For small builders and trades (UK-wide bias, regs focus is England)
Last reviewed: March 2026
This is the "who do I actually ring?" list. No fluff, just what they're for and how to find them.
Building Control
Local authority Building Control
- What: Statutory Building Control for your area - notices, inspections, regularisation.
- How: Search "Building Control" + your council name.
LABC (Local Authority Building Control)
- What: Umbrella body for council BC; guidance notes, find-a-surveying-team.
- How: Search "LABC" + "find your local building control team".
Approved Inspectors / Registered Building Control Approvers
- What: Private Building Control firms.
- How: Search "registered building control approver" or "Approved Inspector" + your region.
Health & Safety
HSE (Health and Safety Executive)
- What: CDM, site safety, enforcement, guidance.
- How: Search "HSE construction" or "HSE small builder".
RIDDOR reporting
- What: Reporting serious injuries, dangerous occurrences and diseases.
- How: Search "HSE RIDDOR report an incident".
Gas, Oil, Electrics
Gas Safe Register
- What: Official gas engineer register, check and find gas installers.
- How: Search "Gas Safe find an engineer".
OFTEC
- What: Oil-firing technicians and oil tank installers.
- How: Search "OFTEC find a technician".
HETAS
- What: Solid fuel/biomass appliance installers (stoves, log burners).
- How: Search "HETAS find installer".
NICEIC / NAPIT / ELECSA etc.
- What: Competent Person Schemes for domestic electrics (Part P) and more.
- How: Search "NICEIC find a contractor", "NAPIT search", "ELECSA contractor search".
Windows & Glazing
FENSA
- What: Replacement windows/doors self-certification; check installers and homeowner certs.
- How: Search "FENSA installer search" or "FENSA certificate check".
CERTASS / similar glazing CPS
- What: Alternative schemes to FENSA for glazing.
- How: Search "CERTASS installer search".
Planning & Development
Planning Portal
- What: National front door for planning info and online planning apps (England/Wales).
- How: Search "Planning Portal" and bookmark it.
Local Planning Authority (LPA)
- What: Planning applications, pre-apps, permitted development queries.
- How: Search "planning" + your council name (e.g. "planning Cornwall Council").
Tax & CIS
HMRC CIS (Construction Industry Scheme)
- What: Register as contractor/subby, verify CIS details, payment queries.
- How: Search "HMRC CIS helpline" or "CIS online services".
HMRC Self Assessment
- What: Tax returns for sole traders/partners; payment deadlines.
- How: Search "HMRC self assessment login".
Employment & Disputes
ACAS
- What: Employment law guidance, disputes with staff, contracts, procedures.
- How: Search "ACAS employer advice".
Citizens Advice
- What: Free advice; useful for client disputes, debt, rights, benefits.
- How: Search "Citizens Advice local" or "Citizens Advice consumer building work".
Adjudication nominating bodies (construction disputes)
- What: Appoint adjudicators for payment/contract fights.
- How: Search:
- "RICS adjudicator nomination"
- "CIArb adjudication nomination"
- "RIBA adjudication"
Insurance & Warranties
FMB (Federation of Master Builders)
- What: Trade body; some insurance and warranty products; client reassurance.
- How: Search "FMB find a builder" or "FMB warranties".
NHBC
- What: New-build housing warranties and technical standards.
- How: Search "NHBC warranties" or "NHBC technical".
LABC Warranty
- What: Structural warranties, often tied to council BC teams.
- How: Search "LABC Warranty".
Your broker / insurer
- What: Public liability, employers' liability, plant, PI.
- How: If you don't have one, search "construction insurance broker" + your region.
Training & Cards
CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)
- What: Grants, levy queries, training info, SMSTS/SSSTS links.
- How: Search "CITB" or "CITB grants".
CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme)
- What: Site cards to prove basic competence and H&S test result.
- How: Search "CSCS apply for a card".
SMSTS / SSSTS providers
- What: Site management/supervisor safety courses (often needed on bigger jobs).
- How: Search "SMSTS course" or "SSSTS course" + your nearest city.
Radon
UKHSA Radon Maps (UK Health Security Agency)
- What: Radon risk by postcode - needed for Part C / radon membrane decisions.
- How: Search "UK radon map" or "UKHSA radon postcode".
Utilities & Drainage
Water company (sewers, build-over, connections)
- What: Sewer maps, build-over agreements, new connections, surface water rules.
- How: Search "who is my water company?" then use their site to find "developer services" or "build over sewers".
DNO - Distribution Network Operator (electric)
- What: Who owns the local power network; new connections, capacity, diversions.
- How: Search "who is my DNO" or "find my electricity network operator".
Gas transporter / shipper (less common direct contact)
- What: Mains gas connections/diversions.
- How: Often via your gas supplier; search "new gas connection" + your area.
Trade Bodies (pick what fits your trade)
FMB - Federation of Master Builders
- What: Small builder trade association; contracts, support, marketing badge.
- How: Search "FMB membership".
NFB - National Federation of Builders
- What: Trade body, more SME/main-contractor focused.
- How: Search "NFB contractors".
NFRC - National Federation of Roofing Contractors
- What: Roofing contractors' association.
- How: Search "NFRC find a contractor".
SNIPEF (Scotland/Northern Ireland plumbing employers)
- What: Plumbing and heating businesses north of the border.
- How: Search "SNIPEF find a plumber".
ECA (Electrical Contractors' Association)
- What: Electrical firms' trade body.
- How: Search "ECA electrical contractors".
If you're not in any trade body, that's fine - just know where your clients might go looking for info about "good firms".
Save this page. You'll need it.
This page is a general reference for small builders and main contractors. It doesn't list every organisation or cover non-standard work. Always check you've got the right body for your nation (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and the latest contact details. SiteKiln does not provide legal, financial or tax advice. All content is for general information purposes only. Always seek professional advice for your specific situation.
Know someone who needs this?
Working in Wales? The building rules are different. See our Working in Wales guides.
Working in Scotland? Building standards work differently. See our Working in Scotland guides.
Working in Northern Ireland? The system uses Technical Booklets. See our Working in Northern Ireland guides.
Was this guide useful?
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.
In crisis? Samaritans 116 123 ·