The remarks by Ian Livsey are typical of the type of comments that contributed to the regrettable demise of Quality Mark.

The Quality Mark scheme outlined eight simple criteria that addressed the expectations of customers and the industry operating in the domestic market. Firms received visible benefits to their businesses from the annual inspection process, including improvements to their trade and customer-facing skills, reductions in rework and customer complaints, and increased confidence among customers that their tradespeople were being “policed” regularly.

Sadly, industry leaders saw Quality Mark as a threat and refused to recognise the benefits it could have brought their members and the industry at large. Since its demise, more than 18 months have elapsed while the government and the industry have prevaricated. A number of the initiatives now being offered in TrustMark were recommended four years ago and if they had been delivered would have put the Quality Mark on the way to success.

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