Posts by National Federation of Builders
NFB dispels confusion over safety and quality certification
The NFB has been receiving an increasing number of calls from construction companies who are unsure whether accreditation of some of the industry safety and quality control organisations – such as CHAS and ConstructionLine – are necessary. Many callers are also under the impression that accreditation with these two organisations is included free with membership…
Read More2050 zero carbon target cannot happen without radical change to construction
Election promises on zero carbon mean nothing unless Government and construction industry commit to radical change: Report released today Find the interactive report at https://www.builders.org.uk/nfb-groups/nfb-major-contractors-group/mcg-carbon-report-november-2019/ The leading trade body representing builders has today called on the construction sector and any future Government, to act now if they are to meet the 2050 zero carbon target.…
Read MoreFramework awards appear to reward poor payment practice
NFB has reacted to the Government’s recent announcement of the successful contractors to win places on the £30bn framework for public sector construction. Chief Executive, Richard Beresford, commented: “What’s disappointing is that despite the Government knowing how late payment can seriously damage smaller businesses, as many NFB members will testify, these awards show that late…
Read MoreNFB criticises Government over starter home fiasco
Government has pulled the rug from under small builders The National Audit Office says that despite being announced in 2014, the Government’s starter homes policy has delivered zero homes instead of the promised 200,000 by 2020. Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) said: “We worked hard with the Government to…
Read MoreReverse Charge VAT delay is good news
Reverse charge VAT, which will make contractors responsible for handling VAT, was due to be implemented on 1 October 2019. However, the Government has listened to industry recommendations and agreed to delay the implementation of reverse charge VAT until 1 October 2020. The National Federation of Builders (NFB), who partnered a coalition of fifteen construction…
Read MoreA year of improving housing standards for private tenants
A scheme to help tackle problems in the private rented sector has reached its milestone first birthday. Nottingham City Council introduced a new housing licensing scheme for most houses in Nottingham to help tackle problems such as antisocial behaviour, crime, poor property conditions and deprivation. This runs alongside the other housing licensing schemes operating for…
Read MoreHow many complaints are there really in the construction sector?
The NFB questions the newly proposed licensing scheme The National Federation of Builders (NFB), which represents the broadest range of building and contracting businesses across England and Wales, is questioning the newly proposed licensing scheme targeted at tackling shoddy building work or poor business practice. The construction sector is one of the highest regulated sectors,…
Read MoreTaxation transparency is good for communities
The Government has brought in new rules requiring all local authorities in England to publish full details of how much money they receive from developers to fund local infrastructure. This welcomed move will allow communities to share in a councils’ vision for their community and highlight how important developers are in funding infrastructure through local…
Read MoreShared ownership must be affordable
The Government has announced plans for a new national model for shared ownership which it says, will help thousands of lower earners step onto the housing ladder. Known as ‘staircasing’, one of these steps will allow people to buy their home in 1% increments, rather than being forced to save up to 10% at a…
Read MoreWorking with industry is the only way to meet the 2050 zero carbon target
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the report from the Science and Technology Committee, highlighting key areas the Government should be focussing on to meet the 2050 zero carbon target, but is frustrated at the lack of focus on successes and barriers. New homes, for example, are incredibly energy efficient and air tight,…
Read MoreThe Government is giving late payers another free pass
Kelly Tolhurst MP, small business minister, delivered a statement to the House of Commons in June 2019, announcing measures to ensure that businesses get paid on time. In July 2019, Oliver Dowden MP, minister for implementation, reiterated this ambition by announcing that government suppliers must pay 95 per cent of their invoices within 60 days,…
Read MoreNFB welcomes McVey’s pledge urging GCSE students to consider a career in construction
Housing minister Esther McVey MP has called on pupils receiving their GCSE results to join the construction industry in a bid to help boost Britain’s capacity to build 300,000 new homes. McVey said: “If you want to master a trade, financial stability and opportunities across the country, you can’t go wrong with the construction sector.…
Read MoreA-levels are not the only path into construction
With A-Level students in receipt of their results, the National Federation of Builders (NFB) wanted to highlight that construction is the most exciting and innovative industry in the United Kingdom and it’s not just for those wanting to get their hands dirty! If you are still deciding your career path, the following facts may help…
Read MoreReverse charge VAT: hold off until 2020
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has written to Sajid Javid MP, the chancellor of the Exchequer, asking for the 1 October 2019 introduction of domestic reverse charge VAT to be delayed until April 2020. Reverse charge VAT means that the customer receiving the service will have to pay the VAT to HMRC instead of…
Read MoreThe Government must re-think its approach on immigration after Brexit
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has warned the Government that its plans to reduce immigration after Brexit will have “devastating consequences” for London and urges it to re-consider its plans to impose a £30,000 salary threshold on EU citizens coming into the UK after Brexit. Speaking to the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry,…
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