The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) agrees with the stark findings of the House of Lords Climate Change and Energy Committee on the failings of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which they have highlighted in a letter to Lord Callanan, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “I’m in complete agreement with the committee that more needs to be done to make our homes more energy efficient, especially by raising public awareness. This ultimately needs to come from the Government, with support from industry. If there is a clear pathway for consumers to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes, then they will create the market for it. As it stands, the industry is ready to make the leap to retrofit the nation’s homes, but reticence from the Government has kept small, local builders from training up their staff in green skills as they can’t see a clear pipeline of work ahead.”
Berry continued: “Ultimately, the Government should develop a UK-wide strategy for retrofitting homes, especially with the creation of the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This is an opportunity for Government to take the reins and lead, particularly on the issue of green skills and financing solutions. These are two major barriers rightly identified as holding back the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, but that are more broadly hindering all retrofit efforts. So, the Government needs to deliver long term certainty for retrofitting and a comprehensive skills plan, otherwise short-term schemes such as this will continue to fail.”
Notes to editors
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers.
