The past year has been a time of change and challenge for the building industry. With the election of a new Labour Government in July 2024, there’s renewed focus on building more homes, improving existing stock, and investing in infrastructure.
While these ambitions are positive, sluggish economic growth and rising employment costs continue to affect small builders. Against this backdrop, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has been working hard to support members, raise standards, and give SME builders a stronger voice.
Our latest Annual Report 2024–25 reflects this effort and is available to download below – here are the key points you need to know.
Driving forward Project Growth
We’re now halfway through our three-year strategy, Project Growth, which is built on five core objectives:
- Membership growth – promoting the value of FMB membership while upholding high standards.
- Promotion – giving SME builders a strong, influential voice in national debates.
- Standards – raising quality across the industry through inspections, guidance, and licensing campaigns.
- Commercial growth – diversifying income and building partnerships to offer more value to members.
- Data-driven decisions – using better insights to provide more tailored services.
Project Growth is about strengthening the FMB and its services so we can better support members, raise standards, and champion SME builders. By growing our influence and resources, we’re securing a stronger future for the industry and the FMB.
Highlights from 2024–25
Here’s what we achieved together this year:
- Rolled out our new Licence to Build campaign, pushing for licensing of builders.
- Coverage across 444 media outlets, including BBC, The Sun, and The Telegraph .
- Launched two new podcasts – Build Up and Build Up from the Basement .
- 30% of members now use the FMB app, with over 1,000 active monthly users.
- Brought FMB inspections fully in-house, improving service and consistency.
- Serviced 7,500 homeowners with insurance products tailored to construction SMEs.
Raising standards to protect members and clients
The FMB has strengthened its commitment to quality this year with the launch of an in-house inspections team, completing over 1,300 checks in just six months. Our suite of builder contracts, which are available for members to use, now meet the latest Building Safety Act requirements.
Alongside this, our advice lines and mediation service continue to give members trusted guidance and help resolve disputes quickly, protecting both businesses and client relationships.
Influencing policy and giving SME builders a stronger voice
Over the past year, the FMB has championed SME builders by engaging directly with senior government figures, including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, on housing, skills, and retrofit. We’ve also published key research, including our Licence to Build report, setting out how a mandatory licensing system could raise industry standards.
Through this work and a strong media presence, we’ve ensured the voices of small builders are heard where it matters most.
Supporting members across the UK
Across the UK, our regional teams have been active in supporting members and communities. Highlights include launching Build Academy in London to train future workers, hosting Scotland’s Green Home Festival , raising over £9,000 for mental health charities , and working with colleges and CITB to improve vocational training. We’ve also continued to lobby for fairer policies on planning, transport, and building safety to help small builders thrive.
Celebrating excellence: Master Builder Awards 2025
The Master Builder Awards continue to showcase the very best of our members’ work, from innovative new builds to transformative renovations. This year saw a record-breaking 771 entries across 12 categories , reflecting the incredible skill and dedication of SME builders across the UK. Seven regional ceremonies brought together more than 1,200 attendees – a 57% increase on last year – before culminating in a national celebration of all our finalists and winners in Manchester in September 2025.
Looking ahead
The year ahead brings big opportunities – and challenges – for SME builders.
Our focus will be on:
- Advocating for policies that help SMEs thrive, including access to housing and retrofit work.
- Tackling the skills shortage, with more support for apprenticeships and training.
- Driving standards through our licensing campaign and ongoing member guidance.
- Exploring new technology, including how AI can help deliver faster, more efficient services to members.
Thank you to our members
In these times of economic and political uncertainty, the FMB’s role in championing SME and micro builders is more important than ever. This has been a year of change, growth, and resilience. We couldn’t do it without our members, who continue to raise standards and deliver quality work in communities across the UK.
Together, we’re building a stronger voice for SME builders and shaping a better future for our industry.
Download the report
Previous reports
