MERCHANT FOCUS: JEWSON
maybe extending into product areas outside our comfort zone. It also allows for a greater range of products and just like the builders themselves: more custom.
As a company, we’ve been working hard over recent months with our sister company Build Aviator to be able to offer our customers the support they need to access the Green Homes Grant scheme. This includes guiding them through the accreditation process, installation training, estimating services linked to the primary and secondary measures and availability of the materials as a specified solution. When time and money are of the essence, it’s understandable that having to work through hours of bureaucracy is enough to put builders off joining such schemes. To be able to take that load off their shoulders and support with accreditation, costing, estimates and product suggestions, we’ve been able to save tradespeople time to continue their everyday work, as well as finding additional streams of income through this scheme. It’s all about more profit and less hassle for our customers.
A greater purpose
While part of the government’s commitment to the Green Homes Grant is based around stimulating the economy as we continue to fight the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to also consider the wider approach to tackling climate change. This is all part of the government’s target of reaching net zero by 2050 and the built environment has a huge part to play. According to research from the UK Green Building Council, construction is responsible for around 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint.
Jewson is part of Saint-Gobain, a company that has made firm promises to improving the world we live in. Its mission is to “Make The World A Better Home.” As a group of businesses, it is determined to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. This will be achieved in a number of ways, but having a scheme that puts comfortable, energy efficient
December 2020
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buildings that have a positive impact on people at the forefront of public attention will go a long way to helping us succeed.
The challenges that lie ahead While all of this sounds incredibly positive, there are some significant challenges ahead that need to be faced head on to make the Green Homes Grant and future initiatives of its kind a success.
Indeed, improving our offering around energy efficient products and jobs doesn’t just stop with the Green Homes Grant. It’s a long- term project. The world is changing, and for builders and merchants, we have to adapt and move with the times. It’s something that’s long been on our agenda, but with the extension of the scheme for another 12 months, it’s a perfect opportunity to continue that growth, scope out the demand and inform our customers of the benefits of these projects. Just some of the areas that we all need to look at as an industry include: • New products and materials: Many of the
jobs listed under the scheme require bespoke materials and products, some which wouldn’t necessarily be on the radar of tradespeople or merchants prior to the announcement. For example, heat pumps – which the government recently pledged to install 600,000 of every year by 2028 – will now become a staple of many merchants. We need to work with suppliers and industry bodies to make sure that there’s a steady stream of these products available for those who want to do the work. • The skills shortage: There also needs to be a concerted discussion about skills, or more appropriately, the skills shortage. It’s no secret that construction is faced with an ageing workforce and a real problem for the future. In order to deliver more comfortable and energy efficient homes and buildings at scale, we need to tackle this. What the Green Homes Grant gives builders is a chance to expand their portfolio, work on different types of jobs and add another string to their bow. We need to work together as an industry to train up more existing builders to do this work and also make it more attractive to people considering a career in the trade. There’s no one group that can do this, it’s going to take industry bodies, product manufacturers, merchants and existing tradespeople to fly the flag. So, while success isn’t without its challenges, helping homeowners turn their properties into energy-efficient, more comfortable homes opens up a new, very real revenue stream for builders and merchants alike.
This is the modern-day equivalent of the invention of power tools and construction software, opening up a whole host of opportunities while also making a marked difference to the world around us. It’s not just about securing more work for the builders, though. It’s the possibilities that becoming experts in these jobs will lead to down the line. As the world evolves, so do the needs of the consumer, and in turn, so does the skillset of your everyday builder and builders merchant. BMJ
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