SUSTAINABILITY T
he long-awaited Future Homes Standard (FHS) is set to come into force this year, meaning that housebuilders and tradespeople must comply with stricter rules regarding energy efficiency and carbon emissions.
However, recent research by national builders’ merchant Jewson, part of STARK Building Materials UK, found that less than a quarter of skilled trades and builders (23%) are aware of the FHS and how it might impact their job, meaning most are yet to familiarise themselves with the legislation.
Future Homes Standard: What we know
The FHS is a government initiative for all newbuild homes, which encourages the use of low carbon energy sources including heat source pumps and other renewables. It is the next iteration of Part L of the Building Regulations, which came into place in 2022. The aim is that all new homes built from 2025 will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under the existing legislation. It was first introduced by the previous government, and the current government has not yet published full details or a specific date for its launch. Without these details, it is perhaps unsurprising that tradespeople and builders are reporting confusion when it comes to the FHS. In a recent study, we found that almost a third (30%) envisage it will put financial pressure on
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE HOMES STANDARD 2025
Sabrina Passley, Head of Sustainability at STARK UK talks about Jewson is preparing for the FHS and how it is helping customers to adapt to an ever-changing landscape.
their business and almost half (46%) say they would appreciate more support or training from the industry about the regulations moving forwards. Despite the lack of clarity, at Jewson, we are progressing a robust sustainability strategy, ensuring that we are in the best possible position to inform and empower our customers.
Knowledge is power The first step in helping our customers to navigate the changing sustainability regulations, and equip them for success when the FHS comes into force, is by ensuring that all Jewson colleagues have a strong understanding of the latest regulations, products and innovations. Being part of the STARK Group means we can leverage European expertise in sustainability. This gives us a unique opportunity to pass on best practice and lessons from our European colleagues to our UK customers, ensuring they’re prepared for how the regulations will affect them every day.
We are delivering bespoke sustainability training to all UK employees, and we launched a sustainability ambassador scheme in 2024, which will see an expert placed within every sustainability centre across the UK. The ambassadors will be familiar with the FHS and all sustainability regulations and will offer advice to customers across all trades, outlining which products and services can help them to remain compliant.
We are also launching dedicated sustainability centres within our nationwide branch network, starting with our recently refurbished Norwich branch, where a sustainability zone houses all the products our customers need to comply with the FHS. This includes a wide range of low-carbon materials, energy efficient systems, advanced insulation, renewable energy solutions and biodiverse product ranges.
March 2025
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
Building for the Future We know that our customers need easy access to sustainable products online, so they can quickly access the right tools and products for the job, wherever they are based. Our Building for the Future range – previously known as the Making Better Homes range – features the latest innovations in lower carbon materials, such as products that boost air quality, thermal and acoustic performance and help to maximise quality, efficiency and profit for our customers. Our suppliers play a key role in helping us to support our customers, and we are working with them to expand sustainable product ranges and to share their expertise. Plus, we are hosting a series of workshops and practical training sessions from branches such as Norwich, helping tradespeople to upskill and increase their confidence.
We are also excited to be working with new suppliers and exploring groundbreaking innovations from our existing network. We recently hosted a Dragons Den-style event, where we invited existing contacts and new businesses to pitch innovative sustainable solutions. From reusable bulk bags made entirely from recycled materials to construction uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles, this has been an exciting way to learn more about the latest sustainable developments in the industry and we’re looking forward to stocking some of the products in our branches this year. Ultimately, we are on a sustainability journey at Jewson and we’re excited to see where it takes us – and our customers. We’re proud to partner the trades, and are building for the future, keeping a close eye on the current legislation while planning ahead for what’s next. We know that sustainability can be a daunting topic, but we firmly believe it provides a wealth of opportunities for the industry, and we are proud to be part of that movement. BMJ
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