New Chair of the Welsh Construction Federation Alliance

Richard Jenkins, Chair of the WCFA

New Chair of the Welsh Construction Federation Alliance warns of prosperity gap between Wales and rest of the UK if smaller construction companies are ignored.

Richard Jenkins, Director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru, has been elected as Chair of the Welsh Construction Federation Alliance. 

The Welsh Construction Federation Alliance is a partnership between The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA Wales), the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Together they form a united voice for the construction industry in Wales.

Richard begins his two-year term with a warning that the Welsh economy will struggle over the coming years if construction companies in Wales, and smaller companies in particular, are ignored:

“We are grateful to Rhodri-Gwynn Jones of the CECA Wales for his hard work as Chair of the WCFA over the past two years.  As the newly elected Chair of the WCFA, I look forward to working with all partners to support the construction companies and the economy as a whole.

“The construction industry is in a very changeable environment right now.  On the one hand we see record house prices in London and the South East of England, distorting the economy and on the other we see large construction firms pulling out of large areas of Wales, due to a lack of demand and rising costs.

“I take over as Chair at a vital time for the construction industry.  Within the next two years there will be European Elections, a UK General Election and a Welsh Assembly Election. We need to influence each of these to ensure the best conditions for the Welsh Construction Industry, an industry which is of vital importance to any economic recovery in Wales.

“The WCFA wants to ensure that that the construction industry is able to thrive throughout Wales.  Ninety-eight per cent of construction companies in Wales employ less than ten people and are located throughout the country.  We want the right conditions for them to grow, and we’re happy to work with government and partners to ensure this.  If this doesn’t happen, the Welsh economy will continue to limp along again while other parts of the UK will experience considerable growth.”