The Road Ahead

SELECT meets with Minister to call for action on Approved Certifier of Construction scheme.

SELECT recently met with Marco Biagi, MSP, Minister for Local Government & Community Empowerment, who is responsible for Building Standards in Scotland.

SELECT was represented by Immediate Past President, John Noble and Keith Groom, Past Chairman of the Edinburgh & South East Scotland Branch.

John and Keith were both winners of the 2014 SELECT Award for Best Promotion of the Certification scheme.

SELECT’s MD Newell McGuiness, Head of Technical Services, Dave Forrester, Head of Membership & Communications, Alan Wilson and Head of External Affairs, David Wright were also present.

During the meeting, which included a tour of the Walled Garden offices and training facility, SELECT made the point that the current scheme was in danger of failing if more effort was not put into its use and promotion. The Minister said that whilst the government was not in a position to make use of the scheme mandatory, he would do as much as possible to ensure its growth.

He referenced the planned introduction of e-Building standards and the review of warrant fees both of which were looking at promoting the increased use of members of the Approved Certifier of Construction schemes.

Local government minister Marco Biagi, centre right, alongside SELECT MD Newell McGuiness, Edinburgh & SE Scotland past chairman Keith Groom, left, and Past President John Noble, right