GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO MORE SUPPORT FOR THE TRUSTMARK SCHEME
The public could be forgiven for getting confused about the plethora of ‘trade competence’ schemes around designed to help them locate reputable trades people, but only one has the official backing of the Government – who have just committed to more support for it.
9 October 2013 – A number of ‘trade competence’ schemes operate in the UK – each claims to have some procedures in place to verify the competence, professionalism and reputation of the individual companies that are in their scheme. Several local authorities also operate ‘Buy with Confidence’ schemes.
Roderick Pettigrew, Chief Executive of B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association, comments, “It’s worth bearing in mind that whilst there are several trade competence schemes now operating in the UK only one – TrustMark – is officially endorsed and backed by the Government.
“And we are delighted to hear that the Government has just reaffirmed its commitment to TrustMark with a strong vote of confidence following the publication of the Government's Industrial Strategy for Construction. The Industrial Strategy recognises the importance of the TrustMark scheme for its role in improving the reputation of construction and building positive perceptions of the industry. The Government has committed to more support for TrustMark, expanding the scheme to include a greater proportion of the industry.”
Trustmark was set up specifically to help homeowners and consumers locate local reputable trades people to carry out quality improvements, repairs and maintenance work on their home or garden.
Pettigrew adds, “By employing the services of TrustMark registered traders homeowners can be assured that they are using a firm that operates according to industry best practice, with a standard of workmanship that has been verified by their TrustMark Scheme operator”.
The TrustMark scheme covers many of the trades householders look for such as builders, heating engineers, plumbers, electricians, glaziers, roofers, landscape gardeners and damp-proof specialists. In 2012 the TrustMark website received almost 4 million visits from members of the public looking for reliable, reputable trade people. B&ES is an official operator for the heating and plumbing sector and was one of the first trade associations to join the scheme. All B&ES members that undertake gas work are also Gas Safe registered.
For more information about the TrustMark scheme visit: http://www.trustmark.org.uk. For advice on home heating and energy saving including how to locate a qualified, registered heating engineer (all of whom are also registered with the Government’s TrustMark scheme) visit http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
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