Given the FMB’s profile in the construction industry, the invitation to speak at the Build it Construction and Property Conference in Aberdeen last month came as no surprise. I was pleased to meet Ross and Clare Booth from FMB member Coldwells Building Company who were amongst the delegates in the audience.
Now my plan was to make the most out of my trip to Aberdeen by meeting members across north east Scotland after the conference. My thanks to Gavin Farquhar of Rae Brown & Co, Wiliam Bruce of Brudon Joinery and Steven Watt of Steen Building Services who were all willing to meet me within or near Aberdeen city.
Rain stopped play
Unfortunately, heavy rainfall and floods, scuppered our plans. As I moved very slowly south down the A90, I was able to meet Alan Macaulay of James Alan Construction Ltd in Forfar for a welcome coffee and a chat about the Master Builder Awards in his warm and dry office!
In Dundee I was able to interrupt Scott Mollison’s afternoon for a brief catch up but by then the light was fading, so Harry Tierney of J & T Empire sensibly suggested we meet another time.
What is this talk of revolution then? To hook the audience’s attention at the conference in Aberdeen, I provocatively entitled my presentation ‘Who will lead the retrofit revolution?’ Now I wasn’t calling for a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system (one definition of revolution) but it’s clear that something drastic has to change if mass retrofit is to be achieved.
Why is this relevant for FMB members?
Today there are around 2.5 million occupied dwellings in Scotland and we expect the vast majority of them (80%+) still to be occupied in 2045. According to Scottish Government figures, Scotland’s homes account for 13% of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions and for around 30% of Scotland’s total energy consumption.
Most FMB members deliver RMI services (repairs, maintenance and improvement) to people’s homes (rather than build new buildings or homes). So your future skills and willingness to integrate retrofit into your RMI offering will be vital, if Scotland is to achieve its climate change target of net zero by 2045.
I argued that this retrofit challenge does represent a significant market for our members by installing insulation, double glazing and low carbon heating technologies. Our members are independently inspected and vetted: they are professional local building firms. It is a no-brainer to create the conditions so that our members can serve the retrofit marketplace (rather than less scrupulous traders).
The reality though is that despite soaring energy prices, the widespread demand from homeowners isn’t here (yet!) to have energy retrofit upgrades delivered as part of a home refurbishment or renovation project.
I argued that FMB members need confidence in the retrofit marketplace, if they have this, they will point their businesses in this direction. This will benefit homeowners, local economies and ultimately Scotland’s battle to meet its net zero 2045 target.
Authors
Gordon Nelson
Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland
