TRUSTMARK for the FENCING sector
TrustMark traces its roots to the Cowboy Builders Working Group formed in 1998 to tackle the endemic problems caused by a significant element of firms with poor competence and/or trading practices, and consumers’ inability to distinguish these from sound, reliable and reputable firms.
As the original response to this problem a scheme called Quality Mark was launched in 2001 but closed at the end of 2004 having achieved little take-up from the trade despite significant marketing efforts in initial targeted regions.

Faced with continuing evidence of persistent consumer issues and taking account of the lessons from Quality Mark since its original launch, feedback from industry bodies plus industry developments, Government has worked with the industry and consumer bodies to develop a different approach, entitled ‘TrustMark’ [TM].

The TM approach has been developed based on the following principles:

•     refocusing on the main consumer protection objectives of the original Cowboy Builders Working Group
•     recognition of the high standards already represented by many trade bodies
•     reduction of the barriers to take-up by firms while maintaining adequate standards
•     provision of a common industry standard that can create synergies and coherence across the numerous
      existing schemes in the industry, unified under a common Mark that will achieve national consumer
      recognition and confidence and that can rapidly achieve a critical mass of membership.

TM is based around a set of core standards for industry schemes, which are outlined in the section ‘core approval criteria’ below.
These are designed to ensure that, where a firm is Registered under a TM Approved scheme, consumers should be able to have confidence that:

•     the firm has signed up to an appropriate Code of Practice
•     its quality of work and trading practices are checked and monitored
•     it will ensure the customer is aware of any building control notifications required to cover the work nvolved
      (or is provided with a certificate of compliance where the firm has Competent Persons self-certification
      rights)
•     the scheme will assist in the event of the consumer experiencing problems with the firm, via an effective
      complaints process
•     the consumer has warranty to protect against the firm going out of business or defaulting on the work

Approval allows the scheme and its Registered firms to display the TM Mark alongside the scheme’s own logo, signifying that the scheme and its registered firms meet the TM standards.
A variety of organisations will become TM Approved Scheme operators, including trade associations, Competent Persons scheme operators, certification bodies and commercial organisations.
Firms in the industry (whether companies or sole traders) may join TM via one of these Approved Schemes, thereby becoming TM Licensed.                        back to home page