Tonight’s reshuffle is good news for the construction industry’s campaign to persuade the Government to adopt a National Retrofit Strategy, argues the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “I welcome Kwasi Kwarteng to the role of Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. As we ‘build, build, build’ our way to recovery, construction will play a vital role in delivering growth, jobs, and our net zero targets. The FMB’s army of small builders stand ready to work with the Secretary of State to deliver quality construction and level up across the UK.”

Berry concluded: “I am hopeful that the appointment of Alok Sharma to the post of President of the COP26 climate conference full-time reflects the Government’s ambitions to lead the world in cutting carbon emissions by adopting bold policies in the run-up to the November summit. The Government should back the Construction Leadership Council’s National Retrofit Strategy, to support businesses, consumers and the market to tackle our climate emergency.”

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.