The House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Select Committee has today launched their new report on Retrofitting Homes for Net Zero, calling for the introduction of a national licensing scheme for contractors carrying out retrofit work.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), has long been calling for the introduction of a mandatory licensing scheme to boost standards in the construction industry to protect both traders and consumers. On Tuesday, the FMB launched their new ‘Licence to Build’ report, setting out a framework model for implementing a licensing scheme in the UK, with an event in Parliament where Chair of the ESNZ Committee Bill Esterson MP attended as the keynote speaker.
Licensing has been an ongoing discussion point in the industry for many years and, having been championed by the FMB, has been coming under the spotlight in recent months particularly, following the publication of the Grenfell Tower inquiry which called for the implementation of licensing of contractors working on high-risk buildings. It has reached Parliament through a Private Members Bill from Mark Garnier MP in 2021, which is being brought to Parliament once again in June this year.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) commented: “It is fantastic news that the influential House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Select Committee is calling for a national accreditation and licensing scheme to ensure retrofit work is accountable. This underpins the FMB’s call for a mandatory licensing scheme for all domestic building companies to help drive up standards in the building industry. Whilst the Committee rightly focuses on licensing installers carrying out retrofit work, to make this more effective all domestic building companies will need to be licensed.”
Berry continued: “In the UK today, anyone can call themselves a builder, regardless of training, skill, or experience. A lack of basic regulation is holding our industry back. It puts lives at risk, damages trust and undermines the reputation of every honest professional delivering high quality work. Mandatory licensing will drive out rogue traders, protect consumers from poor workmanship, elevate the image of construction as a skilled, respected profession, and build a safer, higher-quality built environment for everyone. Delivering real change will require major political will, and today’s ESNZ Committee report is vital step, which I hope the Government will now support.”
Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the ESNZ Select Committee said: “Licensing building companies is a fantastic idea. It’s consistent with the recommendations of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee which were published today for a national accreditation scheme to ensure energy efficiency retrofit work is high quality. Getting to the point where we have a scheme where the consumer can buy with confidence to see quality delivered is really important in energy efficiency and wider home improvement and building work. It protects the good traders, which is the vast majority of those in the building trade and has the benefit of also protecting the consumer. I look forward to working with industry and the Government in ensuring this can become a reality."
