TrustMark, the government backed quality mark for reputable tradesmen, has been relaunched by Consumer Minister, Jenny Willott, with new, improved standards of consumer protection.
In one of the first announcements from the industrial strategy for construction, ‘Construction 2025’, Peter Hansford, the government’s chief construction adviser, emphasised the government’s commitment to TrustMark and called upon more firms to get behind the scheme, which aims to boost the reputation of tradesmen and consumer confidence in the domestic repairs, maintenance and improvement market.
TrustMark’s relaunch brought together more than 100 invited guests from across the industry, including consumer protection groups, at a reception in Westminster, where the Consumer Minister announced the initiative’s new, core criteria and urged the whole industry to meet these new standards, which cover customer service, good trading practices and technical competence.
Some of the key changes to the TrustMark core criteria, now under a renewed master licence from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), include:
,Firmer and more specific standards; more rigorous vetting of tradesmen, including specific checks that must be done on firms upon entry to the scheme; more proactive use of complaints data by scheme operators and changes to protect the brand and reduce the misuse of the TrustMark logo.
,
,Liz Male, chairman of TrustMark, said: “TrustMark provides the best tradesmen with the opportunity to thrive through reputational benefits, increased business opportunities and quality referrals from the TrustMark website and other signposting channels.
“The new core criteria also reflects that so much has changed since 2005 – including new laws and much higher expectations and understanding of ‘what good looks like’ by industry, consumers, government and all stakeholders. We can now show that TrustMark is truly fit for purpose in a modern market.
“Most of all, the ‘new TrustMark’ aims to increase confidence among consumers, which is at the heart of a successful and economically strong market.”
,
,Commenting on the launch of the new TrustMark standards, Consumer Minister, Jenny Willott, said: “TrustMark gives consumers more confidence in their tradesman when spending their hard earned cash. Every trader who has signed up to the scheme has been independently assessed for their competence.
“We want to put rogue or unscrupulous tradesmen out of business. One of the best ways to do this is to pick out the best businesses, so people know where to turn first for their home improvements, maintenance and repairs.
,
,“I would encourage all legitimate and honest tradesmen to sign up to this scheme.”
,
,Government construction adviser, Peter Hansford, said: “TrustMark is pivotal to improving the reputation of the UK construction industry which is why we committed to relaunch it as part of our industrial strategy. Improving the image of the industry with the public is particularly important if we’re to attract the next generation into exciting careers in construction.
“I know the government is committed to supporting TrustMark, expanding the scheme to include a greater proportion of the industry, and promoting the new core criteria standards and the industry and consumer groups that support them.”
Supported by organisations including the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and FENSA
