Major success for the industry with 91% now carrying cards Latest figures released by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) show that its members are continuing to make great progress towards ensuring their workforces are occupationally competent and carry Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards. In another increase on the huge leap announced in April, the latest survey shows that over 91% of the workforces of the country’s leading house builders are now carrying the cards, up from 68% in October last year. The CSCS was introduced in November 2006 as a means of ensuring that everyone in the construction industry can demonstrate competence, qualifications, and health and safety awareness. Commenting, Executive Chairman of HBF Stewart Baseley said: “These results are a major achievement for the home building industry, and show its commitment to both creating a skilled workforce, and the workforce itself. “The challenge for the industry now is to maintain the high standards it has set itself and ensure that people who want cards and to gain qualifications are assisted to do so. Increasing the competency of our workforce can only help our industry in its ongoing drive to improve safety and quality on all our sites”. Sir Michael Latham, Chairman, ConstructionSkills, stated: “ConstructionSkills is extremely pleased that the house building sector is making fast progress to ensure that its workforce is able to demonstrate site competence. We want to see an industry in which all workers are fully qualified to help reduce the risk of accidents, help drive-up performance and improve quality. This positive news from the HBF shows us that we’re on the right track.” - Ends - Notes to Editors: 1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal trade federation for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s 300 member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk 2. The latest figures are taken from the 8th Major Home Builders Group QWF audit. The audit was conducted on 8 May 2008, following the 7th audit which took place in February 2008. From the nine member companies audited, the total number of workers surveyed was 40,557 Nationally, these skills groups have seen the following increases between the 7th and 8th audits: o Direct employees – up 6% to 94% o Managers and supervisors - up 3% to 97% o Craft - up 7% to 91% o CSO and basic skills - up 6% to 89% The results are from a survey of employees working for the HBF’s Major Home Builders Group (MHBG), which comprises the nine largest HBF members by volume production – Bellway Plc; Bovis Homes Group Plc; Crest Nicholson PLC; McCarthy & Stone Plc; Miller Homes Ltd; Persimmon Plc; Redrow Plc; Taylor Wimpey plc; Barratt Developments PLC 3. In 2007, the Major Home Builders Group of HBF announced that they would be working towards a fully-carded workforce by the end of 2010. For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact Steve Turner 020 7960 1606 07919 307 760 steve.turner@hbf.co.uk
