Pro Installer March 2016 - Issue 36 | Page 60

60 MARCH 2016 PRO INSTALLER PRO BUSINESS www.proinstaller.co.uk NEW POWER TO PROTECT ELDERLY FROM ROGUE TRADERS A new industry accreditation has been launched for tradespeople to help fight exploitation of vulnerable customers such as the elderly. The O.A.P. Trustworthy service is gaining popularity, at a time when hardly a day goes by without a ‘rogue trader’ story making it on to the television about unscrupulous tradespeople who come into the homes of the vulnerable and profit in any way they can. O.A.P. Trustworthy was set up specifically to fight this social scourge which is prevalent in all areas of the service industries from builders and plumbers to cleaners and mobile hairdressers. Created in 2015, the business says such rogue traders take advantage of the trust that is put in them and give a bad name to all the reputable agents in the market. It wants to help businesses stand out from the crowd and show their customers that theirs is a brand people can turn to with confidence, with O.A.P.Trustworthy accreditation. The national organisation has been created to provide a means for reputable and responsible tradespeople to show their commitment to honesty, transparency and exceptional customer service. In gaining O.A.P. Trustworthy accreditation, tradespeople can show prospective customers not only that they are proficient at their chosen craft, but that they can be entrusted to work with vulnerable people - the elderly, the infirm, and those with disabilities. The O.A.P. Trustworthy logo brings peace of mind to potential clients and a positive reputation to the individuals and businesses who wish to serve them. Every tradesperson and service provider registered with O.A.P. Trustworthy is tested for their suitability. Background checks – including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) – are made, professional qualifications, insurance and references are verified, and every member is asked to sign the O.A.P.Trustworthy code of practice before being welcomed to the organisation. A spokesman from the organisation said: “While the police and Trading Standards work hard to tackle the crooked and corrupt, it can be difficult for those who have suffered at the hands of rogue traders to recover from the experience and learn to trust again. These people are tarnishing the entire industry and, most importantly, ruining innocent customers’ lives. “O.A.P Trustworthy exists to accredit members, and carries out relevant checks to ensure tradespeople actually are who they say they are, and not unscrupulous individuals working under false and dishonest pretences.” The organisation says the best way to eliminate dishonest practices is to make sure that reputable traders fill every gap in the market so that there is nowhere for the unscrupulous to ply their deceitful trades. For more information on O.A.P. Trustworthy, visit www.oaptrustworthy.com Carillion to start £80million Leeds tower works Carillion has gained planning for the £80million regeneration of Tower Works in Holbeck on Leeds’ South Bank. Carillion will deliver ten new buildings, including 160 flats. Work will now start in June on bringing the old industrial site back to life with a mix of homes, commercial office space, retail units and a cinema and boutique brewery. The development consists of 90,000sq ft of commercial office space, 24,000sq ft of A1 and A3 retail restaurant and bar spaces alongside a mix of one, two and three- bed apartments and town houses. Councillor James McKenna, chair of the city plans panel, said: “We are pleased to see plans to regenerate this historic part of Leeds moving forward. The redevelopment of the Tower Works site will create a dynamic new hub for businesses, residents, visitors and shoppers which will be a cornerstone in the regeneration of the whole area.” The site includes several listed buildings, which are being preserved as part of the redevelopment – the Engine House on Globe Road, and the three ornate Italian Towers. Tower Works has been designed by architects Jestico + Whiles and landscape architects Oobe. Source: Construction Enquirer