For some time now, one of the most significant problems in the British building and construction industry has been licensing. At the moment, a significant motion is being brought forward by a group of various builders and homeowners to try and stomp out the use of ‘cowboy builders’. With enough support, it’s hoped that this could be taken to the Government as part of a new range of laws to help make construction a safer place.
Led by the Federation of Master Builders, this scheme was launched at the House of Lords in early July. The hope is that the plan can help to make licensing entirely mandatory across the construction industry. This will be very important and will help to make sure that a licensing scheme could help reduce ‘cowboy builders’ for the entire industry.
Not only would this help to make sure that builders must show their quality and accreditation before working, but it would help to reduce the cost of mistakes. With fewer cowboys and fly-by-night traders able to trade without a license, this would reduce the chance and opportunity of these rogue traders; protecting unsuspecting British consumers.
The report is known as License to Build: A Pathway to Licensing UK Construction. It will be a significant step forward to try and make sure that the ‘quality and reputation of the construction industry’ can grow and improve over time.
This will be a major step forward for an industry that has for so long needed significant and constructive changes to the way that it operates.
A major step forward in conditions
While nowhere near being discussed as a potential law just yet, and with the present chaos in Government it may not be immediate, these significant step-ups in condition will really make a telling difference. Not only will these conditions help to make sure that people can trust the experts they hire, but it will also reduce the likelihood of work not being to the standard expected nationwide.
These regulatory changes have come into sharp focus particularly following the tragic Grenfell Tower incident. This has made more people aware of the cut corners in the construction industry and could see more relevancy placed on the importance of giving people better, safer conditions to work within.
This new idea will help to provide greater clarity within regulation and licensing, making sure that there is a clearer idea of who is responsible for what. Over time, this should play a telling role in the transformation of how the industry operates as a whole.
It will also likely play a role in changing the various construction regulations which already exist. This would help to set a better standard for best practice, ensuring that more people can get the help that they need to really take things to a new level.
If you are interested in seeing a wholesale change to the way licensing works within the industry, you may be about to get your wish starting today.