In June the FMB helped deliver an event aimed at highlighting the help and support available to trades and SME construction companies in Scotland. Called Tech 2 Grow, the event ran at the Built Environment Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) centre in Blantyre. On the day there were a mixture of SME business owners, commercial managers, site managers and quantity surveyors in attendance.
Explaining the trade association mission
One of the highlights was a presentation and discussion on ‘What do trade associations actually do? The FMB (and no other construction trade association) was invited to present and lead the discussion. Joining our Scotland Director Gordon Nelson on the stage was FMB member Colin McInnes from McInnes Construction Services ltd.
Gordon set the scene and talked about the role of trade associations in the Scottish construction industry. Lobbying on behalf of members and providing services and accreditation to support them being fundamentals. Gordon also gave an overview of the profile of FMB’s members in Scotland and the construction projects they deliver. Indeed, FMB members not only deliver renovations, extensions, or high-quality energy efficient homes but one member is building a spaceport.
Why join the FMB? A member’s perspective
Colin then played an excellent role through being interviewed by Gordon. As an FMB member first and foremost, Colin explained why he joined the FMB and what his business gets out of being a member. The interview format brought our talk to life, with questions and discussion with delegates following the Colin and Gordon’s duet!
Colin McInnes said “When Gordon asked me if I would volunteer to being interviewed by him on the day, I was eager to help. Our business gets a lot out of our FMB membership, but as I explained to the audience on the day, it’s only by putting a little back and getting involved as a member, that you will truly make the most out of your membership. Gordon and I had a tough audience though, with fellow Scotland Board member Stuart Livingstone scrutinising our performance!
Authors
Gordon Nelson
Gordon has nearly twenty years’ experience of working in membership organisations in Scotland and joined the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in 2014. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and Unilever. As Director for FMB Scotland his responsibilities are public affairs, media relations, governance and representing member’s interests to Scottish policy makers and stakeholders. Gordon is the Secretary of the Cross-Party Group on Construction in the Scottish Parliament, a member of the Scottish Building Standards Futures Board and represents the FMB on Scotland’s Construction Industry Collective Voice. Gordon is actively involved with Site Safe Scotland, the principal committee for construction health and safety in Scotland.
