NZ Certified Builders appoints new Board Chair

New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB), which this year celebrates its 20th Anniversary as a leading building trade association, announces the appointment of Kevin Sceats as its new Chair, replacing Brent Chatterton who has stepped down after two years in the role.

NZCB’s Chief Executive, Grant Florence, said Mr Sceats brings significant governance and industry experience, which positions the Board to continue to be responsive to the challenges and opportunities in the building sector.

“With no foreseeable respite from the growing demand for builders, skills shortages remain a key challenge for the sector. As a longstanding Director, and Chair for eight years, of BCITO and as a Trustee for NZCB’s Apprentice Scholarship Trust since 2005, Mr Sceats has a demonstrable commitment to trade training and lifting skill levels across the industry.

“This is a perfect fit with NZCB, which was founded 20 years ago to raise the bar on industry standards by creating a trade association that requires its member builders to hold formal trade qualifications,” said Mr Florence.

Mr Sceats joined the Board of NZCB as an Independent Director in late 2017, alongside one other Independent Director and four NZCB members elected to the Board. He is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, and has over 35 years of experience in executive and senior management roles in the building and construction industry in both New Zealand and Australia.

Mr Sceats says in this context he has had long involvement with NZCB and is passionate about playing a role in shaping its strategic focus at a time of change and pressure for the industry.

“As well as continuing to drive NZCB’s leadership in building sector capability and capacity through its support for apprentice training and provision of ongoing skills development for members, I’m focused on how we continue to work with key Government and industry stakeholders to address the shortage of skilled tradespeople.

“I’m excited about the challenges ahead and look forward to working with the Board to continue the important work NZCB does in this area as well as in enabling NZCB’s members to better meet the needs of consumers. I’m proud to be part of a trade organisation that is focused on raising standards and that has taken the lead in the area of building guarantees,” said Mr Sceats.

In 2016, NZCB introduced a new industry-leading building guarantee ‘Halo’, which applies on a mandatory basis to any building project over $30,000 that is undertaken by an NZCB member builder. The most comprehensive building guarantee currently available in New Zealand (according to a recent Consumer NZ comparison), Halo is underwritten by Lloyds of London and is independently managed, which ensures there’s no conflict of interest in the management of claims.

ENDS

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