As a highly respected voice in structural and civil engineering, Sean provided expert analysis on how certain lower-tier accreditation, including the Guild of Master Tradesmen, the Certass Trade Association, and the National Association of Building Contractors certifications can sometimes be obtained without rigorous oversight. This lack of scrutiny allows less credible firms to present themselves as trustworthy operators. Sean’s insights highlighted the importance of selecting accredited providers who uphold the highest standards of expertise and integrity—principles that Sutcliffe champions in every project we undertake.
In the film, Sean explained the differing criteria for construction firms, distinguishing between two types of clients that influence accreditation standards:
“They fall into two categories. You could have a skilled client and a domestic client. A skilled client could be a developer who has completed maybe 50 or 60 different types of accreditations. When you come down quite a few levels to working on domestic properties, the accreditations are much easier to jump over, and it could be they are just required to provide a very brief reference from a client to say they have done a good job.
“Now, I’m not suggesting they all do this, but it could be somebody you [a fraudulent construction company] know who gives you a very favourable reference.”
Sean’s comments highlighted that while not all providers are untrustworthy, additional checks are essential for homeowners to safeguard their investments and ensure any works carried out meet the highest standards. He also recommended that homeowners consider engaging skilled clients—seasoned developers with proven expertise—over providers operating in the domestic sector, where accreditation requirements may be less stringent.
The BBC’s researchers concluded that greater transparency and additional safeguards are critical to protecting homeowners from fraudulent operators.
