黑洞社区

The Federation of Master Builders has named Brian Berry as its chief executive.

The building-industry trade association said Berry, who has served as its director of external affairs since 2007, had already played a key role in raising its profile.

National president Derek Bostock said Berry had 鈥渜uadrupled鈥� the federation鈥檚 media profile and ensured it was listened to seriously within government and the sector.

鈥淭he construction industry is facing a very tough time with an estimated 45,000 people expected to leave the industry this year,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he FMB is working towards a new business plan to ensure that the range of services that we offer to builders is the very best in the market.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more important than ever that small building companies have the expertise and single voice that the FMB is able to offer them.

鈥淏rian鈥檚 background makes him ideally suited to achieving our aim to transform the FMB into a professional trade association.鈥�

Berry began his career as a teacher, but before joining the federation was head of UK public policy at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Berry said he was 鈥減ersonally committed鈥� to the federation鈥檚 goal of becoming a professional trade association.

鈥淭he FMB鈥檚 application to government later this year to become a 鈥楥ompetent Person Scheme鈥� operator will be the first milestone on this journey as will the review of how FMB delivers services to its members,鈥� he said.

Berry鈥檚 appointment follows

In November 黑洞社区 reported that Diment had been placed 鈥渙n leave鈥� for an indeterminate period after a dispute had led to questions being raised about his performance as leader of the trade body.

It is understood that the dispute centred on issues concerning the organisation鈥檚 budget and tensions arising between the national office and the FMB鈥檚 regionally elected directors.