Small builders fear exclusion from Green Deal launch
FMB claims delay on self-certification scheme will handicap small firms
The government’s failure to approve a competent person scheme to support the Green Deal could lock small and medium-sized builders out of the initiative’s launch phase, the Federation of Master Builders has claimed.
A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) - which regularly approves competent person schemes - confirmed that a scheme governing the Green Deal would not be decided upon until October. The Green Deal is due to launch that month and for the last few months the FMB has been preparing a pitch for a comprehensive competent person scheme that would allow builders to self-certify all building fabric improvements included in the deal.
As it stands, businesses would need to sign up to multiple schemes of this type to do Green Deal work, such as cavity wall and loft insulation.
The FMB claims that having one comprehensive scheme would be cheaper for most builders and allow them to compete with specialists and big firms.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said an October decision would mean the system would not be operable until “months” after the Green Deal was launched. “The starting line for SMEs has been put further down the line, while others are able to get going,” he said.
Berry said that, in meetings with DCLG officials, he had been led to believe a decision would be made sooner to allow people to be ready to start Green Deal work when the scheme launched.
“I don’t think the DCLG and the Department of Energy and Climate Change have always understood each other’s work, which has led to delays in the Green Deal being implemented,” he said.
The communities department said: “We intend to set out more details and invite applications shortly.”
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Readers' comments (2)
I am once again flabbergasted at the "suprise " , sence of injustice and incredulity that organisations such as the FMB feel at their members being frozen out of the "Green Deal.
What is it about the new world order that our industry operates in that they seem incapable of recognising. All these types initiatives have been under development for some time often with the assistance of our major companies and their representative organisation's colution with the expressed objective of creating profitable business streams for the large companies , an opportunity for a launch and sound bite for a govenment minister and a consequential opportunity for the civil service to only have to meet with a few large companies who talk their language , a synic might suggest that in return for exclusivity the private sector political donation machine might just be oiled - no surely not.
Wake up you smaller firms and your trade representatives this erotion of your opportunities has been going on for so long you seem to have slept walk to the abyss , you'll end up as will be sub-contractors - just hope you get a margin on your costs and that you get paid!
Awareness here, seems to be the major issue. This is supported in the findings of a poll recently conducted at ecobuild.
Communication, as they say, is a two way process: you have to be prepared to listen but equally its important that those responsible for the Green Deal communicate developments with clarity and critically, in a language with which medium and small business can engage.
‘Deal or no deal?’ - ecobuild poll suggests
small businesses are unprepared for the Green Deal
A new poll reveals that small construction companies, building product manufacturers and suppliers do not understand and have failed to get to grips with the workings of the Green Deal.
When asked to rank their ‘preparedness’ on a sliding scale of one to five, one being least prepared, 84 per cent of businesses employing 50 people or fewer admitted to a low level of readiness ahead of the scheme’s launch in October.
Of this grouping only four per cent said that they believed that they were fully geared to win new business through the Government’s dual targeted programme to cut the carbon footprint of UK housing stock and kick-start economic growth in the UK building sector.
The reminder of this grouping (representing 29 per cent of all surveyed) claimed some awareness but admitted that they had more work to do.
Commissioned by building products manufacturer and supplier, the Epwin Group and conducted at ecobuild held at Excel, London in March, the study revealed that this was in stark contrast to the responses given by large business employing 250 or more people.
Representing a little over half of all those polled, 61 per cent indicated that their plans for the Green Deal were advanced, 16 per cent reported a ‘moderate’ readiness while only 23 per cent said that they were unprepared.
Medium sized businesses, those employing between 50 and 250 people, were also more advanced than small companies in their plans to take advantage of business opportunities generated by the scheme with 42 per cent indicating a high level of readiness.
Of this grouping (19 per cent of all respondents) 16 per cent said that they had plans in progress, while 42 per cent cited a low state of readiness.
The findings came as climate change minister Greg Barker, speaking at ecobuild reiterated the Government’s commitment press ahead with the Green Deal’s October launch despite concerns surrounding elements of its operation.
Jim Rawson, chairman, Epwin Group said: “What is concerning here is that the Epwin poll suggests Government is so far failing in its efforts to engage effectively with smaller businesses and this may equate in their exclusion voluntarily or involuntarily from scheme.
“The impact of this is all the more significant as it is this very grouping that it has identified as important in delivering job creation and supporting recovery in construction and the UK economy overall.”
Attending the green building expo for the fifth year in succession, the Epwin Group reported high levels of interest in its energy efficient, window and door offer.
With a carbon footprint of extruded profile of just six per cent of that manufactured using virgin material plus a triple glazed option, products on show included the Group’s ultra-energy efficient and fully recycled window system RECO22. Its’ new vertical sliding sash window with through-horn detail and recycled rainwater ranges were also featured.
Rawson continued: “The opportunities represented by the Green Deal to improve the condition of the UK’s housing stock and to support economic recovery are vast. Greg Barker has alluded to the imminent unveiling of new initiatives to encourage wider participation in the scheme by smaller contractors and suppliers.
“The findings of the Epwin survey suggest that these may be of critical importance to the Green Deal’s success more broadly.”
For more information visit www.epwin.co.uk alternatively the Epwin Group has a permanent stand at the Building Centre, Store Street, London and will attend Greenbuild Expo, Manchester Central 9th and 10th May.
ENDS