BWF asks Chancellor for decisive action to meet the housing shortfall and cautions on changes to apprenticeships

In the BWF’s latest submission to the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Chief Executive Iain McIlwee outlined proposals to ensure that the joinery industry can benefit from growth and called upon the chancellor to do more to meet the housing shortfall, recognise the value of apprenticeships and reform business rates to avoid penalising manufacturers.

The letter focuses on a number of objectives such as encouraging investment, tackling the skills gap, delivering the UK from housing crisis and reducing the squeeze on businesses. It was sent in advance of the Autumn Statement on December 3rd, and BWF has also expressed its recommendations to Shadow Construction Minister Iain Wright MP and business secretary Vince Cable MP.

Key points made in the submission include:

– BWF applauds efforts from both the CLC and Government in highlighting deep rooted payment issues through such as the Construction Supply Chain Charter. All companies engaged on public sector projects should sign up to and meet the Charter payment commitments or sanctions must be applied.

– The recent upsurge in demand is welcome but material costs are high and margins thin.  To improve confidence, R&D Tax Credits should be extended to £500,000 until the end of 2015 with fuel duties cut with immediate effect.

– Government must look at ways of removing manufacturing plant and machinery from business rate assessments to further encourage investment.

– More needs to be done on housing to meet the current shortfall. BWF calls for a renewed focus on incentives for custom/self-build and encouragement of greater financing from social and affordable housing providers.

– A belt and braces review of the Green Deal is desperately needed and should encourage new RM & I activity.

– We are concerned that recent proposals on apprenticeships from the Richard’s Review and the Business Secretary could drive costs and administration upwards for many businesses.

– The Allowable Solutions framework should be used to help cut carbon emissions by addressing the 30-50% of a buildings lifetime emissions that are accounted for even before the building is occupied.

You can download the letter to the chancellor here.