At the end of June 2015, the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) agreed to join with the UK Contractors Group to form Build UK. The new organisation will be led by Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol MBE and will be operational from 1st September 2015.
The new organisation brings together 28 of the UK’s main contractors as well as 40 leading trade associations which represent more than 11,500 specialist contractors. ADCAS has been a member of NSCC for some years and so will now become a member of Build UK.
ADCAS President Malcolm Moss says that by bringing the specialist contractors into a single group alongside the main contractors, Build UK offers ADCAS opportunities to discuss better contractual arrangements for members: “The new organisation will give our membership access to their customer base – the main and mechanical contractors. We very much hope that this will lead to open discussions about fair payment terms including the banning of retentions, as well as standardisation of PQQs.”
He adds that : “As a specialist organisation, ADCAS believes it is important to be a member of a larger group in order to have a voice with Government on construction policy issues.”
The formation of Build UK is also significant for the ductwork sector because it presents opportunities for ADCAS to raise awareness about the importance of quality in the manufacture and installation of its members’ products.
Build UK has already established its importance with Government. Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Nick Boles said: “The creation of Build UK is a very welcome development and places them in an influential position to continue improving performance across the sector.”
ADCAS will continue to be represented at Build UK meetings and will work to ensure that main contractors are aware of the challenges facing the ductwork industry.
Malcolm Moss adds: “ADCAS is the voice of the ductwork industry, and our long-term aim will be to use our position in Build UK to optimise conditions for our own membership.”
