Frustrated firms slam DTI over Quality Mark delays

Companies looking to join the Quality Mark have voiced their frustration this week at the way their applications to sign up to the anti-cowboy scheme have been handled.

Applicants have told CJ that after initially being invited back for a new round of second interviews, the date was suddenly cancelled by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) without any warning or reason.

"You can imagine the frustration at the way this has been handled," said one.

A DTI spokesman admitted that there was a "brief delay" in the process between interviewing and short-listing in recent weeks as the department had been conducting a cross-sectoral review of funding support.

Although the spokesman did not confirm or deny claims that there was a lack of information for the cancellation, he said applicants were notified of the changes by telephone.

"The issue has been swiftly resolved and we have now put people in place.

"Some have already started working for the Rethinking Construction/Quality Mark team, with the rest now appointed," he added.

The future of Quality Mark was in doubt earlier this month, due to a combination of a lack of funding and a loss of patience within the industry.

But construction minister Brian Wilson - in one of his last moves before the latest government reshuffle - intervened to save the struggling initiative last week, and the DTI can now press ahead with a national roll-out as planned (CJ 11 June).