News
NBG supports new initiative
‘Get Britain Building’, the biggest coalition in the building industry’s history was launched today in Westminster to demand that the Government does all it can to prevent 300,000 predicted job losses in the construction sector and to create a framework in which small construction businesses can survive in the recession. The ‘Get Britain Building’ coalition, spearheaded by British Precast, the Builders Merchants Federation, the Federation of Master Builders and the Modern Masonry Alliance is demanding that the Government supports its Ten Point Manifesto to get Britain building again and save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the construction industry.

The campaign has cross party support and argues that current government proposals do not go far enough in tackling the real problems affecting the UK construction industry and the wider housing sector. The Get Britain Building Manifesto is calling on the Government to help the beleaguered construction industry survive the worst recession since 1980 by creating a new business environment framework in which they can work. The Manifesto includes a plea to get banks lending to small businesses again; a government strategy to refurbish the country’s 26 million homes to make them more energy efficient; a cut in VAT to 5 per cent for property maintenance; a major increase in new social housing and a defined timetable to complete the Government’s planned investment in new schools and hospitals.   

Chris Pateman, Managing Director of the Builders Merchants Federation said:
“This isn’t just a campaign about businesses or figures or even about jobs; it’s a campaign about people.  It’s about those families who find themselves with grown-up children unable to leave home, or elderly parents who need looking after.  We all need the government to create conditions in which people can borrow money at sensible rates or have the confidence to invest their savings in those millions of pent-up garage conversions, house extensions and roof insulation jobs that can make an immediate and quantifiable improvement to individual families’ quality of life.  And, at the same time, improve the quality and energy-efficiency of the built environment, reduce the waiting lists for social housing and take some pride in the size, scope and skills of the nation’s largest industry – building.”

Martin Clarke, Chief Executive of British Precast said:
“It is time for the whole British construction industry to get off its knees, unite together and stop playing the victim – we have a pivotal role in kick-starting the economy by supplying real and sustainable assets in the form of new and improved houses and infrastructure. We have the skilled men and women to do the job, and the materials to build with, the people of Britain have the need, the Government has the land, the power and can generate the funds – it just needs the willpower. Let’s Build!”

Richard Diment, Director General of the Federation of Master Builders said:
“The FMB represents those hardest hit by the recession, the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and the backbone of the economy.  During the last recession the UK construction industry lost over 500,000 skilled jobs, we cannot allow that to happen again. We are not asking the Government for a financial bailout, we are simply asking the Government to allow our members to manufacturers to do what they do best and keep building a better Britain.”   

Mike Leonard, Director of the Modern Masonry Alliance said:
“The time has come for the industry to unite and for the Government to take decisive action. Our factories are closing and our skills are being lost. Investing in building will improve lives, provide employment and protect our UK  building materials manufacturing capacity, which is vital for all of our futures. The knock on effect when we stop building is massive. We are anxious to work with government to lay the foundations for our country’s economic recovery.”