HALLS GROUP SUPPORT 'GET BRITAIN BUILDING' – ACROSS EAST ANGLIA

Politicians from all parties, together with representatives from the Construction Industry, have cemented their talents to help kick-start the ailing UK house building programme.

The 'Get Britain Building' campaign is demanding that the Government supports its Ten Point Manifesto in order to save literally hundreds of thousands of jobs.

"It's exactly what the construction industry needs," explains enthusiastic supporter, James Hall, managing director of the Halls Group in Gorleston, Norfolk. "The Get Britain Building manifesto wants the Government to focus on immediate and longer term strategic needs. It includes a plea to get banks lending again to small and medium sized businesses; a request to refurbish Britain's 26 million homes and make them more energy efficient; and a cut in VAT to 5% for property maintenance, as well as another seven salient points to help precipitate new build and refurbishment projects across the country."

It must be remembered that during the last recession in the 1980's, the UK construction industry lost over 500,000 skilled jobs and the Government today cannot allow this catastrophe to happen again or it will speed up its own demise and the demise of half a million skilled construction industry jobs across the country.

"They need to listen to both East Anglian politicians and all those from across the country who are consciously aware of the slump in new build and refurbishment projects. This government is slipping so far behind with its new build housing targets it won't ever be able to catch up within the next decade, and that spells shortage problems for home-owners, especially first-time buyers," James added.

It doesn't take a genius to realise that the current economic recession is having a devastating affect on the construction industry and employment, especially in East Anglia.

Major house builders have shut down most new build sites in the region (and nationally), and the ramifications will only be felt by home buyers in 2010 and beyond, when the demand for housing outstrips supply and the politicians once again begin to give out their spin as to why this happened under their watch.

However, the immediate effect it has had on skilled tradespeople in the construction industry has been widespread. East Anglian construction workers are continually having to look further afield to secure both short and longer term employment contracts, and they are having to compete with foreign tradespeople from EU countries who are gainfully employed on new build sites like the 2012 Olympics project in London.

"The Get Britain Building Campaign is support by The Federation of Master Builders, the Builders' Merchants Federation and major suppliers in the construction industry," said Halls Group's director, Chris Hall. "It's extremely focused on the many detrimental affects the economic downturn is having on the domestic housing market and construction industries. It advocates the simplification of local authority planning laws and applications; and getting local government to fast track the planning process to release and designate land for social housing needs without protracted delays. Our planning laws are extremely complex and surrounded by a swathe of bureaucracy," he added.

'Get Britain Building' is not a niche market PR Campaign only for those employed in the construction industry or involved in the supply chain. It is essential it is supported by everyone as - eventually - the demise of the construction industry will affect us all, and especially those in East Anglia where housing shortages are already an embarrassment to our regional politicians, local authorities and housing associations.

"If only the problems stopped there," James Hall interjected. "I don't want to see a lack of capital investment either in our communities or infrastructure, or in major East Anglian economies like tourism and leisure. The consequences are too harsh to contemplate and we at the Halls Group are doing everything we can to maximise support for the 'Get Britain Building Campaign'. We hope our effort to expand awareness on this salient message will not go unnoticed by the media, or by the people in Norfolk and Suffolk who desperately need new build housing programmes to meet an ever growing demand in the region."

For more information on the campaign visit: www.getbritainbuilding.org

JAMES HALL'S TAKEOVER OF THE HALLS GROUP

Retiring MD, Terry Hall (far left), shakes hands with his eldest son, James, who
has taken over the Halls Group. Looking on is James's brother Chris Hall, who has taken control of the Precast Concrete Division.


We have recently restructured our main Board of Directors after new Managing Director, James Hall, took over control from his entrepreneur father, Terry Hall.

With Terry's immediate retirement signalling a new dawn in the Halls Group's development, James Hall is confident about our long term future in the building and construction industries.

"I am delighted to announce my takeover of the Halls Group of Companies and be controlling the reins of this £multi-million turnover Group. To inherit control of our family run organisation with a history spanning 62 successful years' trading, is both a privilege and very exciting time for myself, and all the employees in the Halls Group.

The future's bright for Halls and we intend investing heavily in our development plans which involve relocation to the Gapton Hall Industrial Estate and moving our Precast Concrete Division to a much larger production area nearby," James explained.

CHRIS HALL JOINS THE BOARD

In tandem with the Halls Group's recent takeover by James Hall, we are also delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Hall to the Group's Board of Directors.

"It's a great opportunity for me and I am extremely busy opening up new markets for the Precast Concrete Division," Chris explained.

"Dad will be continuing his association with the Group as non-executive Chairman", James added, "but we hope he will begin to find more time to enjoy himself on the golf course and reduce his handicap."