiries have sadly dipped across the UK, they still remain buoyant in London.
Opportunity is on the horizon
The government have set very strict targets to reduce carbon emissions and 20% of all carbon is produced through our homes. This means that most of the current 3.6 million homes in London will need remedial works to develop them to meet the imminent legislations. My advice would be to educate yourselves and your staff as much as you can about retrofit and low carbon construction in order to ensure your business is ready to go when these changes are implemented as retrofit represents an enormous challenge that will need skilled and committed builders to deliver the program and this is undoubtedly a huge opportunity.
The Green Register is a great place to start.
Stronger together
We have seen in recent months many associations and unions come to the aide of its members, being the voice for so many people fighting for a say in how their particular sector is run. I am part of the FMB because I know we have a much stronger voice when we speak together. I encourage all members to join our many groups and committees in order that your expertise can be utilised to improve and support the industry. I would also like to take this opportunity to ask you to spread the word of the FMB to your customers and also fellow building companies because the more of us there are, the louder our voice will be.
I wish you all a prosperous and healthy 2023. The London Board and I are always available if you ever want to get in touch. Please email the London Director Sam Eden for further information [email protected].
Best wishes and happy new year.
Gary Olsen
Find out more
If you would like to get in touch with Gary or the wider London Board then please contact Sam Eden, FMB London Director.
