Introduction
Welcome to the May edition of the NFB Membership Bulletin. This month we celebrate member achievements, examine the changing contractual landscape, provide updates on the Building Safety Act and CITB reform, showcase new member services, and look ahead to one of the most important events in the heritage calendar.
As always, our focus remains on delivering practical support, upholding standards and providing a strong voice for construction businesses across the UK.
Recognising Member Success
The NFB is proud to represent some of the most professional, innovative and respected businesses and individuals in construction. This month we are delighted to celebrate several notable achievements from across our membership.
Congratulations to David Anderson of Access Design & Engineering, who has been announced as Chair of the Wales Region of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC). David’s appointment is a testament to his leadership within the sector and reflects the expertise that NFB members bring to industry organisations and professional bodies across the UK. The NFB and NASC continue to work together to promote skills and quality across the wider construction sector.
We also celebrate a number of remarkable business milestones. Pearce Construction recently marked 80 years of service across the South West, while Interclass PLC celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Meanwhile, Deeley Group reaches the outstanding milestone of 90 years in business this year, demonstrating nearly a century of contribution to the construction industry.
These achievements highlight the strength of our membership and the positive impact NFB members continue to make across construction and the built environment.
We are also delighted to welcome two new members to the National Federation of Builders this month.
Lewis Construction Building Contractors Wales Ltd joins the NFB from South Wales. The business has developed a strong reputation in healthcare and public sector construction, delivering projects across the NHS and local authority sectors.
We also welcome P Cubed Projects Ltd, a South West-based contractor. The business specialises in repair, maintenance and refurbishment works, particularly within the Ministry of Defence estate, and is actively exploring opportunities in the prison sector and wider public procurement markets.
We look forward to supporting both companies through their membership and helping them make the most of the opportunities, services and expertise available through the NFB.
Contracts and Commercial Risk
Contracts remain one of the most important areas of risk management for construction businesses. Whether operating under JCT, NEC or bespoke forms of contract, contractors continue to face increasing pressure through amended contract terms, additional compliance requirements and changing client expectations.
Across the industry, we are seeing employers introduce significant amendments to standard forms, often shifting risk onto contractors through changes to liability clauses, payment provisions, programme obligations and dispute resolution mechanisms.
For many contractors, the key question is no longer simply which form of contract to use, but whether that contract properly reflects the legal and commercial realities of today’s construction environment.
The NFB continues to support members through:
- Contractual advice and guidance through Ask NFB
- Access to specialist legal expertise
- Practical guidance
- Industry representation through our involvement with JCT and other industry bodies
- Webinars, guidance notes and contractual updates
The NFB’s contracts and commercial support is led by John Bradley BSc MSc FCIArb, a specialist construction law solicitor with more than 30 years’ experience advising contractors across the UK. As Founder and Managing Director of Bradleys Law and the Contractors Legal Group, and a Director of JCT, John brings extensive expertise in construction law, contracts and dispute resolution. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, he spent seven years working as a quantity surveyor, giving him a strong understanding of the commercial realities faced by contractors.
Through Ask NFB, John regularly supports members on matters including payment and retention disputes, extensions of time, loss and expense claims, contract amendments, termination issues and final account disputes. His practical, commercially focused advice helps members manage risk, resolve disputes and protect their position when contractual challenges arise.
As contractual and regulatory requirements continue to evolve, access to specialist expertise remains an important part of helping members operate with confidence and secure the outcomes they are entitled to under their contracts.
Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act remains a major area of focus for the construction industry, and the NFB continues to invest in practical resources and training to help members understand and implement the new requirements.
Through Ask NFB, members have access to a growing library of Building Safety Act resources, including guidance documents, template policies, competency frameworks, skills and knowledge assessment tools, presentations, webinars and practical briefings. Resources cover topics such as duty holder responsibilities, organisational competence, mandatory occurrence reporting, higher-risk buildings, principal contractor and principal designer obligations, and the latest regulatory changes.
Members can also access a growing collection of on-demand webinars and expert-led content, providing practical explanations of complex requirements and helping businesses translate legislation into day-to-day operational processes.
Alongside these resources, the NFB delivers its dedicated Building Safety Act Awareness course. Available as an executive briefing or workshop, the training provides a practical overview of the Building Safety Act 2022, covering duty holder roles, competence requirements, the Building Safety Regulator, the golden thread of information, safety cases and mandatory occurrence reporting. The course is designed to give directors, managers, designers and site leaders the confidence to understand their responsibilities and demonstrate compliance.
As clients, regulators and supply chains place increasing emphasis on competence and compliance, access to practical guidance, training and expert support has never been more important. Through Ask NFB and its wider training programme, the NFB continues to provide members with the tools, knowledge and confidence needed to navigate the Building Safety Act and the changing regulatory environment.
CITB Reform
This month, NFB representatives met with Shadow Business Minister Gareth Davies MP to discuss contractor pressures, skills shortages, infrastructure delivery and the future of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
Alongside these discussions, the NFB is developing a paper examining the future role of CITB and identifying potential reforms that could improve outcomes for employers and learners.
The NFB’s paper will contribute to the national conversation on how the industry can build the workforce needed to deliver housing, infrastructure and economic growth in the years ahead while balancing the pressures on construction businesses.
Members who would like to contribute their views are encouraged to contact their Membership Manager.
New Services, New Opportunities and New Faces
The NFB continues to invest in new services designed to support members and help businesses grow.
This month we launched the new NFB Membership Guide, providing a comprehensive overview of the services, support, representation and opportunities available to members. The guide has been designed to help both existing and prospective members better understand how to maximise the value of their membership.
We have also launched the NFB Tendering Portal, a new service that brings construction opportunities from across England, Scotland and Wales into one easy-to-use platform. Members can search opportunities using filters such as location, value, publication date and submission deadline, helping them identify relevant work more efficiently.
We are also pleased to welcome Elle Broughton to the NFB team as Membership Manager for the North West and North East regions. Elle joins the organisation at an exciting time as we continue to expand member services, strengthen engagement and develop new initiatives across the NFB.
Heritage and Traditional Build Conference
Preparations are well underway for the NFB Heritage and Traditional Build Conference.
The event will bring together contractors, conservation specialists, clients, policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the future of heritage and traditional construction in the UK. Topics will include heritage skills, traditional materials, conservation techniques, procurement, policy developments and the future of heritage construction.
The event will also highlight the NFB Heritage Approved Contractor Mark, which continues to recognise and promote businesses with specialist expertise in heritage and traditional building work.
Whether you are already active in the heritage sector or looking to develop your capabilities, the conference promises to be an invaluable opportunity to learn, network and engage with leading experts from across the industry.
Secure your tickets here: Heritage and Traditional Build Conference 2026 – National Federation of Builders
