At the National Handyperson Conference 2010, Foundations announced that they have been licensed by TrustMark as the ‘scheme operator' for handyperson services.

This means that home improvement agencies and other providers of handyperson services can now choose to be validated by TrustMark as an optional extra when they complete the ‘handyperson' module of the HIA Quality Mark, or the new standalone Handyperson Quality Mark.

TrustMark is a government-backed trader endorsement scheme for the building industry. The TrustMark website has over 300,000 visits a month from members of the public who want to find a reliable tradesperson in their local area.

TrustMark is committed to driving rogue traders out of the building industry.

TrustMark validation is a key asset for providers of handyperson services wishing to make their services more widely available to paying members of the public. This is an increasingly important consideration when striving to make handyperson services sustainable models of provision.

Any agency providing handyperson services which undergoes Quality Mark validation will have the option to be assessed for TrustMark at the same time (for an additional fee).

If TrustMark assessment is required, Foundations will gather specific information from the agency and will select a sample of handyperson jobs which will be physically inspected during the course of the Quality Mark assessment visit. If the standard of workmanship of the sample is of the required standard, the agency will be awarded the TrustMark.

The TrustMark logo will be displayed on the agency's Quality Mark certificate, and they will be entitled to use the TrustMark logo on stationery, vehicles  and so on. The agency then has the option of allowing their contact details to appear on the TrustMark website as an accredited agency.

Foundations will be looking to develop a similar TrustMark scheme as an optional add-on to the ‘Major Adaptations' module of the HIA Quality Mark.

What are the advantages of being registered with TrustMark?

• Registering with TrustMark allows your handyperson service to reach a wider market of self-funding customers, bringing in much-needed additional income.

• The TrustMark website now includes a section especially for Handyperson services and receives over 300,000 visits a month.

• By registering with TrustMark, you are helping to keep rogue traders out of the market.

• TrustMark is a national, government-backed trade registration scheme.

If you would like more information on Quality Mark and TrustMark, please contact our Quality Mark Manager - Alyson Barnes on abarnes@cel.co.uk, or talk to your regional Foundations Development Consultant.