The National Federation of Builders and the Scottish Building Federation have agreed to merge, bringing together 1,700 members
The merger will bring together two of the UK’s oldest builders’ federations, with both tracing their origins to the Victorian era.
The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) was founded in 1895, and the National Federation of Builders (NFB), which serves England and Wales, was established around 1880.
The news follows the publication of a partnership accord in November 2023 and over two years of collaboration.
The name of the combined organisation is yet to be announced
Delegations from each association met in Glasgow to discuss terms last Thursday. The merger is planned to take place over the next 18-24 months and will bring together the NFB’s 1,400+ members with SBF’s 300+ member firms.
NFB chief executive Richard Beresford said: “We have long considered the SBF to be our ‘sister’ organisation and have enjoyed many decades of cordial relations, culminating in a significant level of partnership working in recent years.
“As the construction sector continually adapts and changes, so too must those who represent it. Our two teams have worked hard together to get to this point, so we are delighted to announce that we now intend to become one. Our members will enjoy a greater range of services, a louder share of voice and a bigger network of like-minded colleagues.”
Maximising the influence of builders in critical policy areas
SBF operations director Paul Mitchell said on the builder’s federation merger: “Through our ongoing partnership work, it is clear that SBF and the NFB share similar goals and ambitions for the construction industry. Both federations have collaborated diligently to reach this juncture and now is the right time to announce our plans to unify into a single entity.
“The construction industry can suffer at times due to fragmentation or divisions that make it harder to secure the support we need. By joining together, we can maximise our influence on critical policy areas whilst also delivering significantly enhanced services and benefits to our combined membership.”
