In this episode of Build Up from the Basement, host Iona Stewart-Richardson sits down with Mark Garnier MP, Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest, to discuss the launch of our Licence to Build campaign – a vital push to introduce mandatory licensing for UK builders.
They explore the urgent problem of rogue traders and the widespread misconception among homeowners that all builders are already licensed. Mark shares his personal experience of navigating building work and highlights the emotional and financial toll that rogue builders can inflict on homeowners.
The conversation underscores how licensing would give homeowners confidence and recourse – ensuring that those who behave badly can lose their license and be prevented from trading. By introducing a licensing scheme, the industry could raise standards, remove bad actors, and help restore trust between builders and the public.
What’s covered in this episode:
- Why licensing is essential: How a national licensing scheme can guarantee builder competence, improve professionalism, and shield homeowners from substandard or unsafe work.
- Protecting homeowners and raising standards: Real-life examples of the impact rogue builders have on families, and how licensing can give consumers confidence and hold builders to account.
- FMB’s campaign and policy push: Insights into our work with policymakers and industry leaders to make licensing a reality, including Mark Garnier’s Private Members’ Bill and the growing political support for change.
With nearly half of UK homeowners mistakenly believing builders must be licensed, this episode sheds light on why the current lack of regulation leaves consumers vulnerable and the industry’s reputation at risk.
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Build Up from the Basement
Our spin-off podcast series Build Up from the Basement explores the policies and trends shaping the future for small to medium sized (SME) building businesses.