About NHBC
Tuesday, 02, Dec 2008 04:43
What is NHBC?
NHBC is an expert and independent authority on the housing industry.
NHBC has 70 years of experience in the housing industry and is the world's oldest and most established standard setting body and provider of home warranty and insurance products.
Our purpose is to raise house-building standards for homebuyers, provide protection for the consumer and support the industry through providing essential services and investing in research and innovation.
NHBC has over 20,000 builders on our register and comply with our NHBC Standards for house building. Over 40% of all housing in the UK has been covered by our Buildmark insurance warranty.
NHBC also provides over 10,000 days of training each year, is the leading provider of health and safety services in the construction sector and works to raise environmental standards.
NHBC's work includes:
Standard setting: 20,000 builders on our Register applying NHBC Standards to help improve the quality of new homes.
Consumer protection: Provide unrivalled consumer protection for 1.7million homes in the UK through our world leading Buildmark cover.
Skills: Provide over 10,000 days of training each year.
Environment: Established the benchmark ecohomes energy rating system. NHBC is playing a central role in the Government's zero carbon homes policy.
Health & Safety: Leading provider of Heath and Safety Services in the construction industry.
Building Control: Leading provider of Building Control services
Specialist Adviser: Specialist adviser to Government, Parliament, Whitehall, the devolved assemblies and the EU on the housing industry.
Who are our customers?
NHBC's two main customers are homebuyers and registered house builders. We provide buyers of new homes with a 10 year 'Buildmark' warranty and insurance protection, and our comprehensive range of products and services assists registered builders improve the quality of new homes.
The NHBC model for raising standards
NHBC is a unique company that provides a broad range of services to the house-building and wider construction industry in order to raise standards.
Improvement in new homes is driven by the quality and combination of our services and the way that we apply feedback and learn from each area of our operations. We do this by:
Registering builders who agree to comply with NHBC's Rules and Standards
Setting and maintaining construction standards for new homes
Inspecting at key stages of construction
Offering building control services in England and Wales
Providing 'Buildmark', the most comprehensive warranty and insurance cover for new homes in the UK
Providing a range of services, including technical information, training, health and safety, engineering and energy rating services for new homes and housing-related sector.
An International Authority
NHBC is internationally recognised as an example of best practice.
Representatives from across the world visit NHBC for advice and information.
We have recently received contacts from Australia, Israel, South Africa, Japan, and Spain. NHBC also has an influential voice in Europe, contributing to AEHWO (Association of European Home Warranty Organisations), the European Committee for Standardisation, the Consortium for European Building Control and the European Organisation for Technical Approvals.
Socially Responsible
NHBC promotes sustainability and best practice in areas such as Building Regulations, contaminated land and innovation in construction.
We are committed to continued social engagement with staff and the communities we serve. For example NHBC sponsor the National Youthbuild Awards which tackle social exclusion and offer young people opportunities to develop skills and personal responsibility
A stakeholder company
The Council
NHBC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the General Insurance Standards Council.
NHBC's governing council represents stakeholders with an interest in raising standards in UK house building. They include mortgage lenders, the Local Government Association, the Law Societies, consumer organisations, architects, surveyors and house builders.
The Board of Directors
The current Board has 14 members including:
The chairman of the Board who is also chairman of the Council.
The chairmen of the Northern Ireland, Scottish, Consumer, Standards, and Finance and Audit committees.
Three executive directors; NHBC's Chief Executive, the Commercial Director and the Finance Director.
Nominated representatives of other stakeholder organisations.
Visit the National House building Council website.