On the Federation of Master Builders' (FMB) "Build Up from the Basement" podcast, Mike MP - the Government’s Construction Champion outlined his vision for addressing the construction industry's most pressing challenges, while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to its housebuilding targets and voiced his support for licensing the industry.
Speaking with host Iona Stewart Richardson and Jeremy Gray, Head of External Affairs Mike Reader, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Infrastructure drew on his 20 years of construction industry experience, including senior roles at major firms like Mace, to provide an insider perspective on the Government's pro-building agenda and strategies for sustainable industry growth.
Mike Reader MP described the skills shortage as a "national emergency," proposing three approaches: "We can't keep doing the same thing we've always done of talking in schools, of doing work experience programs”. Instead, he advocates for intensive boot camps: "I think actually either you do or don't want to work in the sector… and you should be able to come in, try it and learn very quicky.”
Drawing inspiration from a military program he took part in, Reader questioned: "Why haven't we got that for our sector?" He envisions a national recruitment campaign similar to military advertising, arguing that rather than "having every individual company doing their own engagement programme... we should have a national one."
On engaging young people earlier, Reader suggested: "We should be looking at GCSE for the built environment... I think we engage too late. We should be introducing people a lot younger to the built environment."
Reader expanded on the industry's innovative capacity while advocating for balanced adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) alongside traditional skilled trades. He highlighted exciting developments in 3D printing technology while acknowledging the continued critical need for specialist skills.
He said: "There is a place for these modern trades as well," Reader noted when discussing 3D printing innovations. "It's not going to work on every site... but we also will always have a need for specialist trades…I think we're a very innovative industry. What we're not great at is adopting... There is a place to say we've got a product we can deliver now, let's just get on and deliver it."
Reader went on to announce significant progress on retrofit licensing following recommendations from the Energy Security Select Committee, with Government committing to form an industry panel. This will aim to address consumer protection concerns while elevating trade recognition and professionalism, which the FMB has long campaigned for.
The MP emphasised the benefits of licensing: consumer protection and professional recognition. He said: "We need skilled trades like the building trades to be recognised for being the skilled craft people that they are and the quality that they deliver.”
Discussing the £14.3bn lost to rogue builders, as revealed by the FMB, he highlighted concerning cases from his constituency surgeries, including constituents who lost £60,000 to builders who disappeared. Reader stressed that licensing would address the industry's image challenge: "It's about credibility. We want skilled trades to be recognised as the skilled craft people that they are."
Commenting on the podcast, FMB CEO Brian Berry said:
"Mike Reader's commitment to driving forward a licensing scheme for retrofit work represents a significant step towards protecting consumers and raising standards across the construction industry. His understanding and personal experience in the industry and of the challenges facing our members, combined with his political position, makes him a valuable advocate for the professional trades. The FMB has long campaigned for proper licensing and regulation, and we're pleased to see Government taking these consumer protection issues seriously and we look forward to continuing to work with Mike in the future to better support the building industry."
He went on to emphasise the Government's commitment to the sector: “You’ve got a Government that is pro-building and has just launched a small business strategy and is really trying to change how the Government engages with SMEs, particularly small builders, to make sure they're part of the conversation."
Mike Reader MP added: "FMB is probably one of the most proactive groups I see in Parliament, engaging in select committees, talking to ministers, helping parliamentarians develop their thinking and engaging... The asks from Government are really clear, which actually helps Government to be really focused on what the FMB is asking for on behalf of industry. It's not kind of this woolly ethereal policy stuff you get from some organisations."
Notes to editors
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers.
