A decade-long partnership between the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and Hertfordshire Trading Standards has helped drive up standards across the construction industry, protecting homeowners from rogue builders.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is this month celebrating ten years of its Primary Authority Partnership with Hertfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service.
The Partnership allows trade bodies like the FMB to team up with a local council to get tailored, legally assured regulatory advice on trading standards, advice that all FMB member firms across the country can rely on to stay on the right side of the law.
Over the past ten years, the partnership has:
- Helped develop and strengthen the FMB’s Code of Conduct
- Introduced regular inspections of members’ work
- Screened new membership applications, with a rising number of rejections where trading practices fell short of FMB standards
- Bolstered the FMB’s Standards Committee with more independent members and a review of its processes
- Clamped down on logo misuse by rogue traders posing as FMB members across the country
Hayley Lorimer, FMB Director of Membership Services said:
“Our decade-long Primary Authority Partnership with Hertfordshire Trading Standards has supported FMB during a period when we have been focussed on strengthening our standards. During that time we have introduced regular inspections of all members’ work. We have seen increasing numbers of applications for membership rejected because their trading practices did not meet the requirements of our Code of Conduct. And we have strengthened our Standards Committee by bringing in more independent members and reviewing our processes. All of this has been done in partnership with Herts TS, who have been a source of advice and sector intelligence. We look forward to the next decade!”
Brian Berry, FMB Chief Executive, added:
“Ten years ago we set out to build a partnership that would raise standards across our membership and give homeowners real confidence in the FMB badge. That’s exactly what we’ve achieved. Working hand in hand with Hertfordshire Trading Standards, we’ve toughened up our vetting of new members, brought independent scrutiny onto our Standards Committee, and gone after rogue traders who try to trade off our reputation. Consumers who hire an FMB member today can be sure they’re getting a builder who has been properly checked. That’s down in no small part to this partnership, and we’re looking forward to building on it for the next ten years.”
Susie Helliwell, Senior Trading Standards Officer at Hertfordshire County Council, concluded:
“Over the last ten years, through our coordinated Primary Authority Partnership with the Federation of Master Builders, we have worked together to improve standards through the Standards Committee and by helping to develop the Code of Conduct. We have also worked to protect members from rogue builders who might bring the Federation into disrepute, screening new member applications, and working against logo misuse across the country. It has been wonderful to see the Federation develop into a highly respected organisation that values high standards and works to protect consumers and members.”