A new construction cooperative owned by its SME members is to be set up to provide a “route to market” to Green Deal customers for small businesses that lack the marketing clout of major Green Deal providers.
The new Green Deal Counduit is being project managed by consultant Parity Projects, with the backing of 8 industry membership organisations covering around 100 000 small firms, including the Federation of Master Builders, National Federation of Builders, RIBA and RICS.
The Conduit will allow SMEs in a given area to work together, and with a Green Deal finance provider, to offer Green Deal services to their existing customer bases. For instance, a small contractor could offer a Green Deal plan to a customer when an extension is being built, redecoration is about to take place, or a boiler is being moved.
Under the plan, members of the Conduit will work independently but operate within a framework. Each company will beed to be registered for Green Deal installation work in its specialism, and also meet any requirements of the Green Deal finance provider it is aligned with.
Russell Smith, managing director for Parity Projects, said: “We have come a long way with our business model and now Burges Salmon LLP, a law firm who have been involved with the Green Deal from the start, are advising on the legal and commercial aspects. After that we will be looking for financial support to get it going provided we get enough interest from those across the country that want to work with The Conduit.”
But he added that the new initiative was partly defensive. “Smaller companies need to protect their existing refurbishment market which may be eaten into if some of their usual work can be funded by others. If there is no deliberate effort by smaller companies to access the GD, they and homeowners will both lose out.”
Around 200 or so small construction practitioners across the UK have so far attended workshops held by Parity Projects. The company is now asking anyone interested in the scheme, including contractors, energy assessors, architects, surveyors, builders’ merchants and community groups, to get in contact via the website www.greendealconduit.org.uk
