Volume 6
What is needed
1.16. A trusted trader framework in Scotland needs to offer a credible level of choice that will help homeowners to confidently select a trader to carry out work on their home.
1.17. To do this, key issues the framework needs to address are sustainability, and a healthy level of usage by both traders and homeowners. It is important for any approach to meet the needs of the homeowner as well as the construction industry. It will only be successful if it has a healthy level of membership and enough homeowners accessing the framework for traders to see it as worthwhile joining. The framework needs to offer up-front assurance that traders have passed a minimum standard to join a framework while offering a clear system of redress when things go wrong.
1.18. Many traders already have so much business without being a member of any accredited scheme that there is no motivation for them to join. Therefore the framework needs to be well known by homeowners for them to use it and for them to regard it as their first point of reference when looking to appoint a trader. In turn this will promote the framework to traders as being beneficial to their business.
1.19. Together with a healthy level of membership from the construction industry, it is crucial to ensure that within that membership there is a broad coverage of trades in terms of each of the sectors in the industry.
1.20. The success and sustainability of the framework will also depend on strong brand recognition which is common throughout the country that works seamlessly with schemes at a local level. By using clear branding which draws on existing symbols of trust and security owners will become familiar with what to expect from a trader.
1.21. A unified trusted trader framework which links the existing schemes currently operating in Scotland needs to have the ability to recognise and work with differences at local level and promote access to anyone in Scotland.