Since the inception of the Green Deal, one of the biggest concerns has been how the scheme will make sure that small to medium sized businesses also benefit from it, and that not just biggest companies take all the best bits.

The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) has formed a new group called SME Green Deal Roundtable. Rolls off the tongue doesn’t it! Well, the GGF has joined this group, as well as many other of the main trade bodies and groups that are going to have a hand in making the Green Deal accessible to many millions of homeowners. Here is the full list:

National Home Improvement Council (NHIC)
Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
National Federation of Builders (NFB)
National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC)/Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group (SEC)
British Chambers of Commerce
Federation of Small Businesses
National Federation of Roofing Contractors
Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF)
Building and Engineering Services Association (formally HVCA)
Electrical Contractors Association (ECA)
Painting and Decorating Association
PB Energy Solutions
Heating and Hot Water Industry Council
Builders Merchants Federation (BMF)
Prince’s Trust

The first meeting of this council was convened by Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP on June 20th and is due to meet again in July.

Launching the new Roundtable, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “The Green Deal will be a massive opportunity for businesses of all sizes and one of my personal priorities is to see smaller businesses – such as local builders, plumbers and roofers – get a big slice of the action too.”

As soon as the Green Deal was announced, we had major UK businesses like Tesco and Homebase suddenly joining in the double glazing industry where before they had no presence whatsoever. This caused a lot of SME’s to worry that they would be pushed aside when the scheme launched. But with the creation of the SMEGDR (yeah I abbreviated it!) at least now the majority of the industry – small and medium sized companies – is now well represented.

Credit where credit is due, joining such a group is a good move for the GGF. I as well as others have long been worried about the lack of inclusion for SME’s. But hopefully with this new roundtable we should hear on a monthly basis the progress that has been made in making sure SME’s get the best chance at making the most of the new scheme.