黑洞社区

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) will focus on 鈥渄riving up standards鈥� among SME builders under newly appointed chief executive Brian Berry.

Berry told 黑洞社区 the association will press ahead with plans to set up a professional accreditation scheme for SME builders, which he said would help 鈥渃ombat cowboy builders鈥�.

The FMB will submit an application with government to set up a 鈥楥ompetent Person Scheme鈥� to test and accredit SME builders in April. The application could be approved as early as July.

Berry said the association鈥檚 ultimate goal was to establish a national register of qualified builders, but he admitted this would require government legislation and was unlikely in the near term.

Berry is also committed to lobbying for SME involvement in the government鈥檚 Green Deal retrofitting scheme and to an overhaul of the FMB鈥檚 training services.

He takes over from former FMB boss Richard Diment, who stepped down in January after a dispute last November led to questions being raised about his performance as leader of the trade body.

Berry refused to comment on his predecessor鈥檚 departure and said there had been 鈥渘o coup鈥� to replace him.