Phil Spencer urges public to nominate their builder as awards deadline approaches

The Governments proposed approval threshold for Community Right to Build schemes needs to be lowered from the current 90 per cent of local people agreeing in order to prevent minorities holding back much needed development in the countryside to enable it to thrive and prosper, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Extra money from the Government for Councils in England to build new homes is a welcome boost and now it is up to local authorities to deliver the housing needed to tackle the UKs chronic housing shortage, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

The Federation of Master Builders supports calls from the Chancellor and the Treasury Select Committee for the banks to increase support for small businesses as news emerges that Britains five biggest banks are back in profit.

Construction workloads for small building companies have continued to decline for the tenth consecutive quarter, according to the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). However, there are signs that the continual fall in workloads maybe nearing its end with a leveling off in the rate of decline for both residential and non residential work.

Each year, 63% of Brits are happy to have a go at DIY in the home. However 74% aren't aware this work could be subject to law under Part P of the Building Regulations. And worryingly, unsafe electrics cause 12,500 house fires, 750 serious injuries and 10 deaths every year. As the recession continues to bite and unemployment levels soar, cash-strapped Brits attempting to have a go at electrical

If the economic downturn has left you unable to move and you have chosen to improve your home instead, the kitchen is a good place to start. Not only will it add value to your property when you do come to sell, but the kitchen has become a central meeting point for many busy families making practical and careful layout essential. So make sure you take some time to plan your new kitchen, and don't

For those who work or train in the electrical and building services industries, 2008 is set to bring more than party poppers and a handful of New Year resolutions. The new IEE wiring regulations, which were unveiled in January, mark the most significant overhaul of the electrical safety system in nearly twenty years. The '17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations (BS7671:2008)' include changes to ev

NICEIC has devised a 17th Edition Toolkit containing all a contractor needs to be ready for the new Wiring Regulations, published in January 2008. The Toolkit contains a copy of the new IEE 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671:2008), a simplified, accessible and practical guide to the regulations, a DVD explaining all the changes to the 17th Edition and, as an added bonus, a voucher b

The 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2008) is due in January next year. This contains numerous changes, many of which will affect current working practices over the next 12 months. NICEIC is presenting the latest changes to regulations which will directly affect the way construction companies work in a series of seminars throughout Interbuild 2007. The programme of semina

From September 2007 all NICEIC Domestic Installers who are compliant at their next assessment, will receive a new NICEIC certificate with the UKAS mark. NICEIC has announced it is to issue UKAS accredited certification to BS EN 45011 for contractors on its Domestic Installer scheme. BS EN 45011 is the recognised European product certification standard and the benchmark being used by Government

Applicants to the NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme must meet a number of requirements, in particular be able to demonstrate they have the ability to install, inspect, test and certify their work in accordance with BS 7671, and to comply with the relevant Building Regulations. The Domestic Installer Scheme Qualification (DISQ) is a 5-day programme comprising training and assessment, that helps

NICEIC Training's Domestic Periodic Inspection Reporting course is ideally suited for contractors wishing to improve or refresh their knowledge of Periodic Inspection Reporting (PIR) for existing domestic installations. Based on real scenarios, this interactive course provides the skills needed to carry out an inspection and test of existing domestic electrical installations. The course is link

NICEIC is holding a series of "Registration Roadshows" for installers of all trades. The Roadshows are designed to enable any non-NICEIC registered contractor or installer, even if registered with other organisations, to meet the NICEIC team face to face, and find out what NICEIC is all about. The Roadshows will include 17th Edition "taster" sessions and installers who sign up on the day will

A comprehensive Mastering Inspection and Testing Course from NICEIC Training provides electricians and contractors with all the necessary skills required to inspect, test and establish results for certification of domestic electrical installations. The course lasts two days and installers applying for registration with a domestic installer self-certification scheme may benefit from this course.