FMB Cymru's Ifan Glyn Discussing HSE Inspections on BBC Wales Today

FMB Cymru's Ifan Glyn discussing the reduction in HSE visits to construction sites and why it's important to use FMB members.  Aired on Saturday the 22nd of February, 2014.

FMB Cymru Meet Edwina Hart AM to Discuss Rogue Traders

A group of Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru members have met with Edwina Hart AM, the Minister for the Economy, on 11^th July to discuss current topics affecting the sector.

In addition to addressing specific issues FMB Cymru want to build a direct dialogue with Welsh Government, especially through discussions with the Minister and the Sector Panel on Construction.

Richard Jenkins, Director of FMB Cymru said:

“FMB Cymru’s members will be able to advise the Minister on the realities currently facing small construction firms, and importantly what changes they need in order to grow. To be accepted as a FMB Cymru member building firms are independently assessed to ensure only businesses meeting our standard can carry the badge – this means that the work of our members is the highest quality in the sector. Rogue or cowboy builders unedrmine the sector’s reputation and undermine and undercut genuine construction companies.

“FMB Cymru plans to put a stop to rogue builders by seeking improved regulation of the domestic building industry. We were pleased that the Cross Part Group on Construction has supported our campaign to drive out the rogue builder at their meeting. We hope that this meeting will place this important FMB Cymru campaign at the heart of the Minister’s agenda for the construction industry in Wales.

“We hope that this meeting will open a continued dialogue between FMB Cymru, small construction firms in Wales and the Minister. FMB Cymru would welcome backing by the Minister for our campaign to ensure high standards for domestic construction in Wales - which would not only benefit the honest small builders who often struggle to compete against rogue builders, but the consumer as well.”

Following the meeting Economy Minister Edwina Hart said:

“The construction sector in Wales is dominated by SMEs and the meeting with the FMB, which represents the interest of SMEs, was very informative. Construction is one of our key economic sectors and I want businesses of all sizes to be in a position to benefit from the number of large scale projects that are currently underway or in the planning stages in Wales."

FMB Cymru meets with Cross Party Group at the Welsh Assembly

                                                                    Joyce Watson AM & Richard Jenkins, Director FMB Cymru
  

A cross-party group of AMs will today discuss how tighter building regulations in Wales could help drive out “cowboys” and even save lives.

Richard Jenkins, Wales Director for the Federation of Master Builders (FMB Cymru) will present to the group, and call for improved regulation of the domestic building industry.

 

Attending the Cross Party Group on Construction at the National Assembly for Wales today (18th June 2013) Richard will present arguments for tighter regulation, as Wales and the UK are practically the only westernised countries that do not exercise a form of licensing control over domestic builders.

 

Richard Jenkins, Director of FMB Cymru said:

 

“Four years ago, three year old Meg Burgess was instantly killed when a 23m wall, built and designed by a builder in Wales, collapsed as she walked with her parents on a public highway.  Tragedies like this could be avoided with improved regulation, as currently anyone can set themselves up as a ‘builder’ and make structural change to domestic properties. 

“The commercial construction sector is well served by mainly Health & Safety guided initiatives that make it very difficult for an inexperienced on untrained contractor or worker to operate in this sector. FMB Cymru is in favour of a protocol being developed that will end the absurd reality that builders working in the domestic sector are able to freely work with no licensing or assessment framework. There is also the economic effect that rogue or ‘cowboy’ builders have on the quality domestic building sector. They undercut and undervalue jobs as a general rule and often use financial gains to pressuriseclients to collude with them to avoid VAT.

 

“It is clear that research is urgently needed into how this issue can be best resolved without putting undue regulation on a hard pressed construction sector. FMB Cymru plan to lead this process, by undertaking a research project that will inform and guide further discussion at the FMB Cymru conference in October, with the aim of developing proposals for improved regulation of the industry which could be introduced by government.”
 

Brian Berry, FMB Chief Executive confirms the organisation’s commitment to high standards:

 

“FMB is committed to being a champion for higher standards in the building industry, which means pushing out the ‘cowboys’. This commitment is reflected by the fact that all FMB members by the end of 2016 will need to be inspected and in compliance with TrustMark standards. This decision has already been welcomed by TrustMark.”                  
              

Joyce Watson AM, Chair of the Cross Party Group on Construction welcomed FMB’s aims:
 

“Cowboy builders undercut reputable tradespeople, undermine consumer confidence, wreck property and ruin lives. They give a bad name to an industry that is overwhelmingly full of hard-working, trustworthy professionals. That is why I am committed to finding any way that makes it harder for rogue traders to operate here in Wales.”