BMF gets behind consumer campaign to boost construction

Builders merchants trade organisation The Builders Merchants Federation is backing new guidance launched last week to provide reassurance to homeowners to have tradespeople carry out work in and around their homes.

The Work Safe. Safe Work campaign has been developed by Trustmark, the only government endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople, with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).  It comes hot on the heels of the latest Office of National Statistics Survey (ONS) that found less than 4 in 10 (37%) adults would be comfortable to have someone in their home to carry out non-emergency work, and only half of adults (51%) would feel comfortable or very comfortable having someone come into their home to carry out an emergency repair, such as fixing a boiler.

A campaign booklet, which can be downloaded or given to the homeowner before tradespeople visit the property, gives practical advice about what COVID-safety measures should be discussed and carried out before, during and after work is done in and around their home.  It also sets out helpful questions to ask, safety actions to take and which party is responsible for each task.

John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said: “Consumer confidence is pivotal to our industry’s recovery but, as the latest ONS survey shows, many people are still reluctant to have tradespeople in their home.  The materials produced by Trustmark provide the guidance and reassurance householders need to feel comfortable when emergency repairs are required and to have the confidence to commission improvement work to their home.

“This is incredibly important not only for the construction industry’s recovery, but also to the UK economy.  We fully support the Work Safe. Safe Work campaign and would encourage merchants to spread the word amongst their trades customers who will find it extremely useful to give the Trustmark booklet to householders before work begins.”