The British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association (BWPDA) has been invited to work with the Department of Trade and Industry on its Quality Mark scheme in the pilot areas of Somerset and Birmingham.

Quality Mark (QM) is an initiative to help the public recognise a competent, trustworthy contractor capable of undertaking works to a reasonable standard and able to offer a minimum level of insurance.

BWPDA members are already deemed to meet the QM standard through the strict criteria they have to meet for their own organisation.

A BWPDA spokesperson said: ‘For their own protection clients should give more time to establishing that associations of which contractors claim membership are bona fide. Is it just a badge for which the contractor paid a modest fee or is it, like the BWPDA, an organisation which sets proper standards and offers mediation and arbitration services?’